IMPACT ASSESSMENTS OF FUTURE CHANGES IN WAVE DIRECTION DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE ON BEACH TOPOGRAPHY OF KOCHI COAST

Abstract

 Future changes of wave climate due to climate change were estimated and the impact assessments on beach topography of Kochi coast were conducted using wave prediction data and past field data. The results show that energy-averaged mean wave direction would be changed anti-clockwise in the future. We also confirmed that the wave direction has already begun to change anti-clockwise in recent years, and the slight difference in wave direction caused changes in the direction of the longshore sediment transport because the angle of the shoreline differs slightly from place to place, indicating that changes of wave direction have a significant impact on sediment transport. Furthermore, it was found that future changes of wave direction will increase westward sediment transport and beach erosion will be more severe, especially on the east side of the coast.