On the importance of vegetation in coastal flood risk management
Coastal flooding poses significant risks to millions of residents worldwide, particularly those in low-lying regions less than 10m above sea level. As sea levels rise and storm intensity increases due to climate change, traditional grey engineering solutions like seawalls and dykes are proving costly and ecologically disruptive. Nature-based coastal solutions (NBCS) offer a viable alternative, utilising coastal vegetation such as salt marshes, dune grasses, and mangroves to mitigate flood risks. These natural defences facilitate sediment deposition, increase surface roughness, and dissipate wave energy, reducing storm surge impacts. However, little is still known about the effectiveness of NBCSs in flood reduction under future climate uncertainties. This study, therefore, aims to explore the effectiveness of vegetation in mitigating coastal flood risks through a numerical modelling lens (LISFLOOD-FP). By investigating the influence of various vegetation ages (young, medium and old) on coastal flood risk mitigation under varying sea-level conditions and climate uncertainties through scenario-based planning, the study seeks to provide empirical data and insights that can inform more robust policy and decision-making for coastal flood risk management. The research also aims to identify the challenges and uncertainties associated with NBSCs.
Date:
7 August 2024, 13:00 (Wednesday, 16th week, Trinity 2024)
Venue:
Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details:
Desert Room, School of Geography and the Environment
Speaker:
Yengi Justine (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford)
Organising department:
Environmental Change Institute
Organiser:
Dr Avidesh Seenath (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address:
avidesh.seenath@eci.ox.ac.uk
Host:
Dr Avidesh Seenath (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford)
Part of:
ECM Brown Bag Seminar Series
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Avidesh Seenath
