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The Plymouth Student Scientist

Matthew R. Owen

Document Type

Biological and Marine Sciences Article

Abstract

With rising sea levels and increasingly frequent and intense storms due to climate change, coastal communities and structures are at an increasing risk of overtopping occurring. This study investigates the coastal metocean conditions responsible for overtopping at coastal defences, using Delft3D to model these processes with Dawlish as the case study site. Wave propagation models were employed to simulate metocean conditions from December 2021 to March 2022 to compare inshore wave conditions, alongside water level and wind parameters, with observed overtopping data from the WireWall system installed on top of the seawall, next to the railway line. The results indicate that wave direction (117-173°), wind direction (120-180°), and significant wave heights (>1.2m) are key contributors to overtopping, with wind speeds above 12m/s and elevated water levels further increasing the risk, while peak period exhibited little influence. These results provide insights for local authorities and Network Rail to inform management strategies in Dawlish and can provide the basis for an early warning system that can identify when there is an increased risk of overtopping. Importantly, the findings highlight the influence of wind conditions on overtopping, suggesting the need for the inclusion of these parameters in future studies and updating the formulae used to calculate overtopping, such as EurOtop, to increase the accuracy and reliability of future overtopping forecasting models.

Publication Date

2025-12

Publication Title

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Volume

18

Issue

2

ISSN

1754-2383

Deposit Date

2025-12

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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