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Coral reefs reduce tsunami impact in model simulations
Author(s) -
Kunkel Catherine M.,
Hallberg Robert W.,
Oppenheimer Michael
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2006gl027892
Subject(s) - reef , coral reef , geology , oceanography , submarine pipeline , fringing reef , sedimentation , coral , great barrier reef , environmental science , sediment , geomorphology
Significant buffering of the impact of tsunamis by coral reefs is suggested by limited observations and some anecdotal reports, particularly following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Here we simulate tsunami run‐up on idealized topographies in one and two dimensions using a nonlinear shallow water model and show that a sufficiently wide barrier reef within a meter or two of the surface reduces run‐up on land on the order of 50%. We studied topographies representative of volcanic islands (islands with no continental shelf) but our conclusions may pertain to other topographies. Effectiveness depends on the amplitude and wavelength of the incident tsunami, as well as the geometry and health of the reef and the offshore distance of the reef. Reducing the threat to reefs from anthropogenic nutrients, sedimentation, fishing practices, channel‐building, and global warming would help to protect some islands against tsunamis.