Numerical Modelling of Arctic Coastal Erosion Due to Breaking Waves Impact Using REEF3D

Abstract

In the present study, numerical modelling breaking waves over a slope and the resulting erosion in the arctic region is presented. The study is performed with the open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model REEF3D. First, the numerical model re- sults are validated with experimental data for breaking waves and sediment transport over a sloping seabed with the seawall. Good agreement with experimental data is achieved. Further, a real case study is carried out to investigate the breaking wave impact on a vertical bluff in combination with the arctic coastal morphodynamics. For this case study, the Bjørndalen location in the Isfjorden, Svalbard is chosen, where significant coast erosion was observed during a storm event in September 2015.