EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE EFFECT OF STRONG WINDS ON WAVE OVERTOPPING AT A VERTICAL SEAWALL

Abstract

Given the possible future intensification of tropical cyclones as a consequence of ongoing global warming, it is becoming increasingly important to consider the effect that stronger winds will have on nearshore wave dynamics. Despite the possible influence of wind on the characteristics of wave overtopping having been suggested decades ago (e.g. Iwagaki et al., 1966), to the authors’ knowledge, not so many studies on wave dynamics have discussed this effect (e.g. Ward, 1998). Hence, the present study quantitatively analyses the overtopping of coastal structures under various types of waves and wind speeds, and will discuss the wind effects on elementary hydrodynamic processes such as wave breaking.