OBJECTIVES

  • Explain what natural coastal barriers are.  
  • Simulate different waves on coastal regions with different types of natural barriers.  
  • Demonstrate how coastal barriers dissipate wave energy. 

VOCABULARY

  • Energy of a wave → energy created by the force that drives the growth of a wave. For example, the wind or the movement of a boat on the water.   
  • Energy Dissipation → Power Loss  
  • Dune → a slope or accumulation of sand pushed by the ocean winds towards the coast.   
  • Mangrove → a shrub or tree that keeps part of its trunk underwater and is abundant on the coasts of tropical and subtropical areas.   
  • Reef → an underwater rock structure where a wide variety of marine species are found.    
  • Seagrass → plants that grow on the bottom of the ocean, where sunlight manages to reach. 

DEMONSTRATION​ 

Information on wave energy is discussed, and examples of natural coastal barriers are provided.   
For each barrier, different wave conditions are simulated. Here you will be able to observe the dissipation of energy that occurs when the wave reaches the coast.  
The demonstration aims to raise consciousness on what natural coastal barriers are and how they affect the behavior of coastlines. 

These structures protect communities and, in many cases, protect our favorite beaches and preserve our favorite landscapes. 

 - PRELIMINAR VIDEO. STILL UNDER PRODUCTION. -

KEY POINTS

  • Waves carry energy for miles until they reach the coast.  
  • Energy dissipation is the loss or decrease of energy.   
  • Dunes help reduce coastal flooding.   
  • Mangroves, reefs and sea grasses, in addition to supporting a great diversity of marine life, dissipate the energy of the waves that reach the coast. 

Q&A: Natural Barriers

LATEST REVISION: FEBRUARY 2024