In-situ experiments to establish the role that UK kelp forests play in attenuating wave energy

Robyn Mastin-Wynne ¹, Miguel Morales Maqueda ¹, Heather Sugden ¹, Pippa Moore ¹

¹ Newcastle University, UK

There is an increasing threat of erosion and flooding along coastlines globally. With the effects of climate change causing rising sea levels and increased storminess, it is likely that the impacts of storm surges will increase with impacts for coastal communities and infrastructure. Traditionally, "hard" engineered structures like seawalls have been a leading strategy for coastal defence, however, these solutions are increasingly viewed as environmentally and economically unsustainable due to their high construction and maintenance costs in the context of future climate scenarios. Additionally, the ecological consequences of replacing natural habitats with artificial structures are significant.
In response to these challenges, there is a growing interest in researching the value of natural habitats for coastal protection. For instance, kelp forests enhance coastal resilience by promoting local shallowing of water, increased bed friction, sediment deposition, and the building of vertical biomass. These factors contribute to wave attenuation, thereby mitigating coastal erosion. However, the extent of wave attenuation provided by these habitats remains a topic of debate, influenced by variables such as habitat width, height, and density.
To address this knowledge gap, this research will quantify wave attenuation, provided by kelp forests in various environmental contexts, highlighting the critical role of natural habitats in stabilizing coastlines in the face of climate change. While also testing the feasibility of using low-cost devices. Method development and preliminary results will be presented.