Author(s): Hani Ghasemi; Ali Dastgheib; John O’Sullivan; Md Salauddin

Linked Author(s): John D. OSullivan, Md Salauddin

Keywords: Seagrass meadows; Oyster reefs; Numerical modelling; Wave attenuation; Nature-based solutions

Abstract: Climate-driven rises in sea level combined with a higher frequency and severity of storm surges are increasing the vulnerability of coastal areas to erosion and flooding. Coastal habitats such as seagrass meadows and oyster reefs have gained attention as nature-based solutions (NbS) for their potential to mitigate these impacts, offering sustainable alternatives to traditional hard-engineering approaches. This paper presents a systematic literature review focusing on numerical modelling techniques used to evaluate the wave attenuation capacities of these coastal habitats. By synthesizing results from 35 studies, this review investigates the effectiveness of seagrass meadows and oyster reefs in reducing wave energy using different numerical models, including Delft3D, SWAN, XBeach, MIKE 21/3, ADCIRC, and other commonly hydrodynamic model. The findings indicate that both ecosystems can significantly reduce wave height and energy, highlighting their potential as effective nature-based coastal protection measures. However, limitations such as data scarcity, seasonal variability of ecosystems, and the lack of long-term validation introduce uncertainties in modelling results, emphasizing the need for improved data availability and model validation to better assess the wave attenuation performance of these habitats.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/iahr.proc.ise2026.abs.133

Year: 2026