Wave Inundation on the Coral Coast of Fiji

• Main Authors: Bosserelle, Cyprien, Kruger, Jens, Movono, Make, Reddy, Sandeep K.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: GC Oceanography; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: http://repository.usp.ac.fj/8571/; http://repository.usp.ac.fj/8571/1/Wave_inundation_on_the_Coral_Coast_of_Fiji.pdf; http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=703175199757683;res=IELENG

The roaring winds of the Southern Ocean and the Tasman Sea can generate some large swells, big enough to cause inundation on the Coral Coast in the south west of Viti Levu in Fiji, some 3000 km to the north. These inundation events are sometimes associated with tsunami-like long waves that hit the shore and inundate the coast with brute force. These are locally known as loka waves. To understand the origin of the loka waves and how they become so destructive in a fringing reef environment, this research monitored the waves and water levels, for 2 years, at 4 locations across the reef at a pilot site in Maui Bay on the Coral Coast of Fiji. In order to test the size of waves necessary to cause coastal inundation, a validated numerical model, XBeach, was used to simulate the development, propagation and dissipation of these infragravity waves using different water level scenarios. The result of this analysis is intended as a predictive tool to evaluate the risk of coastal inundation from ocean surface waves that can be used to support an early warning system and coastal management tool for both the tourism industry and coastal communities on the Coral Coast.