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Using Fine-Grained Sediment and Wave Attenuation as a New Measure for Evaluating the Efficacy of Offshore Breakwaters in Stabilizing an Eroded Muddy Coast: Insights from Ca Mau, the Mekong Delta of Vietnam
- Source :
- Sustainability, Vol 13, Iss 4798, p 4798 (2021), Sustainability, Volume 13, Issue 9
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Offshore breakwaters can be effective in reducing the energy of incident waves through dissipation, refraction or reflection. Breakwaters are increasingly constructed to stabilize eroded muddy coasts, particularly in developing countries. Accumulation of fine-grained sediment and wave attenuation are two attributes of a stable muddy coast. Effective interventions in stabilizing eroded muddy coasts include two important elements: accumulation of fine-grained sediment and wave reduction. The efficacy of offshore breakwaters in stabilizing eroded muddy coasts is, however, not yet adequately understood. A crucial question needing attention is whether accumulation of fine-grained sediment and wave attenuation should be used in evaluating the efficacy of these offshore breakwaters in stabilizing eroded muddy coasts. To address this issue, a pile-rock offshore breakwater in Huong Mai, Tieu Dua of Ca Mau, Vietnam was selected as an appropriate example in this regard. Accumulation of fine-grained sediment and wave attenuation were tested as means to investigate the efficacy of the Huong Mai structure in stabilizing the eroded muddy coast. The study was undertaken using field-based measurements and semi-structured interviews in three stages between October 2016 and December 2020. We found that this structure has had limited efficacy in stabilizing the eroded muddy coast. The structure was effective in dissipating the energy of incident waves, but we found no evidence of fine-grained sediment accumulation due to an inappropriate structural design. There was also no monitoring system in place, leading to difficulties in evaluating its efficacy in terms of wave attenuation and accumulation of fine-grained sediment. The gaps between the shoreline and the structure have not been adequately explained, resulting in substantial challenges in replicating the structure elsewhere. The Huong Mai structure should be strengthened using supplementary measures and granulometric tests in order to improve the efficacy in stabilizing eroded muddy coasts. The methods in this study provide new insights in this regard.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences
Geography, Planning and Development
TJ807-830
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
TD194-195
01 natural sciences
Renewable energy sources
structural design
GE1-350
wave attenuation
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Shore
geography
natural regeneration
geography.geographical_feature_category
Environmental effects of industries and plants
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
010604 marine biology & hydrobiology
Attenuation
Sediment
fine-grained sediment
Offshore breakwater
turbidity
Transplantation
Environmental sciences
Oceanography
Breakwater
Submarine pipeline
Mekong delta
Geology
transplantation
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20711050
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 4798
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Sustainability
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....6000acd58e2aa13e9bba246caed0bb2c