A nearshore evolution model for sandy coasts: IH-LANSloc

Abstract

This paper presents IH-LANSloc (IH-Long-term Anthropized coastlines Simulation tool for local-scale studies), a numerical model that solves shoreline and nearshore evolution at short and long-term time scales and in a wide variety of sandy coastal settings. IH-LANSloc results from the two-way fully coupling of a data-assimilated shoreline evolution model with a process-based wave propagation model and a rules-based profile translation tool. In contrast to shoreline evolution models, IH-LANSloc is able to reproduce the nearshore evolution in areas with complex bathymetries, considering the effects of human interventions (e.g., groynes, seawalls, breakwaters and nourishments) and natural ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs, seagrasses, and vegetation patches). This nearshore evolution model is less computationally expensive and is applicable to larger time scales than most process-based models and provides more accurate and richer results than present-day physics-based models. Model validation is carried out at an embayed beach in northern Spain showing great agreement with satellite-derived shoreline observations (RMSE<7m).