Our group conducts interdisciplinary research on coastal and ocean hydrodynamics, interactions between physics and biological processes, and vulnerabilities of coastal infrastructure to changing coastal forces. Current research interests include nonlinear dynamics of water waves, interactions between waves, sediments, and aquatic vegetation, and storm impacts on coastal infrastructure. We also study the generation of internal waves in density-stratified fluids. Recent projects have been focused on improving the representation of mud and aquatic vegetation in numerical wave models to better quantify their impacts on nearshore surface wave propagation, quantifying the efficiency of nature-based features as defense against coastal storms, modeling compound flooding and coastal erosion in the face of sea level rise. We extensively use numerical models but also use analytical methods and conduct field measurements.
NEWS
9/27/2019: Three papers were published in September. Tahvildari and Sharifineyestani (2019) in Coastal Engineering discuss development of a new phase-resolving wave model for propagation of surface waves over viscoelastic mud. We show the substantial effect that mud elasticity can have on wave dissipation and frequency modulation. Shen et al. (2019) in Journal of Hydrology discuss application of a 2D hydrodynamic+1D pipe flow model for inland flooding for flood risk assessment due to combined effect of storm tide and rainfall-driven flow in an urban watershed in Norfolk, VA. The model uses storm tides water levels as coastal boundary condition and enables studying flood transition zones in an urban area, i.e. it identifies zones where source of flood transitions from storm tide which is primarily the coastal area, to rainfall-driven flow which is primarily in inland regions. Bilkovic et al. (2019) in Ocean and Coastal Management analyze geospatial and water quality data to assess potential impacts of boat wakes on shoreline erosion in small waterways, and provide an overview of policies in the Chesapeake Bay states to address boat wake-induced erosion. Check out the publications page for more information.
8/1/2019: EHG is awarded with three recent research grants which will start in summer of 2019. One project will involve integrating hydrodynamic and biological processes in seagrass, the two processes that are often studied separately. This project will have substantial computational and field components. Another project involves measurement of flow, oxygen, and water quality indicators around hypolimnetic aerators installed in Lake Prince and Western Branch Reservoir to assess their performance. These reservoirs supply drinking water to Norfolk, VA. The third project will involve quantifying changes in sediment transport processes and shorelines in Norfolk and Virginia Beach in response to relative sea level rise. This project will mainly involve numerical modeling but we also envision some field work.