Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2024, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (5): 106-115.doi: 10.11978/2023169CSTR: 32234.14.2023169

• Marine Geomorphology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A study of the effect of shore platform morphology on coastal erosion of rocky cliffs in the Wucaiwan Bay, E’man, Hainan Island

ZHAO Zhongwei1,2(), WU Lingyun1,3, GAO Weijian1,3, LI Wei1,2,3()   

  1. 1. CAS Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology (South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Guangzhou 511458, China
    2. Sanya Institute of Ocean Eco-Environmental Engineering, Sanya 572000, China
    3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2023-11-08 Revised:2023-12-04 Online:2024-09-10 Published:2024-10-10
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(42206216); Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(421QN0978)

Abstract:

The intensification of extreme wave marine hazard induced by global ocean change is very likely to accelerate the geo-hazard risk of cliff erosion in Hainan Island. Shore platforms are expected to effectively attenuate wave energy approaching the shore and consequently reduce the erosive impact of extreme waves on cliff. Shore platforms are commonly observed in volcanic rocky coasts on NW Hainan Island, providing an ideal natural laboratory to evaluate the effect of shore platform morphology on cliff erosion. This study employs the Wucaiwan Bay rocky coastline in the E’man Town, Danzhou City, Hainan Island as the study area. Time-lapsed marine remote sensing images revealed the cliff erosion rate is about 0.26 m·a-1 in the last decade in the area. Physical oceanography analysis suggested a maximum significant wave height of 7.8 m could be expected visiting the area in a 100-years return level. The geomorphological characteristics of the sloping shore platform and the rock strength of cliffs were further surveyed via coastal geomorphological approaches. Numerical computation outputs suggest the shore platforms is capable of reducing the wave erosional forces on cliff by over 80% under future extreme wave conditions. This study further discusses the natural coastal protection from sediment beaches, vegetations and in situ deposition of eroded boulders at rock cliff foot.

Key words: shore platform, cliff erosion, basalt coast, numerical computation, Hainan Island