11 - Investigating Relative Exposure Index Affects on Living and Natural Shorelines

Author Information

Emma FriedauerFollow

Description/Abstract/Artist Statement

Shoreline destruction and erosion are ongoing concerns in the Hampton Roads area, including the Lafayette River. A major contributor to shoreline loss is the process of wave attack, which is driven by wind speed, direction, and fetch. Because natural shorelines are highly vulnerable to these forces, municipalities and stakeholders are increasingly employing living shorelines to protect cultural and economic resources. These structures are engineered to buffer against wave attack through the use of oyster castles and elevated elevation profiles, while providing the ecosystem services and appearance of a natural marsh. To assess the impact of wave exposure, we calculated the Relative Exposure Index (REI) for five natural and five corresponding living shorelines in fall 2024, quantifying their susceptibility to wind-driven waves. We then analyzed correlations between REI, above-ground biomass, and elevation profiles to evaluate shoreline resilience. Above-ground biomass was estimated using stem counts, leaf length, and plant mass. Elevation profiles were mapped using a real-time-kinetic GPS system. We predict that shorelines with higher REI, indicating greater wave exposure, will exhibit lower vegetation density and reduced elevation profiles. Additionally, we expect natural shorelines to show lower above-ground biomass and a reduced elevation profile than engineered shorelines, which benefit from oyster castles that mitigate wave attack. Understanding these relationships is essential for improving shoreline management strategies, as shoreline degradation threatens ecological health, biodiversity, and coastal resilience. By identifying how wave exposure influences shoreline conditions, this study will provide valuable insights for future conservation and restoration efforts in the Hampton Roads area, as well as the rest of the world, helping to guide sustainable solutions for protecting vulnerable shorelines from continued erosion and environmental stressors.

Presenting Author Name/s

Emma Friedauer

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Rip Hale

Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department

Ocean and Earth Sciences Department

College Affiliation

College of Sciences

Presentation Type

Poster

Disciplines

Earth Sciences | Environmental Sciences

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11 - Investigating Relative Exposure Index Affects on Living and Natural Shorelines

Shoreline destruction and erosion are ongoing concerns in the Hampton Roads area, including the Lafayette River. A major contributor to shoreline loss is the process of wave attack, which is driven by wind speed, direction, and fetch. Because natural shorelines are highly vulnerable to these forces, municipalities and stakeholders are increasingly employing living shorelines to protect cultural and economic resources. These structures are engineered to buffer against wave attack through the use of oyster castles and elevated elevation profiles, while providing the ecosystem services and appearance of a natural marsh. To assess the impact of wave exposure, we calculated the Relative Exposure Index (REI) for five natural and five corresponding living shorelines in fall 2024, quantifying their susceptibility to wind-driven waves. We then analyzed correlations between REI, above-ground biomass, and elevation profiles to evaluate shoreline resilience. Above-ground biomass was estimated using stem counts, leaf length, and plant mass. Elevation profiles were mapped using a real-time-kinetic GPS system. We predict that shorelines with higher REI, indicating greater wave exposure, will exhibit lower vegetation density and reduced elevation profiles. Additionally, we expect natural shorelines to show lower above-ground biomass and a reduced elevation profile than engineered shorelines, which benefit from oyster castles that mitigate wave attack. Understanding these relationships is essential for improving shoreline management strategies, as shoreline degradation threatens ecological health, biodiversity, and coastal resilience. By identifying how wave exposure influences shoreline conditions, this study will provide valuable insights for future conservation and restoration efforts in the Hampton Roads area, as well as the rest of the world, helping to guide sustainable solutions for protecting vulnerable shorelines from continued erosion and environmental stressors.