Modelling of the Interaction of Mangroves with Waves

Hong_Phuoc Vo_Luong
Ho Chi Minh University of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University

Stanislaw Massel
Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Abstract
Following the approach of wave model in uniform forest with the constant depth taken by Massel et al. (1999), this study aims to develop a predictive model of wave propagation through non-uniform forest in water of arbitrary depth. The theoretical model solves a full boundary value problem for wave propagation with dissipation. In particular, wave-trunk interaction and wave breaking are the dominant dissipation. A modified mild-slope equation including dissipation and the linearsied governing equations for wave-trunk interactions using the concept of stochastic minimalisation are applied. The numerical results of the model are verified and compared with the experimental wave data in Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, Southern Vietnam. The results prove that most of energy is dissipated within mangrove forest even at relatively small widths and is mainly due to wave trunk interaction and due to wave breaking.