Application of SWASH to Compute Wave Overtopping in Ericeira Harbour for Operational Purposes

Abstract

This work aimed at testing the capability of the numerical model SWASH to be implemented in the prototype of the overtopping and flooding forecast system HIDRALERTA for Ericeira harbour. In contrast to the neural network NN_OVERTOPPING2, which is currently implemented in HIDRALERTA, SWASH is able to estimate the flood extension and wave propagation along the domain, which makes it a possible improvement to NN_OVERTOPPING2. The one-dimensional version of the SWASH model was implemented to simulate overtopping at two different profiles (antifer and tetrapods) and calibrated for three storms in 2019 by comparing the simulated overtopping discharge to NN_OVERTOPPING2 results. For the calibration, the Manning coefficient was used to represent the friction of the armour layer. Then, for operational purposes, four expressions to calculate the Manning coefficient were developed based on: the relative crest freeboard, the wave steepness, the incident wave angle and the type of armour layer. The expressions showed small errors between the calculated and calibrated Manning coefficients and highlighted the importance of the incident wave angle to obtain an accurate calibration. Despite an underestimation of the overtopping discharge in some cases, the SWASH model was found to provide overall good results when applied with calculated Manning coefficients and suitable to be implemented in HIDRALERTA.