Using Numerical Modelling to Analyze Beach Profiles Response to Extreme Storms along the Danube Delta coast, Romania

Abstract

In recent decades, human interventions along the Danube River have played a major influence on the reduction of sediment supply along the Danube Delta coast, which is nowadays affected by erosion on its widest part. The Danube Delta coast is part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, thus being designated to preserve its typical natural habitats. Therefore, Working-with-Nature concepts can be included in order to establish a sustainable maintenance plan. A method to assess the impact of storms on beach profiles along the Danube Delta is proposed in this paper. To this purpose two beach profiles located in the zone of the Sf. Gheorghe mouth have been chosen. The results of a Wave Climate Analysis have been used in order to reproduce extreme storms, as well as the model XBeach in 1D approach, to simulate their effect on the chosen profiles. The proposed analysis represents a quick and effective way to estimate the damage of extreme storms on individual beach profiles.