Discussion of “Field-based numerical model investigation of wave propagation across marshes in the Chesapeake Bay under storm conditions” by Juan L. Garzon, Tyler Miesse and Celso M. Ferreira

Abstract

In the recent paper by Garzon, Miesse, and Ferreira (Coastal Engineering, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2018.11.001), the authors collected field data from Chesapeake Bay, and numerically simulated the wave attenuation by vegetation using five different empirical drag coefficient formulas. The implementation of the formula from Jadhav (2012) was incorrect by Garzon et al. (2018), resulting in considerable under-prediction of wave height in comparison of the field data. This discussion aims to present the correct way to use the drag coefficient formula from Jadhav (2012). Our numerical results show that the drag coefficient formulas of Jadhav (2012) and Jadhav and Chen (2012) are suitable for modeling wave attenuation by salt marshes in Chesapeake Bay.