Morphological Analysis of Barrier Islands in the Nakdong River Estuary, South Korea

Abstract

Youn, S. and Zarillo, G., 2022. Morphological analysis of barrier islands in the Nakdong River Estuary, South Korea. Journal of Coastal Research, 38(3), 475–490. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The Nakdong Estuary system and the associated barrier island system near Busan, South Korea, consists of dynamic shorelines characterized by morphological transformations that result from natural disasters (typhoons and flooding), rising sea levels, and construction projects (the Nakdong Estuary Dam and the Busan Newport). This study aims to synthesize existing water level, wave, meteorological, and morphological data obtained from various institutions with the objective of identifying major factors that influence shoreline and area change over time. These objectives were met by analyzing the shoreline and area with direction analysis from center point (DACP) to consider the influence of river discharge and sea-level rise and to determine shoreline shifts in barrier island orientation over time. From DACP, it was determined that the Nakdong barrier islands rotated clockwise because of erosion and deposition. Offshore shorelines of barrier islands advanced by 0.1 to 2 km between 1972 and 2013. The area change rate between 1972 and 2013 was 20.85% from 100 to 180° because of the Maenggeummeori-do channel construction and discharge from the Nakdong Estuary Dam. Morphological changes and shifts in shoreline positions were caused by alteration of flow patterns because of construction of the Nakdong Estuary Dam and sea-level rise in the Nakdong Estuary system based on the timeline of the shoreline and area change rates. This study exemplifies the need for a preconstruction development plan in a study area to ensure that the results of a project are environmentally sound with respect to the potential impacts of project construction and sea-level rise.