The Influence of Sea-Level Rise on Wave-Energy Dissipation and Wave-Driven Currents at Buck Island Reef National Monument

Abstract

ABSTRACT Wegner, C.E. and Ellis, J.T., 2017. The influence of sea-level rise on wave-energy dissipation and wave-driven currents at Buck Island Reef National Monument. Modern Caribbean reefs have undergone significant degradation in the past century because of various anthropogenic stressors, which include climate-change-related impacts, hurricanes, and, potentially, sea-level rise. Degraded reefs will be unable to maintain sufficient vertical accretion with substantial increases in sea level, which will alter the hydrodynamics of these systems. A reduction in wave dissipation by reefs has the potential to shift the shorelines behind the reefs, potentially resulting in economic and habitat losses for tropical shorelines. This study focused on a barrier reef with low, live coral cover (<10%) and accretion rates comparable to current rates of sea-level rise in the region (∼1.7 mm/y). Tides served as a proxy for sea-level rise, with the spring high tide representing a future low tide. These findings indicate...