Abstract
Sand dunes play a significant role during coastal storms by absorbing the impacts of storm surge and high waves. Therefore, rapid profile changes and destruction of sand dunes, which may be caused by wave-induced overwash, lead to an increased flood risk landward of dunes. The effects of vegetation on dune erosion and overwash during storm events, however, have never been studied. This study is based on a laboratory experiment investigating the effects of woody plants on dune erosion and overwash of high and low dunes. During the five tests conducted foredune scarping was observed for the three high dune tests but did not occur for the two low dune tests. A narrow vegetation placed on the steep backdune of the high dune did not reduce wave overtopping and sand overwash. However, the wide vegetation figuration, which covered the backdune and foredune, reduced foredune scarping, prevented wave overtopping initially and reduced sand overwash after the initiation of wave overtopping for the high 
 dune. It also slowed down the erosion process of the low dune significantly by retarding wave uprush and reducing wave overtopping and overwash.
Highlights
An accelerated population growth in coastal areas is noticed worldwide
Gutierrez et al (2007) point out that shoreline erosion and dune overwash will increase with mean sea level rise
In addition to hydrodynamic measurements, information on wave overtopping and sand overwash was necessary to investigate the effects of vegetation on dune erosion
Summary
This study is based on a laboratory experiment investigating the effects of woody plants on dune erosion and overwash of high and low dunes. A narrow vegetation placed on the steep backdune of the high dune did not reduce wave overtopping and sand overwash. The wide vegetation figuration, which covered the backdune and foredune, reduced foredune scarping, prevented wave overtopping initially and reduced sand overwash after the initiation of wave overtopping for the high dune. It slowed down the erosion process of the low dune significantly by retarding wave uprush and reducing wave overtopping and overwash
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