Sea Waves Research Articles

Study of hydrodynamic characteristics in oscillating wave surge converter

In the realm of renewable energy, researchers worldwide have been paying close attention to developing the Oscillating Wave Surge Converter (OWSC) device. This device has the potential to harness the power of ocean waves and convert it into a reliable source of clean energy. Hydrodynamic characteristics are essential parameters in developing OWSC devices. Therefore, this research conducted a hydrodynamic study on the OWSC device with variations in ocean wave periods, including T= 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, 2.1, and 2.3. The Boundary Element Method (BEM) describes the interaction between sea waves and floating body structures. This method assumes incompressible, inviscid, and irrotational flow. A numerical approach is used as a calculation method followed by verification and validation to support the level of actualization. The research results showed that the incident wave caused the OWSC device to experience a deviation from its equilibrium position in the form of an oscillating flap inclination angle as a form of hydrodynamic characteristics. The sea wave period correlatedwith the rate of change in flap position over time, including the maximum deviation in the flap angle. As a power plant, the performance of the OWSC device can work at reasonably short-wave period intervals based on the device's ability to produce mechanical power. The highest average mechanical power was achieved in the T= 1.5 period of 34.49 Watts with an efficiency of up to 52.43%. The OWSC device requires a high intensity of wave energy in a short duration to generate optimal mechanical power. It is important to note that optimal mechanical power generation is crucial for the OWSC device to function effectively. Therefore, the device should be placed in a location where the wave energy intensity is consistently high.

Analysis of Wave Characteristics near Wangdeungdo through Southwest Sea Wave Hindcasting

Wave conditions are crucial for offshore wind farm design, particularly in determining structural loads and layout. However, there is limited wave hindcasting research for the Wangdeungdo Island area, a potential offshore wind site. This study used the MIKE21 model for a year-long wave hindcast around Wangdeungdo in 2021. Validation showed high reproducibility for significant wave heights with RMSE values of 0.177 and 0.225 and Pearson correlations of 0.971 and 0.970 at Sangwangdeungdo and Buan buoys. Subsequent analysis of the wave characteristics near Wangdeungdo indicated significant seasonal variations and differences in maximum significant wave heights across locations, which are expected to significantly impact the design loads for offshore wind structures.

Sea ice and waves in the Sea of Okhotsk from 1989 to 2012

Coastlines along the Sea of Okhotsk in Hokkaido are the southernmost regions in the northern Pacific Ocean where sea ice reaches the coast. It has been demonstrated that global warming affects and decreases the ice cover area in the Sea of Okhotsk. This study thus aims to investigate the relationship between sea ice and waves in the Sea of Okhotsk by analyzing ice cover area, sea ice volume, significant wave height and significant wave period. Additionally, we made an attempt to clarify trends in ice cover area and sea ice volume from 1989 to 2012 using satellite images. Sea ice volumes in the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk correlate with significant wave height and significant wave period. Furthermore, ice cover area and sea ice volume have decreased since 2001 or 2002, which may enhance wave action during winter.

Life support technology of beach glamping using renewable energy of sea waves

Life support technology of beach glamping using renewable energy of sea waves

Wave attenuation by three-dimensional circular floating sea ice: Regular and irregular waves

The evolution of ice conditions and wave patterns in polar water areas is complex, and studying the hydrodynamic response between sea ice and waves is crucial. In this study, the hydrodynamic response of sea ice in infinitely deep water is investigated by a sea ice scattering model based on linear potential flow and thin plate approximation theory. Building upon regular wave and sea ice scattering models, an irregular wave model was established and analyzed. This paper discusses the factors that influence sea ice resonance in a three-dimensional scattering model. It categorizes resonance phenomena into strong and weak based on mass and elasticity coefficients and provides a predictive function for identifying strong resonance points. Additionally, the study examines sea ice attenuation from an energy perspective. Research on sea ice in irregular waves indicates a negative correlation between the directional spreading parameter and wave attenuation. An increase in directional spreading parameter weakens the inhibitory effect on the high-frequency part of the waves. Increasing sea ice thickness enhances wave attenuation, exerting an inhibitory effect on waves in the high-frequency region.

Macro- and micro-morphological comparison of the detailed structure of the oral cavity roof in two different feeding habits marine fishes: Pagrus pagrus and Boops boops.

The feeding habits and habitats of fish influence the morphology of the oral cavity. This study used gross anatomy, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, in addition to morphometric analysis, to investigate the anatomical characteristics of the oral cavity roof in Pagrus pagrus and Boops boops, which have different dietary habits. The oral cavity roof appeared U-shaped and divided into the palate and upper pharyngeal regions. The upper lip of P. pagrus was broad, while B. boops'upper lip was small and thin. Both species had a stratified squamous epithelium with an irregular shape and a folded surface. P. pagrus had a horseshoe-shaped upper velum with a high middle part, and its surface resembled sea waves with obvious mucous-secreting openings with cilia and many folds and grooves between them. B. boops's upper velum was thin and appeared as a triangle pouch with a pointed cranial apex. The palate in both species was narrow in the front and increased in width backward until it ended. The upper pharyngeal teeth in P. pagrus appeared as two patches, separated by a median longitudinal ridge and an anterior V-shape separator. Meanwhile, in B. boops, they appeared as a ball patch on both sides and a separator ridge in the middle. Because P. pagrus fed on harder structures than B. boops, their feeding habits were reflected in the structure of the oral cavity roof. P. pagrus, a carnivorous species, had several rows of sharp upper jaw and upper pharyngeal teeth, thick spinous tubercles on oblique transverse ridges, and massive mucous glands. On the other hand, B. boops, an omnivorous species, had only one row of upper jaw teeth, a few upper pharyngeal teeth scattered on two oval patches, and thin filaments on the oblique transverse ridges.

Функціональні перебудови кардіогемодинаміки людини при морському кінетозі

Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv; e-mail: moiseyenkoev@gmail.com The purpose of the study was to determine the functional changes in cardiohemodynamics during dosed physical activity of a person in the conditions of sea storm kinetosis and features of cerebral biorhythms, this may indicate the development of modification rearrangements of the mechanisms of central regulation of the body’s functional systems. The research was carried out with the participation of 23 specialists of the Antarctic expedition (men aged 24 to 45 years). They crossed the Drake Passage by sea: sea turbulence - 7 points, the ship’s roll angle - 120, the duration of the crossing was 4 days. It was determined that a person’s stay in the conditions of a sea wave leads to changes in the mechanisms of vasoconstrictor regulation, this was indicated by inadequate blood pressure fluctuations during functional diagnostics and an increase in the load on the heart’s activity due to an increase in pulse and diastolic pressure and the lack of recovery dynamics after performing physical work. It was shown that as a result of marine kinetosis in the structure of cerebral biorhythms, the power of β1 and β2 rhythms in the projections of the cerebral cortex increases. Such changes may indicate a certain participation of central mechanisms in the reorganization of the regulation of functional reserves of cardiohemodynamics. It is assumed that when using medical devices for patients with a cardiac profile in conditions of seasickness, it is advisable to take into account the presence of features of changes in the central and regional regulation of blood circulation function.

Observations of anomalously strong mode-2 internal solitary waves in the central Andaman sea by a mooring system

During the period from July 2016 to July 2018, a mooring system deployed in the central Andaman Sea recorded a significant number of highly intense mode-2 internal solitary waves (ISWs), with wave-induced current strengths comparable to those of local mode-1 ISWs. Distinct propagation characteristics and seasonal variations are uncovered, with mode-2 ISWs being identified as primarily propagating eastward and exhibiting a notable frequency peak from November to March. A significant correlation is established between the occurrence of mode-2 ISWs and higher-mode internal tides (ITs), particularly characterized by a high correlation with the third Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) mode. Combined with satellite remote sensing images, it is further confirmed that mode-2 ISWs are generated by the nonlinear steepening of ITs and propagate over long distances through resonance with higher-mode ITs. In contrast, our findings suggest that mode-1 ISWs are predominantly generated by the Lee-wave mechanism, especially south of the Ten Degree Channel, and typically propagate northeastward. This study underscores the complex interplay of ocean stratification and seabed topography in the genesis and propagation of ISWs.

Investigating the effectiveness of music therapy combined with binaural beats on chronic tinnitus: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundBinaural beat stimulation (BBS) involve presenting two sinusoidal waves with specific frequency differences to induce neural changes in the brain, often used for mental state induction and symptom reduction. However, there are limited studies on its effectiveness for tinnitus. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of combining binaural beats with music containing nature sounds for chronic tinnitus. MethodsA total of 30 men, aged 45.87 on average (SD = 8.09), who had chronic tinnitus and symmetrical mild to moderate hearing loss, were included in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups: MT group (Music therapy; n = 15), which received relaxing music containing the sound of sea waves, and MT + BBS group (Music therapy plus binaural beats; n = 15), which received the same music combined with alpha frequency (8 Hz) binaural beats. The therapy sessions were conducted twice a day for 15 min, over a period of 4 weeks. Outcome measures, including the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the pitch and loudness of tinnitus were administered before, immediately after, and during the three-month follow-up period. ResultsThe findings revealed improvements in loudness and annoyance VAS, as well as THI total and all subscale scores in both groups (p < 0.001). Additionally, TFI total score showed improvement in both groups (MT: p = 0.001; MT + BBS: p < 0.001) except for the sense of control subscale in both groups and the cognitive subscale in the MT group after the treatment and during the three-month follow-up period. Furthermore, both groups exhibited a decrease in scores for both subscales of HADS. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measurement outcomes (p > 0.05), except for the emotional subscale scores of TFI (p = 0.049) and the functional subscale scores of THI (p = 0.034). In other words, during the follow-up period, the MT + BBS group exhibited lower scores in these two subscales compared to the MT group. ConclusionAlthough our study failed to demonstrate the superiority of combining binaural beats with music, both groups experienced significant improvements. This suggest that there are potential benefits to be gained from these types of stimuli. Given the sustained effect of both methods and the even greater improvements in follow-up observed in the binaural beats group for some scales, it seems that the changes in neural response and brain waves caused by our stimulations are persistent. This necessitates further research involving brain mapping, especially with longer follow-up durations.

Studying the Internal Wave Generation Mechanism in the Northern South China Sea Using Numerical Simulation, Synthetic Aperture Radar, and In Situ Measurements

The internal waves in the South China Sea are highly correlated with the tidal currents in the Luzon Strait, which makes it possible to establish an internal wave prediction model based on internal wave kinematics. However, the kinematic model requires the input of the exact location and time of the initial internal wave for which the generation mechanism of internal waves in the northern South China Sea must be well understood. By analyzing the internal wave field in the northern South China Sea (SCS) simulated using the MIT General Circulation Model (MITgcm) and observations from satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and mooring temperature–salinity–depth (TSD) chains, the source regions and propagation initiation times of internal waves are identified for three typical tidal phases, i.e., the diurnal-tide-dominated phase (DTP), transition tide phase (TTP), and semidiurnal-tide-dominated phase (STP). The generation procedures of Type A and Type B internal waves are discussed in detail with those data. The present study reveals that Type A and Type B waves are generated at the eastern and western ridges, respectively, and both commence their westward propagation at the peak of the eastward tidal flow. The dynamics of lee waves and the resonance effect with double ridges constitute the generation mechanisms of internal waves in the northern SCS. Combined with varying configurations of tidal conditions, topography, and stratification, the generation procedures of Type A and Type B waves in the DTP, TTP, and STP are elucidated with the generation mechanism in a unified and self-consistent way. In short, during DTP, weaker A waves alternate with weaker B waves each day; during TTP, strong A waves and strong B waves appear alternately every day; and there are two weak A waves per day during the STP. The generation mechanism can help in developing future empirical models for generating internal waves using tidal currents, topography, and stratification without requiring complex fluid dynamics calculations.

Understanding the influence of environmental conditions on the low cycle fatigue behaviour of high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel under air and corrosive (3.5% NaCl) conditions

Offshore structures which are made up of high-strength low alloy (HSLA) steel experience fatigue load due to sea waves and corrosion. In the present work, the influence of environmental conditions (air and 3.5 % NaCl solution) on the strain-controlled fatigue life of High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) steel has been determined. Low cycle fatigue experiments were conducted on HSLA steel specimens of 12 mm diameter which were prepared parallel to the rolling direction. The strain amplitude was varied in the range of 0.4 to 0.7 % for a constant test frequency of 0.3 Hz. For all the total strain amplitudes (Δεt/2), a significant reduction in fatigue life was observed while testing the specimens under the presence of 3.5 % NaCl solution compared to the air environment. Microscopic investigation indicates that rigorous grain boundary oxidation has happened, and it has created the grain boundary cracking and several sites for fatigue crack initiation and propagation. The presence of corrosive compounds (Fe2O3, FeOOH) was also confirmed by the X-ray diffraction patterns. In addition, mixed modes (transannular and intergranular) of fractures were observed due to the presence of 3.5 % NaCl solution.

A numerical study on energy transfer between near-inertial internal waves and super-inertial internal waves in the South China sea under the influence of a typhoon

The energy transfer between near-inertial internal waves (NIWs) and super-inertial internal waves (SIWs) in the South China Sea (SCS) after the passage of Typhoon Son-tinh was investigated on the basis of a three-dimensional numerical model. Our model nicely reproduces the spectral peak (6.6 × 10−2 m2 s−2 cpd−1) within the near-inertial frequency band, which agrees well with that (6.5 × 10−2 m2 s−2 cpd−1) in the in-situ observations at the Xisha mooring. Model results demonstrate that the energy transfer rate from NIWs (0.8f∼1.8f) to SIWs (>1.8f) within the mixed layer in the wake of typhoon Son-tinh is an order of magnitude larger than that during the typhoon-free period. Analogously, the super-inertial shear variance increases by nearly an order of magnitude as well. The increase in the energy of SIWs is mainly due to the energy cascade of NIWs through the nonlinear wave-wave interaction. The interaction between NIWs and SIWs was also revealed by the bicoherence spectrum. Compared with that on the left side of the typhoon track, the NIW kinetic energy on the right side is stronger, where the interaction between NIWs and SIWs is more intense. Several sensitivity experiments were designed to further investigate the effects of three typhoon parameters, namely the radius of maximum typhoon wind speed (Rmax), the maximum typhoon wind speed (Vmax) and the moving speed of typhoon (Um), on the energy transfer rate (ETR) from NIWs to SIWs. It is shown that, the ETR increases linearly with Rmax. Among three parameters, Vmax has the strongest effects on the ETR which grows in power with increasing Vmax. The ETR increases and then decreases with the enhancement of Um, which gets maximum when Um is about 6∼6.5 m/s. Overall, our results highlight the energy transfer between near-inertial internal waves and super-inertial internal waves under the influence of a typhoon.

Sediment resuspension and transport due to synoptic winter winds in the Bohai Sea

The Bohai Sea is the receiving basin of the Yellow River (Huanghe), one of the largest contributors of global terrestrial materials to the sea. An area of fine-grained sediment deposition extends northeast of the Yellow River and its formation mechanism is still unclear. A calibrated, high-resolution coupled model of the Bohai and Yellow Seas was used to investigate sediment transport pathways in the region under the influence of strong and varying winds in winter. Numerical results highlight the importance of storm events in modifying the regional sediment resuspension and transport. During winter, the prevailing winds are typically from the northeast and northwest, interspersed by relaxation periods with weak winds. Winds influenced the currents and sediment movement in the Bohai Sea through several processes: local wind waves and resuspension, coastal-trapped waves in the Bohai Sea, and remotely forced coastal-trapped waves in the Yellow Sea. During northwesterly winds, sediment off the Yellow River Delta was mainly transported eastward along the south coast of Bohai Sea and escaped the Bohai Sea through the southern Bohai Strait. When northeasterly winds prevailed, sediment transport split into three branches: westward into the Bohai Bay, northeastward to the central Bohai Sea, and eastward along the south coast of Bohai Sea. Modeling results driven by synoptic winds indicate a more complex sediment transport pattern than previously understood with monthly average wind forcing. These findings challenge the traditional view of predominantly eastward sediment transport during winter and help to explain the observed grain size distribution in the Bohai Sea, in particular the accumulation of fine-grained sediments northeast of the Yellow River.

Characteristics Analysis of Influence of Multiple Parameters of Mixed Sea Waves on Delay–Doppler Map in Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry

Feature capture and recognition of sea wave components in radar systems especially in global navigation satellite system reflectometry (GNSS-R) using signal processing approaches or computer simulative methods has become a research hotspot in recent years. At the same time, parameter inversion of marine phenomena from the discovered characteristics plays a significant role in monitoring and forewarning the different components of sea waves. This paper aims to investigate the impact of multiple parameters, such as the wind speed, directionality variable, wave amplitude, wave length, and directions of sea wave components, on the delay waveform of the delay–Doppler map (DDM). Two types of wind waves and the 2-D sinusoidal sea surface are chosen to be analyzed. By comparing and analyzing the discrepancy of delay waveforms under different conditions, it can be concluded that the increased MSS which arises from the increase in the roughness of the sea surface can lead to the difference in the peak value or trial edges exhibited in delay waveforms. The values of delay waveforms at zero chip along the increasing direction of long-crest wind waves exhibit the periodic spikes shape, which is the opposite of the short-crest wind waves, and the fluctuation of the periodic profiles decreases with the increase in the amplitude of waves. The results and conclusions can provide a foundation for the parameter inversion, tracking, and early warning of anomalous formations of waves in bistatic radar configuration.

Satellite wave 2D spectrum partition based on the PI-vit-GAN(physically-informed ViT-GAN) method

The abundant spectral data provided by satellite technology are crucial for interpreting the complex marine environment, and the effective and accurate analysis of these data is particularly important for coastal engineering. In this regard, this study proposes a Physically Informed ViT-GAN (PI-ViT-GAN) automatic partitioning method, based on CFOSAT satellite wave spectrum data. Specifically, the model consists of a generator and discriminator. The generator utilizes a contrastive learning strategy as pretraining and through the self-attention mechanism of the ViT model, it focuses on key parts of the spectrum to extract wave group features and wave element parameters. Partitioning-head joint training realizes the output of wave group partition element indices. Subsequently, the discriminator uses the wave group features and a parametric model for spectrum reconstruction and computes the error with the original observed spectrum to evaluate the partition and reconstruction effects. Additionally, this model incorporates two physically corrected functions, wave system classification loss and merging loss, based on the wave age criterion, thereby guiding the training process, and enhancing model efficiency. The results indicate that the reconstructed theoretical spectrum, obtained through the utilization of this method, aligns well with the original sea wave spectrum, demonstrating a precision superior to the spectral partitioning product of CFOSAT's own SWIM. Combining the robust learning capability of the transformer and the regularization of physical prior knowledge, this model can achieve precise, low-cost automated analysis of satellite wave spectra, providing a new scalable method for big data analysis in marine and coastal engineering.

The Propagation Velocity and Influences of Environmental Factors of Deterministic Sea Wave Prediction in the Long Crest Wave

Ocean waves are one of the leading environmental factors that cause motion of the ocean’s structure. Wave prediction is of great significance for the safety of marine structures. The deterministic sea wave prediction (DSWP) has been focused on because it provided an accurate temporal wave surface. The propagation velocity of wave components is one of the critical problems in DSWP. In this paper, the research of propagation velocity is focused on. The Taylor expansion to wave number is used to prove that the group velocity is the propagation velocity of wave components. The simulated irregular long crest wave data is generated. Utilizing the simulated data, the calculated wave surfaces based on group velocity are consistent with the simulated results. Meanwhile, the comparisons of calculated results based on the group velocity and phase velocity are given. Then, a tank experiment is set to verify the prediction results. To further investigate the prediction performance under different conditions, the influences of environmental factors, including the wind speed, water depth and sea state are analyzed in this paper.

Classification, composition, and sources of marine litter on beach sediment of Kondang Merak Coast, Malang, Indonesia

Marine litter pollution has been examined extensively as a significant environmental concern. Beaches are particularly vulnerable to this form of pollution since it is located between land and sea. Malang is one of the cities on Java Island, with a long coastline and numerous beautiful beaches facing the Indian Ocean. Kondang Merak Beach is a popular tourist destination among locals. However, it is under constant threat from marine litter pollution. The beach is divided into two distinct areas: the foreshore, which is influenced by sea waves and currents, and the backshore, which is significantly impacted by tourist activity. Therefore, this study aimed to examine marine litter on beach sediment and to distinguish the composition of marine litter between foreshore and backshore areas. Quadrat transects of 5 x 5 m and 50 x 50 cm were used to collect bigger and micro-size marine litter, respectively. Of the 895 litter items, 61 % were collected from the backshore and 39 % from the foreshore areas. Bigger-sized litter found in the backshore area was the result of tourism activities. On the other hand, micro-size litter in the foreshore area resulted from fragmentation from bigger-size litter.

The Potency of Antibacterial Activity of Avicennia officinalis Leaf Extract Originating from Ambon Bay, Maluku, Indonesia

Mangroves are known as perennial plants that thrive and adapt in tropical coastal areas affected by tidal cycles. Mangroves serve ecological functions such as protecting the coast from wind, currents, and sea waves. Besides its ecological functions, mangrove leaf known well has an activity as antibacterial. The objective of this study was to determine the yield, phytochemical component contained and antibacterial strength of Avicennia officinalis leaf extract, originating from Ambon Bay against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The result showed that Avicennia officinalis leave extracts methanol extract generated an inhibition zone 14.97±0.41 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 12.01±0.06 mm against Escherichia coli. Methanol solvent exhibits the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, followed by ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts. However, Escherichia coli showed more resistance to the Avicennia officinalis leaf extract.

Joint Effects of Winds and Tides on Near-Inertial Internal Waves in the Northern South China Sea: A Three-Dimensional Numerical Study

Abstract Joint effects of winds and tides on near-inertial internal waves (NIWs) are numerically investigated via a series of three-dimensional quasi-realistic simulations in the northern South China Sea (NSCS). Model results demonstrate that in the presence of wind-induced NIWs, more tidal energy is transferred to NIWs, while in the presence of tide-induced NIWs, the extreme wind (cyclone) would inject less near-inertial kinetic energy (NIKE). The interaction between wind-induced and tide-induced NIWs produces total NIKE more (or less) than a linear superposition of that generated by wind and tide forcing alone at different sites in the NSCS. Specifically, near the Luzon Strait, both tides and winds make positive contributions to the local near-inertial energy input, resulting in more than 30% enhancement of total NIKE (&gt;0.5 kJ m−2). However, in some deep-water regions along the cyclone paths, energy is transferred from cyclones to NIWs and also from NIWs to internal tides. Due to this “energy pipeline” effect, tide- and wind-induced NIWs contribute to weakening of total NIKE (∼0.3 kJ m−2 or 30%). Additionally, sensitivity experiments with varying initial tidal phases indicate that the interaction between wind-induced NIKE and tide-induced NIKE is robust in most of the model domain (over 80%) under different phase alignments between wind- and tide-induced NIWs. From the perspective of cyclones, tide-induced NIKE is comparable to wind-induced NIKE in the Luzon Strait before the arrival of cyclones, while tide-induced NIKE is two orders of magnitude smaller than wind-induced NIKE in most of the NSCS after the arrival of cyclones. Overall, our results highlight the joint effects of wind and tide forcing on the local NIW dynamics in the NSCS. Significance Statement Near-inertial internal waves (NIWs) are ubiquitous phenomena in stratified water, which can significantly influence the ocean mixing, especially across the thermocline. NIWs are generated mainly by wind forcing near the sea surface, but also by internal tide breaking in the ocean interior. Hence, a question that arises is whether winds or tides play dominant roles in generating NIWs. In fact, due to the interaction between wind- and tide-induced NIWs, the total near-inertial kinetic energy (NIKE) is not merely a linear superposition of that generated by winds and tides forcing alone. By carrying out numerical experiments, we find that extreme winds can help to transfer more energy from tides to NIWs, while tides would suppress energy transferring from winds to NIWs. As a result, this fact is crucial in accurately reproducing NIW dynamics in a targeted region, thereby determining redistribution of local ocean mixing intensity.

Climate drivers and human impacts shape 35‐year trends of coastal wetland health and composition in an urban region

AbstractThe future of coastal wetlands will depend on the combined effects of climate change and human impacts from urbanization and coastal management. Disentangling the effects of these factors is difficult, but satellite imagery archives provide a way to track biological and physical changes in wetlands over recent decades to reveal how coastal wetlands have been changing in response to climate and human drivers. In this study, we used Landsat to monitor the conditions of 32 coastal wetlands in southern California from 1984 to 2019 and identify environmental and human drivers of these trends. Wetland conditions were characterized by vegetation greenness, using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and by habitat composition, derived from areal estimates of wetland and subtidal habitats. Overall, wetlands displayed three types of long‐term response: greening and gaining wetland (10), greening and losing wetland (16), and browning and losing wetland (6). Regional environmental drivers with overall positive effects on wetland NDVI were sea level, wave height, and precipitation, whereas stream discharge, vapor pressure deficit, and air temperature had negative or nonlinear effects. Wetland area change was primarily correlated with sea level, but response was highly contextual among sites. Negative trends in wetland NDVI and area were more common in larger sites with low elevations and in sites with open inlets. Restoration had mixed effects, with only half of the restored sites showing positive changes in NDVI and wetland area post‐restoration. The important work of managing and restoring urban coastal wetlands is complicated by variability and context and requires us to account for the influence of humans and climate as we build a regional understanding of historic, present, and future wetland health.