VIMS Events
This calendar presented by
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
[PAST EVENT] Seminar: Dr. Jennifer Irish
March 27, 2015
3pm - 4:30pm
Location
VIMS - Watermen's Hall, McHugh Auditorium1375 Greate Road
Gloucester Point, VA 23062Map this location
Join Dr. Jennifer Irish, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech, as she presents "On vegetation as a natural coastal flood and wave defense strategy".
Background:
Dr. Irish received her B.S. and M.S. from Lehigh University and her Ph.D. from the University of Delaware in 2005. She has over 20 years of experience and more than 40 peer-reviewed journal papers. Irish is an expert in storm dynamics at the coast, vegetative effects, and coastal hazard assessment. Notable awards for Irish's research accomplishments include Virginia Tech's College of Engineering Faculty Fellow in 2015, ASCE Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering's Outstanding Paper in 2013 (one of five), Texas A&M University's Civil Engineering Excellence in Research Award in 2010, and Department of the Army's Superior Civilian Service Award in 2008. In 2014, she was invited to join the Coastal Engineering Research Council of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and ASCE's Committee for Technical Advancement, and she served as Secretary of ASCE's Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute Board of Governors from 2005-2012.
Abstract:
Tsunamis and coastal storms have the potential to cause widespread crippling damage in coastal areas. Recent events like the Japan tsunami in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012 highlight the need for adaptive and comprehensive engineered coastal defenses that simultaneously promote community safety and environmental sustainability. Anecdotal evidence suggests coastal vegetation has the potential to reduce the impact of coastal storms and tsunamis, and quantitative research shows a significant reduction in inundation and wave energy when vegetation is uniformly distributed alongshore. Yet, coastal vegetation planform coverage is not typically continuous, and this coverage will likely vary in time, for example with natural growth and die off. Large-scale laboratory experiments were carried out to study tsunami flow dynamics in the presence of patchy coastal forest on a 1:10 steep beach. The experimental setup included four cross-shore rows of roughness patches affixed to the dry beach in a staggered array. The flow field during runup and withdrawal was quantified using point measurements of velocity and flow depth, while high-resolution video was used to track bore position during runup. Analysis shows momentum flux within the patchy vegetation is highly variable, while inundation extent is minimally impacted by the presence of patchy vegetation.
Reception at 3:00 in Watermen's Hall Lobby.
Seminar from 3:30 to 4:30 in McHugh Auditorium.
Background:
Dr. Irish received her B.S. and M.S. from Lehigh University and her Ph.D. from the University of Delaware in 2005. She has over 20 years of experience and more than 40 peer-reviewed journal papers. Irish is an expert in storm dynamics at the coast, vegetative effects, and coastal hazard assessment. Notable awards for Irish's research accomplishments include Virginia Tech's College of Engineering Faculty Fellow in 2015, ASCE Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering's Outstanding Paper in 2013 (one of five), Texas A&M University's Civil Engineering Excellence in Research Award in 2010, and Department of the Army's Superior Civilian Service Award in 2008. In 2014, she was invited to join the Coastal Engineering Research Council of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and ASCE's Committee for Technical Advancement, and she served as Secretary of ASCE's Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute Board of Governors from 2005-2012.
Abstract:
Tsunamis and coastal storms have the potential to cause widespread crippling damage in coastal areas. Recent events like the Japan tsunami in 2011 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012 highlight the need for adaptive and comprehensive engineered coastal defenses that simultaneously promote community safety and environmental sustainability. Anecdotal evidence suggests coastal vegetation has the potential to reduce the impact of coastal storms and tsunamis, and quantitative research shows a significant reduction in inundation and wave energy when vegetation is uniformly distributed alongshore. Yet, coastal vegetation planform coverage is not typically continuous, and this coverage will likely vary in time, for example with natural growth and die off. Large-scale laboratory experiments were carried out to study tsunami flow dynamics in the presence of patchy coastal forest on a 1:10 steep beach. The experimental setup included four cross-shore rows of roughness patches affixed to the dry beach in a staggered array. The flow field during runup and withdrawal was quantified using point measurements of velocity and flow depth, while high-resolution video was used to track bore position during runup. Analysis shows momentum flux within the patchy vegetation is highly variable, while inundation extent is minimally impacted by the presence of patchy vegetation.
Reception at 3:00 in Watermen's Hall Lobby.
Seminar from 3:30 to 4:30 in McHugh Auditorium.
Contact
[[v|seitz, Rochelle Seitz]]