Wave data from buoys to shape SA coastline strategy

Three buoys have been deployed off the coast of Adelaide to gather data to help predict the future of South Australia’s coastlines. 

Since the 1970s, Adelaide’s metropolitan coast has been artificially maintained by sand nourishment programs by the state government due to ongoing issues with coastal erosion. 

The problem, created by northwards wave-driven sand movement, has been exacerbated by historical seagrass loss which has increased sediment accumulation in the northern beaches and loss along the central and southern parts of the coast.

Marine geology expert Graziela Miot da Silva said the two-year project would monitor any changes in conditions.

“The provision of accurate wave data is critical to improve our understanding of variations in the hydrodynamic processes that shape our coastlines,” Dr Miot da Silva, a senior marine geology lecturer at Flinders University, said.

“This will inform best coastal management practices, drive the development of marine industries and help promote and support tourism.” 

While these buoys will monitor Gulf St Vincent, the researchers have plans to include other regional coastlines in the future.

“These buoys are going to better inform what’s happening in Gulf St Vincent,” Dr Miot da Silva said.

As part of the project, two buoys were launched off Semaphore Beach and Brighton Beach in Adelaide during August.

A third buoy was deployed in Investigator Strait in September to capture the largest waves entering the gulf from the Southern Ocean.

Data from the three buoys will inform morphodynamic models to predict future changes in Adelaide’s metropolitan coastline from climate change and sea level rise.

The model will be used to develop coastal management practices, including seagrass and reef restoration.

There has previously been only one buoy measuring and providing wave data in South Australia, located off Kangaroo Island.

“Ultimately, this will benefit important ongoing coastal management initiatives — especially sediment nourishment practices to maintain the Adelaide metropolitan beaches,” Dr Miot da Silva said.

The project is a collaboration between Flinders University, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), SA Water, EPA and Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS).

The study received $55,000 from the Department of Environment and Water to fund the buoys, mooring materials, licence to stream data in real-time and for deployment trips.