Principal Investigator, Dr. Deborah Villarroel-Lamb, recently traveled to Imperial College in London, UK, to conduct coral reef experiments in their wave laboratory. Imperial College houses an impressive 40-foot flume, which was a delight to utilize.
40 ft wave flume in Imperial College’s Hydrodynamics Laboratory
The experiments aimed to measure how the rugosity (roughness and structural complexity) of coral reefs in the Caribbean affect wave characteristics under climate change scenarios. In particular, we measured its effect at the reef crest (highest point of the reef) and the forereef (seaward facing). We utilized an experimental scale of 1:30.
We 3D printed a diversity of coral species to simulate the actual reef characteristics as best as possible. Dominant species on Buccoo Reef include elkhorn, staghorn, brain and finger corals. To simulate sea level rise and storm surges associated with climate change, we conducted the experiments at different water depths and wave conditions, also utilizing linear and non-linear (random) waves.
Coral reefs in the Caribbean are highly diverse; we decided to model them after the Buccoo Reef in Trinidad and Tobago, which is not only experiencing climatic effects, but also the effects of unsustainable development, including point and non-point source pollution, and physical damage from activities associated with tourism, which is the island’s main economic driver.
We anticipate that these experiments will help us to understand how these characteristics of coral reef ecosystems can be integrated into the design of engineered Nature-based Solutions.
