Resistance to tsunami inundation vegetation: an experimental study by coastal

Abstract

More than two thirds of the coastline of Sri Lanka was subjected to inundation by the Indian ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004. The inundation distance and the associated damage caused by the tsunami varied widely with the local near shore wave height, topography and the hydraulic resistance offered to the overland flow. In addition to the ground surface resistance, the resistance offered by vegetation and man made features in the coastal zone are among the contributory factors to the hydraulic resistance. It is important to asses the resistance offered by coastal vegetation to the overland flow in order to identify its effectiveness as a tsunami impact mitigation measure. Such a measure would also have the duel advantages of being environmentally friendly and cost effective.