Keiko Udo

Experimental Study of Blown Sand in a Vegetated Area

Abstract Wind-tunnel experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of vegetation, in particular beach grass, on blown sand in terms of elevation changes of a mobile sand bed and distributions of mean wind velocity for various vegetation canopies. For flexible vegetation layer displacement amplitude of vegetation leaf sway was also measured. The results indicate that a vegetation canopy with low height, high density, and vegetation flexibility is effective in reducing the sand-transport rate. Within and above a canopy of flexible vegetation, the vibrations of leaves increases the air turbulence, which creates a complex interaction between the mean wind velocity and the air turbulence, and thereby reduces the wind velocity in the vegetation area; consequently, the sand-transport rate decreases.

New Method for Estimation of Aeolian Sand Transport Rate Using Ceramic Sand Flux Sensor (UD-101)

In this study, a new method for the estimation of aeolian sand transport rate was developed; the method employs a ceramic sand flux sensor (UD-101). UD-101 detects wind-blown sand impacting on its surface. The method was devised by considering the results of wind tunnel experiments that were performed using a vertical sediment trap and the UD-101. Field measurements to evaluate the estimation accuracy during the prevalence of unsteady winds were performed on a flat backshore. The results showed that aeolian sand transport rates estimated using the developed method were of the same order as those estimated using the existing method for high transport rates, i.e., for transport rates greater than 0.01 kg m−1 s−1.

Downscaling Global Weather Forecast Outputs Using ANN for Flood Prediction

Downscaling global weather prediction model outputs to individual locations or local scales is a common practice for operational weather forecast in order to correct the model outputs at subgrid scales. This paper presents an empirical-statistical downscaling method for precipitation prediction which uses a feed-forward multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network. The MLP architecture was optimized by considering physical bases that determine the circulation of atmospheric variables. Downscaled precipitation was then used as inputs to the super tank model (runoff model) for flood prediction. The case study was conducted for the Thu Bon River Basin, located in Central Vietnam. Study results showed that the precipitation predicted by MLP outperformed that directly obtained from model outputs or downscaled using multiple linear regression. Consequently, flood forecast based on the downscaled precipitation was very encouraging. It has demonstrated as a robust technology, simple to implement, reliable, and universal application for flood prediction through the combination of downscaling model and super tank model.

Application of 2D numerical simulation for the analysis of the February 2014 Bolivian Amazonia flood: Application of the new HEC-RAS version 5

Abstract Llanos de Moxos are vast plains in the Bolivian Amazonia that are continually flooded by the Mamoreriver. The flood lasts for several days affecting important cities like Trinidad, drowning people, drowning cattle and swamping arable land. Because of the cloudy skies, remote sensing observations are limited to some areas and few days. Thus, there is huge uncertainty about characteristics of flood events and possible consequences. Two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulation proved to be an important tool for understanding flood events. The HEC-RAS model is one of the most popular hydraulic models. In 2014 a new version of HEC-RAS (HEC-RAS-v5) was released including 2D capabilities. The present study applied the new HEC-RAS-v5 to simulate the February 2014 flood event in the Bolivian Amazonia. The flood simulated shows good performance when compared with satellite image of the flood event. In addition, the simulation provides information like water depth, flow velocity and a temporal variation of the flood. Specific locations where water begins to overflow were identified. Over most of the flooded area the water velocity is lower than 0.25 m s−1. During first ten days of the flood the flood extent increases rapidly. The flood depth allows identifying areas exposed to different hazard levels. The west plain of the Mamore river is the most exposed to the flood; it shows bigger flood extent, longer flood duration and deeper water depth. The flood that threatens the city of Trinidad originates in two locations; one located 32 km at the north and other located 10 km at the south west. The flood from the north gets close to Trinidad twelve days after it begins to overflow, while the flood from the south gets close to Trinidad seven days after it begins to overflow. Although the flood from the north is deeper than the flood from the south, the flood from the south begins flooded before the north. Thus, water borne and vector borne diseases may originate at the south earlier than the north. The city of San Javier gets covered by flood five days after the water begins to overflow. The study shows the applicability and the value of the 2D capabilities of the new HEC-RAS for flood studies.

Potential impact of climate change at five Japanese beaches

ABSTRACT Yoshida, J., Udo, K., Takeda, Y., and Mano, A., 2013. Potential impact of climate change at five Japanese beaches Coastal erosion caused by sea level rise is a serious problem over the world. Future sea level rise will almost certainly accelerate through the 21st century. Although its extent remains uncertain, some predictions expect the increase to be between up to 30 and 180 cm by 2100 (Nicholls and Cazenave, 2010). Several studies show that sea level rise is responsible for long-term beach erosion. Moreover, change of wave height and non-climate-related processes such as ground subsidence amplify coastal vulnerability associated with climate change. It is a pressing issue to predict shoreline change considering the fact that 10% of the global population lives in the coastal regions within 10 m elevation. This study estimates the potential impact of climate change in terms of the effects of: sea level rise; wave height variation; and land subsidence by comparing the past coastline evolutions at five beaches in Japan. The past long-term shoreline change was found to be related to coastal protection measures according to Japans national policy (Coast Act). Notable erosion was resulted from the construction of coastal facilities that blocked coastal sand drift and the decrease of sediment supply from rivers caused by dam building from 1950 to 1990. Since 1990, shoreline has relatively unchanged because some measures, such as beach nourishment, groins and detached breakwaters, have worked to conserve sand beaches. The estimation results showed that shoreline would retreat over 15 m due to sea level rise and up to 5 m due to wave height variation at the five beaches by 2100. Projection of ground subsidence is uncertain because its rate varies depending on natural forces and human activities. This study suggests that sea level rise would have much greater impact on beach erosion compared with wave height variation and ground subsidence.

Breaking process and mechanism of coastal levees on Sendai Bay Coast hit by the 2011 mega tsunami

ABSTRACT Mano, A., IIda, T., Udo, K., and Tanaka. H., 2013. Breaking process and mechanism of coastal levees on Sendai Bay Coast hit by 2011 mega tsunami The 2011 mega tsunami induced by the East Japan Earthquake, Mw 9.0 hit the Sendai Bay Coast, overtopped the coastal levees and intruded deeply onto the Sendai and Ishinomaki plains by flushing people, houses, trees, etc. The levees with 6 to 7 m height had been constructed along 65 km-long sandy beach to protect the hinterland from the storm surges and wind waves. Eighty percent of the levees were broken by the tsunami in various degrees ranging from scatter of the surface blocks to the complete disappearance. The government decided to rebuild the levees with the target of the local major hazards as the storm surges but in a durable way even for the tsunami overtopping. Based on this background, this study aims to find the breaking process and mechanism of the coastal levees especially for the destructive cases. We conducted field survey, and collected aerial photos, tsunami records and videos, blue prints of the levees, etc. We integrated information of the tsunami records and videos, and matched the spatial information of the various data by GIS. These analyses enabled well understanding on the breaking process and mechanisms composed from two steps: (1) The impact of the leading bore with the maximum amplitude of 6 to 7m broke weaker parts like structural joints, parapets, landward soil slopes. (2) Return flow concentration to the broken parts in the first step or to the channels and swamps expanded erosion to make tsunami channels and bays and to lead levee breach.

Serious Erosion of the Southern Sendai Coast Due to the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake Tsunami and Its Recovery Process

We investigate morphology change of the southern Sendai Coast due to the 2011 Tsunami by analyzing topography and aerial images before and after the tsunami. The results show the characteristics such as erosion in the longshore direction behind seawalls, landward sediment transport during tsunami runup, seaward sediment transport from shore during backwash especially through crevasses of the seawalls, and coastal stabilization by coastal structures such as seawalls, breakwaters and headlands. At the seriously eroded Yamamoto Coast, more than half of the total amount of eroded shore sand above sea level was estimated to be transported seaward due to backwash. After 1 year from the tsunami, the eroded coasts were recovered to form pocket beaches. After another year, the coastal morphology had not changed apparently but seawalls started to be reconstructed. At present, after 3 years from the tsunami, the seawalls with a height of 7.2 m have been reconstructed along the coast. With the reconstruction, the foundation ground of the seawalls has been recovered, but the eroded beaches still remain disappeared. The coast act in Japan was established in 1956 to protect the coast from disasters, and amended in 1999 to also preserve both the coastal environment and its utilization. From the perspective of long-term coastal management, it is strongly required to consider the vision of the future coast.

MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES ALONG THE ISHINOMAKI COAST INDUCED BY THE 2011 GREAT EAST JAPAN TSUNAMI AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH COASTAL STRUCTURES

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami caused severe damage along the affected coastal area. This study analyzed seabed subsidence and morphological changes along the Ishinomaki Coast based on bathymetry measured shortly before and after the 2011 event. In general, seabed subsidence ranged from 0.32 m to 0.91 m. In addition, massive erosion on the seabed due to the 2011 tsunami occurred locally, in front of the Naruse River mouth and at the west end of the Ishinomaki Coast. Moreover, the depth of closure generated by the tsunami in these areas was higher than in others. The sandspit in front of the river mouth was severely eroded and the riprap protection at the west end was completely destroyed. Thus, there were no buffers in these areas during the tsunami. Therefore, tsunami-induced bed stresses were higher and may have occurred in deeper areas. Other areas, which were protected by relatively unharmed concrete structures, did not suffer from severe erosions. This suggests that the coastal protection structures protected both the land and the seaward side during the tsunami.

Overview of Super Typhoon Haiyan and Characteristics of Human Damage due to its Storm Surge in the Coastal Region, Philippines

ABSTRACT Kure, S.; Jibiki, Y., Iuchi K., and Udo, K., 2016. Overview of Super Typhoon Haiyan and characteristics of human damage due to its storm surge in the coastal region, Philippines. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 1152 - 1156. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Approximately 2 years have passed since the catastrophic damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on November 8, 2013. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate what actually happened during the Haiyan event, by examining observations and literature reviews. Our questionnaire survey results were analyzed to understand availabilities of opportunities to participate in disaster-related education programs and drill to local residents both before and after Haiyan. Following our analysis, we conclude that there were few opportunities for local residents to take part in disaster-related activities in the highly damaged areas in Leyte before Haiyan. After Haiyan, many opportunities for training were provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and city and barangay officials. Residents leant about possible typhoon impacts during Typhoon Haiyan, and the educational activities that took place afterwards, facilitated successful evacuation during Typhoon Ruby. Based on our overview of Typhoon Haiyan and characterization of the human damage incurred by the storm surge in the target area, we recommend some future steps that contribute to reduce the risks posed by natural disasters in the Philippines.

Destruction Patterns and Mechanisms of Coastal Levees on the Sendai Bay Coast Hit by the 2011 Tsunami

A mega tsunami hit the Sendai Bay Coast on March 11, 2011, overtopped coastal levees and intruded into far inland while sweeping houses, people and others away. Eighty percent of the levees, which rimmed the coast to protect the land from storm surges together with the wind waves were broken in various degrees of damage by the tsunami. The national and local governments decided to rebuild the levees to be durable even for mega tsunamis. This requirement motivates us to find the destruction mechanism of the coastal levees. We conducted field investigations and collected the tsunami records, aerial photos and tsunami videos. Especially, the video taken from the helicopter “Michinokugo” which flew along the Sendai Coast to the south during the attack of the tsunami’s leading wave enables us to see the breaking process. Integrated analysis leads to two step mechanisms of the destruction: the first step of breaking the upper structure of the levees by the surging bore of the leading wave and the second step of expanding erosion by the return flow concentration.