On the prediction of runup, setup and swash on beaches

Abstract

Wave runup is one of the most critical parameters contributing to coastline flooding and shoreline change. Many formulas have been developed to empirically predict wave runup characteristics. However, large errors are still associated to these estimates, feeding a debate on the best approach to describe runup through simple parameterizations. In this work we present a comprehensive review on runup, setup and swash empirical models. We use a large database of field measurements to verify the predictive capability of recent formulas, addressing possible sources of variability. We identify the effect of the nearshore bathymetry as an important factor missing in empirical predictors and examine this issue through an analysis of runup simulated with the SWASH model over different barred and linear bathymetries. The details of the submerged beach profile affect estimates, especially with respect to setup values. The lack of standardization in measuring, post-processing and sharing runup data, limits the application of previous published databases on new analysis. We list a set of recommendations that can be used as guidelines for new measurements to broaden the applicability of the datasets in future studies. Finally, we discuss the remaining questions that still need to be further explored.