Modelling 2DH beach morphodynamics in XBeach: model versions and hydrodynamic modes performance

Abstract

The XBeach process-based morphodynamic model has been widely used and considerably improved over the last decade to simulate the complex hydro-morphological processes of the nearshore. This study investigates on the implications of using the Surfbeat and Non-hydrostatic modes of the two latest XBeach-2DH versions, Kingsday (2015) and XBeach X (2018), in modelling morphological evolution tendencies for a setup of reference. Two days of morphological evolution of an area with uniform topo-bathymetry and a central cross-shore structure were modelled, considering representative hydro-morphological conditions of the study zone, Cova-Gala, central-west coast of Portugal. Two hydrodynamic forcing scenarios were considered:a simple stationary erosive wave scenario and a complex storm wave time series scenario. The results, which show different morphological evolution patterns for the same conditions, were discussed in the light of the understanding of the processes accounted in the respective version-mode of the model and their correlations.