Abstract
Understanding the wave climate changes in the Pacific region is critical for coastal management and to the implementation of climate change adaptation. However, little is known about waves and how reef hydrodynamics is affecting the reef coast of Pacific islands. The Changing Waves and Coast in the Pacific (WACOP) project is collecting baseline information and using the latest research tools to assess the wave climate, its variability, improve the understanding of reef hydrodynamics and morphology as well as predict how these will change with the climate. The project aim is to better understand coastal erosion and inundations and to assess the potential for wave energy harvesting.
The data presented in this document analyses the oceanographic data record. The data shows how waves transform and dissipate as they cross the reef flat fronting Maui Bay on the Coral Coast. The data also shows that infragravity waves dominate the reef flat hydrodynamics. The data also shows evidence of seasonal internal waves on the reef crest that may be playing an important role in bringing nutrient to the coral communities on reef slope.
The data presented here is the baseline of a more in-depth analysis of the hydrodynamics of Maui Bay (Bosserelle et al. 2015) and is being used for further findings on reef hydrodynamics.