Wave-Driven Sea Level Rise Inundation: Palau: East Babeldaob

Using the Boussinesq Approach of Rapid Runup Assessment with CUDA (BARRACUDA), a Boussinesq phase-resolving model, we simulated overland inundation depths under selected combinations of wave scenarios, the presence or absence of mangrove vegetation, and projected long-term sea level rise (SLR). The simulations represent three wave scenarios: (i) No Waves (Static), (ii) Annual High Wave Flooding, and (iii) Historic High Wave Flooding, using wave data extracted from Typhoon Bopha (2012).

Furthermore, wave-driven flooding is simulated with and without the presence of mangroves to assess mangrove attenuation effects. All simulations are repeated under sea level rise (SLR) projections ranging from 0 to 10 feet (3m), in 1-foot increments. Modeling was carried out over a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) using topobathymetric LiDAR data from the Office of Palau Automated Land and Resources Information System (PALARIS).