Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Acs Es&T Water

Publication Date

4-13-2026

Abstract

This study provides a systematic review of hydrodynamic roughness in coral reef systems, focusing on drag coefficient (Cd), Manning's roughness coefficient (n), friction factor, and rugosity metrics. A structured bibliometric analysis was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science databases, including field measurements, laboratory flume experiments, and numerical studies validated with physical data. Results show substantial variability in roughness parameters across scales and environments. Reported drag coefficients range from 0.002 for smooth sandy beds to values exceeding 7.0 in complex mangrove-reef systems, with typical reef crest values between 0.05 and 0.30. Manning's n varies from 0.01 in smooth channels to greater than 0.30 in vegetated reef flats. Laboratory studies consistently report higher roughness values due to shallow flow depths (0.1-0.3 m) compared to field conditions (0.5-2.0 m), indicating strong scale effects. Measurement techniques include acoustic Doppler velocimetry, particle image velocimetry, and photogrammetry-based methods. The findings demonstrate that reef roughness is highly site-specific and cannot be represented by uniform parameters. Improved standardization and site-based calibration are essential for enhancing hydrodynamic modeling and supporting coastal protection strategies.

ISSN

2690-0637

Publisher

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Disciplines

Earth Sciences

Keywords

Rugosity (0.77), Flume (0.7), Geology (0.61), Surface finish (0.54), Reef (0.52), Particle image velocimetry (0.5), Drag coefficient (0.49), Drag (0.43), Bathymetry (0.42), Geotechnical engineering (0.37), Roughness length (0.35), Beach morphodynamics (0.34), Coral reef (0.34), Range (aeronautics) (0.34), Flow (mathematics) (0.33), Surface roughness (0.32), Field (mathematics) (0.32), Flow measurement (0.3), Submarine pipeline (0.28), Acoustic Doppler velocimetry (0.28), Geomorphology (0.28), Crest (0.27), Turbulence (0.26), Scaling (0.26), Remote sensing (0.25), Noise (video) (0.25), Calibration (0.25)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Indexed in Scopus

no

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Hybrid: This publication is openly available in a subscription-based journal/series

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