Violent Wave Overtopping: CLASH Field Measurements at Samphire Hoe

As part of a major European research project into wave overtopping at coastal structures, overtopping discharges have been measured at full-scale on a vertical seawall in Southeast England. The measurement site, Samphire Hoe, is an area of reclaimed land just west of Dover on the English channel coast, and is an ideal location for monitoring overtopping. The site is described in detail, and the design and operation of the measurement equipment are also outlined. Overtopping was measured on three occasions and the storms and their results are discussed. It is shown that the field measurements compare well with empirical prediction methods by Besley and Bruce et al. Additional discussion interprets the hazardous nature of each of the storms.