Nearshore wave processes in the Iroise Sea: field measurements and modelling

A sample of observations gathered during the PROTEVS-VAGUES 2012 field experiment is presented. A focus is done on the analysis of five instruments deployed over Sein Island south coast. Waves and their effects on the mean water level are examined in the case of a long wave event that occurred on February 11, 2013. The nonlinear wave processes observed in the nearshore are found to be similar to those found over tropical reefs. Preliminary simulations of the Boussinesq type model, BOSZ, show encouraging results. BOSZ captures the main hydrodynamic processes such as refraction, shoaling, and wave breaking, but also accounted for second-order processes such as wave setup and the inherent recirculation in the surf zone.