To date, how has data generated from flood simulation and its equivalence helped in
preventing major flood events in coastal areas, particularly in flood-prone regions in
Indonesia?
Replies:
Climate mitigation strategies focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions or
enhancing carbon sinks, for example through blue-carbon ecosystems that sequester
carbon. Risk-reduction strategies focus on limiting the impacts of climate hazards,
such as coastal flooding, by reducing exposure and vulnerability through measures like
mangroves and engineered defenses.
In this study, mitigation and risk reduction are linked by using mangroves to deliver
carbon sequestration while also moderating flood dynamics.
Climate mitigation and risk reduction can also be achieved by comparing the
differences in flood area distribution across four maps and analyzing the progression of
flood areas in each scenario. A deeper analysis could also be conducted on various
adjustments, spacing, and placements of mangroves to address current and future
climate challenges, such as sea level rise and coastal flooding.
How can hybrid approaches combining blue carbon ecosystems and engineered coastal
defenses be optimized to enhance the climate resilience of large coastal energy
infrastructures under future sea-level rise scenarios?
Replies:
Hybrid approaches can be optimized by using engineered defenses to manage extreme
hazards and blue-carbon ecosystems to provide continuous, incremental protection,
such as flood attenuation and carbon sequestration. This could involve placing
mangroves seaward or landward of hard defenses to reduce wave energy and
overtopping, while engineered structures handle residual risk under extreme sea-level
rise.
In our study, we can develop hybrid approaches based on land suitability analysis,
focusing on areas where tidal forces, sea level rise, and storm surges are most
significant. Additionally, we conduct flood progression analysis, which highlights areas
at the highest risk of flooding through four detailed maps. Engineered defenses can
then be strategically implemented in these identified regions.
Can the natural water filtration properties of seagrasses and mangroves improve the
quality of cooling water by removing pollutants and suspended sediments, reducing
the risk of biofouling in power plant systems?
Replies:
In principle, seagrasses and mangroves can improve nearshore water quality by
trapping sediments and reducing suspended particles, which could benefit intake water
conditions. However, my study did not assess water-quality regulation or biofouling, as
it focused on carbon sequestration and flood-risk reduction. This could be explored as
an additional ecosystem service in future work, particularly if linked directly to cooling-
water intake performance.
