Impacts of jetty construction on the wave heights off the Kiashahr lagoon S. A. Azarmsa,1∗ M. Esmaeili,2 and A. Karami Khaniki3 1Faculty of Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Gisha, Tehran, Iran 2Faculty of Marine Sciences, Chabahar Maritime University, Chabahar, Iran 3Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Center, Tehran, Iran ∗Corresponding author:
[email protected] Coastal managers and ecologists are confronted with tasks to estimate wave heights in the Kiashahr sea area, since hydrodynamic factors can profoundly impact this environment. In this study, wind data and an empirical wind wave predicting model were used to estimate deepwater wave characteristics in the Kiashahr sea area; while a numerical model was used to determine wave characteristics in shallow waters. Wave heights were also determined and compared at different stations before and after construction of 2 jetties at the lagoon mouth to evaluate their efficiency in wave height reduction. Results revealed that wave height is in the range of 0.8 to 1.2 m at Sefid Rud river mouth. Significant wave height reduction in the range of 0.15 to 1.2 m occurred at the entrance of the lagoon due to construction of the jetties. This attenuation of wave energy may result in some impacts on the ecosystem health of Kiashahr lagoon such as increased sedimentation, reduction in flushing rates, dumping of garbage and consequently, more pollution. Keywords: wind, Caspian Sea, Iran Introduction into a bay with broad entrance to the sea and exposed it to more energetic waves, similar to the situation Sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems in the 1950s.