PHYSICAL WORLD ESCI 243  -  NICHOLS COLLEGE ONLINE COURSE

Professor Mauri S. Pelto, 508-213-2168 peltoms@nichols.edu   

Coastal Management

v
Hurricane Charley		 v
Wave Heights Hurricane Frances

Field Project:  Examine a beach you visit and report on its status.  This will entail determining: This is due simply by the end of the semester, but the weather is better now.

1)Longshore Transport direction and potential interruptions

2)Health of dunes.

3) Nature of the beach slope and existence of offshore bars.

4.  Development on-behind the beach that could affect its ability to migrate.

5)  Recent changes in the beach.

6)Current management of the beach

7) You need images of the beach to explain.

 

Notes: 

To be in equilibrium a beach must have dunes, be able to migrate inland by wave overwash, have no abrupt slope changes and have no interruptions in longshore transport.  Beaches lacking dunes, having abrupt slopes changes, barriers or development preventing longshore transport or wave overwash are not in equilibrium. 

 
Beach on left not in equilibrium because of groins interrupting Longshore transport.  The longshore transport is going south. Beach below is ovewhelmed by storm surge taking out wrath on seawall. 

 

Equilibrium beach no LST interrruptions, no steep slopes, ability to migrate inland and dunes are present.
Longshore transport interruption causing buildup of sand on lower beach erosion on upper beach.

No dunes, no ability to migrate, longshore transport interruptions, beach not in equilibrium

  11/13/07