TRACING SAND MOVEMENT IN THE LITTORAL ZONE: PROGRESS IN THE RADIOISOTOPIC SAND TRACER (RIST) STUDY, JULY 1968-FEBRUARY 1969
Abstract
Tagging procedures, instrumentation, field surveys and data handling techniques have been developed by the radioisotopic sand tracing study for the collection and analysis of over 12,000 bits of information per hour over a survey track of about 18,000 feet. Data obtained can be considered as nearly synoptic observations of sediment transport in a single environmental zone or in adjacent beach, surf and offshore zones. Experiments at Surf, Point Conception, Point Mugu, and Oceanside, California, used sand tagged with isotopes of xenon or gold. Data from studies in beach areas unmodified by littoral barriers indicate that the alongshore velocity of sediment transport differs from zone to zone. Transport seaward of peaking, breaking waves is less than transport on the beach face which is less than transport in the plunge and surf zone. Zone dimensions change with waves and tides. Tracing surveys confined to the foreshore of offshore zones produce data only partly indicative of transport in the zone of immediate concern to coastal engineers. Studies conducted at the site of shore structures indicate the RIST system can provide data useful in understanding the effect of such structures on sediment transport.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0713001
Entities
People
- David B. Duane
Organizations
- Coastal Engineering Research Center