Onshore-Offshore Sand Transport on Del Monte Beach, California.

Abstract

Daily sand volume transport values were calculated for a selected beach profile during a two-month period. Wave data were recorded continuously directed seaward of the profile. Tide effects were largely filtered out by use of a lunar day (24.8 hour) sampling interval. Offshore sand transport occurred in isolated events of one to two-day duration, and had a maximum value of 132.5 cubic feet/foot of beach width/lunar day. Onshore transport occurred over longer intervals of up to seven days, and had a maximum value of 47.0 cubic feet/foot/day. Onshore-offshore transport over a 24.8 hour period depends, to a first approximation, on the mean wave steepness incident upon the beach and the initial beach slope for the period. If the initial beach slope is greater (less) than the equilibrium slope associated with the existing wave conditions, or if the profile is initially at equilibrium and the wave steepness increases (decreases), sand will be moved offshore (onshore). The closer to equilibrium the beach is, the smaller the transports are. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1972
Accession Number
AD0751595

Entities

People

  • John David Williamson

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • California
  • Intervals
  • Offshore
  • Sampling
  • Transport Ships

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Mathematics or Statistics

Technology Areas

  • Space