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Long-Shore Sediment Transportation

 

Longshore transport consists of the transportation of sediments (clay, silt, sand and shingle) along a coast at an angle to the shoreline, which is dependent on prevailing wind direction, swash and backwash. This process occurs in the littoral zone, and in or close to the surf zone. The process is also known as littoral drift, longshore current or longshore drift.

Causes of Long shore transport on the beaches

  • Waves breaking obliquely to contours - causes currents

  • Breaker height gradients - transport towards smaller waves

  • Tidal currents - if strong at high tide

  • Winds on dry sand beaches

Clues to longshore transport (drift) direction

  • Spits and diversion of river mouths 

  • Accumulation “updrift” against groynes/ harbour arms etc. 

  • Erosion “downdrift”of breakwaters, seawalls, etc 

Consequences of beach Processes

  • Beach erosion (Natural or Man-Made Causes) 

  • Beach Protection & Nourishment-coastal structures 

Other useful link

Longshore transport

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05wTyMVO--0

 

Demonstration of longshore transport on beach by simply animation

 

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