Sediment Transportation

Sediment Transport

Sediment transport is important in the fields of sedimentary geology, geomorphology, civil engineering and environmental engineering. Knowledge of sediment transport is most often used to determine whether erosion or deposition will occur, the magnitude of this erosion or deposition, and the time and distance over which it will occur.

Causes of beach sediment transport

Waves (good at mobilising and stirring sediments)
Currents (tide or wind-induced - good at carrying sediments)
Winds - can transport dry sand in large quantities
Human interventions - “mining”, dumping waste materials

Transport routes

Parallel to beach contours - longshore transport
Onshore-offshore or cross-shore transport
Vertical movements “suspension” or wind-borne