Beach Profiles Characteristics Along Giao Thuy and Hai Hau Coasts,Vietnam:A Field Study

Giao Thuy and Hai Hau coasts are located in Nam Dinh province, Vietnam, with a total coastline of 54.42 km in length. The sea-dike system has been seriously damaged and there have been many dike breaches which caused floods and losses. This situation is considered of a general representative for coastal area in the northern part of Vietnam. A variety of studies have shown that the gradient in the longshore sediment transport rate and the offshore fine sediment lost are the main mechanisms causing the beach erosion. This study presents a field investigation of the beach profiles at Giao Thuy and Hai Hau beaches. Three types of empirical functions for the equilibrium beach profile are applied and compared with the observations. Results show that all observed beach profiles can be described by a single function. However, one specific equilibrium profile equation is not sufficient to assess all beach profiles. In Section 1 of Giao Thuy and Section 3 of Hai Thinh beaches, beach profiles are consistent with the logarithmic function, while the exponential function fits well in Section 2. This difference is explained with respect to coastal morphology, sediment characteristics and hydrodynamic conditions which vary in site. An analysis of the validity of the beach profile functions is recommended for the numerical modeling and engineering designs in this area.

Morphodynamic response of an embayed beach to different typhoon events with varying intensities

Beach erosion has occurred globally in recent decades due to frequent and severe storms.Dongsha beach,located in Zhujiajian Island,Zhejiang Province,China,is a typical embayed sandy beach.This study focused on the morphodynamic response of Dongsha beach to typhoon events,based on beach topographies and surficial sediment characteristics acquired before and after four typhoon events with varying intensities.The four typhoons had different effects on the topography and sediment characteristics of Dongsha beach.Typhoons Ampil and Danas caused the largest(-51.72 m3/m)and the smallest erosion(-8.01 m3/m),respectively.Remarkable alongshore patterns of beach profile volumetric changes were found after the four typhoon events,with more erosion in the southern and central parts of the beach and few changes in the northern part.Grain size coarsening and poor sorting were the main sediment patterns on the beach influenced by different typhoons.Typhoons that occurred in the same year after another typhoon enhanced the effect of the previous typhoon on sediment coarsening and sorting variability,but this cumulative effect was not found between typhoons that occurred during different years.A comparison of the collected data revealed that the topographic state of the beach before the typhoon,typhoon characteristics,and tidal conditions were possible reasons for the difference in the responses of Dongsha beach to typhoon events.More severe beach erosion was caused by typhoons with higher intensity levels and longer durations,and high tide levels during typhoons can determine the upper limit of the beach profile erosion site.Taken together,these results can be used to improve beach management for storm prevention.

Performance of a data-driven technique applied to changes in wave height and its effect on beach response

In this study the medium-term response of beach profiles was investigated at two sites： a gently sloping sandy beach and a steeper mixed sand and gravel beach. The former is the Duck site in North Carolina, on the east coast of the USA, which is exposed to Atlantic Ocean swells and storm waves, and the latter is the Milford-on-Sea site at Christchurch Bay, on the south coast of England, which is partially sheltered from Atlantic swells but has a directionally bimodal wave exposure. The data sets comprise detailed bathymetric surveys of beach profiles covering a period of more than 25 years for the Duck site and over 18 years for the Milford-on-Sea site. The structure of the data sets and the data-driven methods are described. Canonical correlation analysis （CCA） was used to find linkages between the wave characteristics and beach profiles. The sensitivity of the linkages was investigated by deploying a wave height threshold to filter out the smaller waves incrementally. The results of the analysis indicate that, for the gently sloping sandy beach, waves of all heights are important to the morphological response. For the mixed sand and gravel beach, filtering the smaller waves improves the statistical fit and it suggests that low-height waves do not play a primary role in the medium-term morohological resoonse, which is primarily driven by the intermittent larger storm waves.

Typical Equilibrium Beach Profile Models and Their Significances from Different Segments of A Headland-Bay Beach

This study introduces three typical models on equilibrium beach profile, and discusses the application limitations of these models. Then this study examines the selections for applying these models on different coastal segments of a headland-bay beach in west Guangdong, South China, and explores the physical significances of those parameters in the models. The results indicate that：（1） Bodge＇s model is more in line with the equilibrium beach profile of the tangential or transitional segment, whereas Lee＇s model is more consistent with the shadow profile;（2） most of the parameters in three models have clear physical significances in accordance with the actual characteristics of this headland-bay beach; and（3） both the selections for the equilibrium beach profile from different segments and significances of most of the parameters in three models are in essence correlated with the morphodynamic states at various coastal locations.

Longshore Current on an Equilibrium Beach

Natural beaches tend to be concave-up rather than planar and are reasonable to be modeled by an equilibrium beach profile. A governing equation for longshore current on an equilibrium beach is derived and its analytical solution is given in this paper. Through comparisons of the present solution and field data of longshore current for a step-type beach, the present solution is found to have fairly agreeable prediction to longshore current inside the surf zone. The effects of the shape of a concave-up beach and turbulent mixing stress on longshore current inside the surf zone are discussed in the present paper.

Formation of Equilibrium Beach Profile of the Abandoned Yellow River Delta Coast in North Jiangsu

The abandoned Yellow River Delta coast is a typical erodible silty and muddy coast in China. The paper analyses the marine dynamic characteristics and the mechanism of beach erosion of this area. Analysis and calculation show that in this sea area wave and tidal current action should be considered. Based on the above analysis, an equilibrium beach profile calculation model is developed, in which the wave-current interaction is considered while sediment supply and sediment re-deposition are neglected. The model consists of four parts: (1) calculation of wave parameters, (2) calculation of velocity due to wave-current interaction at different water depth, (3) calculation of friction velocity and shear stress at different water depths, and (4) calculation of the amount of sediment erosion, erosion intensity and variation of beach profile. Calculated results are in good agreement with observed data. Finally, the evolution tendency is discussed and the equilibrium beach profile of this coast is calculated. B

Shoreline Identification Bias:Theoretical and Measured Value for Meso-Tidal Beaches in Kuala Nerus,Terengganu(Malaysia)

Shoreline change analysis frequently begins with feature identification through visual interpretation(proxy-based shoreline)or the intersection of a specific tidal zone(datum-based shoreline).Using proxy-based shoreline information,this study quantifies the distance between proxy-based and datum-based shoreline data,which is defined as the proxydatum bias.The study was conducted at meso-tidal beaches in Kuala Nerus,Terengganu,Malaysia,with morphodynamic responses to northeast and southwest monsoons.The high-water line(HWL)shoreline(proxy-based)was determined using ortho-rectified aerial images captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV).By contrast,the mean high-water(MHW)shoreline(datum-based)was determined using measured beach profiles adjusted with the Peninsular Malaysia Geodetic Vertical Datum(DTGSM).The theoretical proxy-datum bias was approximated using the best estimate(median)for the beach slope,wave height,and wave period from the estimated total water level(TWL)model.Based on the study,the recorded horizontal proxy-datum bias for the research area was up to 32 m.This study also discovered that the theoretical assumption of the proxy-datum bias based on the TWL model yields values comparable to those of the measurements,with a narrower distinction in bias for steeper beach slopes than the obtained results.The determined proxydatum bias value can benefit future shoreline change studies as it could be incorporated to either proxy-based shorelines by shifting the shoreline seaward or to datum-based shorelines by shifting the shoreline landward in order of the bias value.The seasonal monsoon’s effect on beach profiles should be considered when calculating bias values and conducting potential shoreline change rate studies.

An Investigation on the Formation of Submerged Bar Under Surges in Sandy Coastal Region

Cross-shore sediment transport rate exposed to waves is very important for coastal morphology, the design of marine structures such as seawalls, jetties, breakwaters etc, and the prevention of coastal erosion and accretion due to onoff shore sediment transportation. In the present study, the experiments on cross-shore sediment transport are carried out in a laboratory wave channel with initial beach slopes of 1/8, 1/10 and 1/15. By using the regular waves with different deep-water wave steepnesses generated by a pedal-type wave generator, the geometrical characteristics of beach profiles under storm conditions and the parameters affecting on-off shore sediment transport are investigated for the beach materials with medium diameters of d50=0.25, 0.32, 0.45, 0.62 and 0.80 mm. The offshore bar geometric characteristics are the horizontal distances from the shoreline to the bar beginning （Xb）, crest （Xt）, and ending （Xs） points, the depth from the bar crest to the still water level （ht）, and the bar volume （Vbar）. The experimental results have indicated that when the deep-water steepness （Ha/L0） increased, the net movement to seaside increased. With the increasing wave steepness, the bars moved to widen herewith the vertical distances from still water level to the bar beginning （Xb）, crest （Xt） and ending （Xs） points and the horizontal distances from the coast line to the bar beginning, crest and ending points increased. It was also shown from experimental results that the horizontal distances from the bar beginning and ending points to the coast line increased with the decrease of the beach slope. The experimental results obtained from this study are compared with previous experimental work and found to be of the same magnitude as the experimental measurements and followed the expected basic trend.

Short-term morphological changes after sand-digging during a sand sculpture activity

Abstract The morphology of the beach backshore and foreshore at Huiquan Bay, Qingdao, China, is characterized by a single intertidal sandbar system with a spring tide range of 4.59 m. The beach was measured with a laser total station of Leica TPS402. Contours of the beach were generated using data collected in March and November 2005. The survey method provided 2 mm measuring accuracy and 4-10 m horizontal spacing. The net accretion volume of the foreshore was about 11,215 m3 from March to November. After sand sculpture activity, the axis of the sand trough migrated onshore from about 3.5 m to 17.5 m on the foreshore beach in November. At the same time, the axis of the sandbar crest migrated onshore no more than 42.25 m on the northwest foreshore; and it migrated offshore no more than 23.75 m on the southeast foreshore. On the northwest and southeast foreshore beach, two strips of erosion areas with a thickness of 0~）.2 m appeared on the sandbar crest. Accretion occurred at the bottom of the sand trough with a thickness of-0.2-0.6 m. The sandbar height decreased after sand sculpture activity, and it was no more than 0.7 m in March and 0.6 m in November. Human activities, such as sand digging on the sandbar crest during sand sculpture activity, also can disturb the beach morphology of intertidal bar systems. This phenomenon also was validated by comparison of beach morphology, the results of a color artificial tracer experiment and a sediment transportation trend prediction.

Delineation of sensitive coastal zone of northern Ramanathapuram coast,Tamilnadu,India,using a GIS approach

This research aims to assess the sensitive coastal zones by analyzing the shoreline changes such as accretion and erosion in the eastern coastal part of Ramanathapuram District,Tamil Nadu,India.The study focused on Mandapam,Pirappanvalsai,Enmanamcondam,Nagachi,Terbogi,Athyuthu,Chitrakkottai,Pathengal,Attangarai,Alagankulam,and Devipattinam villages.Some of these areas are distinguished as highly sensitive ecological zone.The erosion of an area leads to irreplaceable disturbances to nature.Hence,erosion and accretion studies are top priorities when studying the coastal area.In addition to GIS technology,which has been widely used in the past 20 years,the End Point Rate(EPR)and Linear Regression Rate(LRR)analyses were conducted to better understand the shoreline changes.The stability of the coastal region was analyzed by observing the slope variations of the beach during the profile survey.In the study,we analyzed that the Quaternary deposits of sand are the dominant geological feature of the study area.Coral reefs and salt pans are highly distributed along the coastal stretch.The coast of Mandapam village has been detected as a highly sensitive region,with an average erosion rate of-3.1 m/yr and an average accretion rate of 1.22 m/yr,resulting in high erosion and low accretion.The coast is a steep coast with an average slope angle of 0.24°.This study provides insight into sustainable coastal zone management.

A simple and inexpensive method for muddy shore profiling

There are several well-established methods for obtaining beach profiles, and more accurate and precise high-tech methods are emerging. Traditional low-cost methods requiring minimal user skill or training are still popular among professionals, scientists, and coastal zone management practitioners. Simple methods are being developed with a primary focus on sand and gravel beaches. This paper describes a simple, low-cost, manual field method for measuring profiles of beaches, which is particularly suitable for muddy shores. The equipment is a type of flexible U-tube manometer that uses liquid columns in vertical tubes to measure differences in elevation; the supporting frame is constructed from wooden poles with base disks, which hold measuring scales and a PVC tube. The structure was trialed on a mudflat characterized by a 20~0-cm-thick surface layer of silt and clay, located at the Kutubdia Island, Bangladesh. The study results are discussed with notes on the method＇s applicability, advantages and limitations, and several optional modifications for different scenarios for routine profiling of muddy shores. The equipment can be used by one person or two people, and the accuracy of the method is comparable to those in other methods. The equipment can also be used on sandy or gravel beaches.

Predicting beach profile evolution with group method data handling-type neural networks on beaches with seawalls

A major goal of coastal engineering is to develop models for the reliable prediction of short-and longterm near shore evolution.The most successful coastal models are numerical models,which allow flexibility in the choice of initial and boundary conditions.In the present study,evolutionary algorithms(EAs)are employed for multi-objective Pareto optimum design of group method data handling(GMDH)-type neural networks that have been used for bed evolution modeling in the surf zone for reflective beaches,based on the irregular wave experiments performed at the Hydraulic Laboratory of Imperial College(London,UK).The input parameters used for such modeling are significant wave height,wave period,wave action duration,reflection coefficient,distance from shoreline and sand size.In this way,EAs with an encoding scheme are presented for evolutionary design of the generalized GMDH-type neural networks,in which the connectivity configurations in such networks are not limited to adjacent layers.Also,multi-objective EAs with a diversity preserving mechanism are used for Pareto optimization of such GMDH-type neural networks.The most important objectives of GMDH-type neural networks that are considered in this study are training error(TE),prediction error(PE),and number of neurons(N).Different pairs of these objective functions are selected for two-objective optimization processes.Therefore,optimal Pareto fronts of such models are obtained in each case,which exhibit the trade-offs between the corresponding pair of the objectives and,thus,provide different non-dominated optimal choices of GMDH-type neural network model for beach profile evolution.The results showed that the present model has been successfully used to optimally prediction of beach profile evolution on beaches with seawalls.