Mixed sediment beach processes: Kachemak Bay, Alaska

By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Mixed sediment beaches are morphologically distinct from and more complex than either sand or gravel only beaches. Three digital imaging techniques are employed to quantify surficial grain size and bedload sediment transport rates along the mixed sediment beaches of Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Applying digital imaging procedures originally developed for quickly and efficiently quantifying grain sizes of sand to coarse sediment classes gives promising results. Hundreds of grain size estimates lead to a quantitative characterization of the region's sediment at a significant reduction in cost and time as compared to traditional techniques. Both the sand and coarse fractions on this megatidal beach mobilize into self-organized bedforms that migrate alongshore with a seasonally reflecting the temporal pattern of the alongshore component of wave power. In contrast, the gravel bedforms also migrate in the cross-shore without significant seasonally suggesting that swash asymmetry is sufficient to mobilize the gravel even during low energy summer conditions. 

Publication type Conference Paper
Publication Subtype Conference Paper
Title Mixed sediment beach processes: Kachemak Bay, Alaska
ISBN 0784409269; 9780784409268
DOI 10.1061/40926(239)35
Year Published 2007
Language English
Publisher ASCE
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Conference publication
Larger Work Title Coastal Sediments '07 - Proceedings of 6th International Symposium on Coastal Engineering and Science of Coastal Sediment Processes
Conference Title 6th International Symposium on Coastal Engineering and Science of Coastal Sediment Processes
Conference Location New Orleans, LA
Conference Date May 13-17, 2007
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details