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Beaches & Shoreline Processes. Landforms and terminology in coastal regions. the foreshore - the area most influenced by the high and low water marks and breaking waves. the backshore - submerged only during the highest tides and severest storms.
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Landforms and terminology in coastal regions • the foreshore - the area most influenced by the high and low water marks and breaking waves. • the backshore - submerged only during the highest tides and severest storms. • the berm – the high point on the beach; the backshore-foreshore boundary. It changes seasonally.
Landforms and terminology in coastal regions Notch Berm Beach face Wave-cut bench Longshore bar
Summertime and wintertime beach conditions Summertime beach Wintertime beach
Movement of sand on the beach Movement parallel (↔) to shoreline • Caused by wave refraction (bending) • Each wave transports sand either upcoast or downcoast • Huge volumes of sand are moved within the surf zone • The beach resembles a “river of sand”
Beaches & Shoreline Processes • Erosion • Deposition • Human Development
Longshore current and longshore drift • Longshore current = zigzag movement of water in the surf zone • Longshore drift = movement of sediment caused by longshore current
Features of erosional shores • Headland • Wave-cut cliff • Sea cave • Sea arch • Sea stack • Marine terrace
Headland Eastern tip of Oahu
Wave-cut Cliff Ka‘ula
Sea Cave w/collapsed roof Na Pali Coast, Kauai
Sea arch Sea stack (collapse of sea arch) Puu Pehe (Sweetheart Rock) on the island of Lanai. Chain of Craters Rd., HI
Marine Terrace Haunama Bay
Features of depositional shores • Spit • Bay barrier • Tombolo • Barrier island • Delta
Tombolo Poipu Beach Park Kauai
Formation of barrier islands • Sea level rose after the last Ice Age • Caused barrier islands to roll toward shore like a tractor’s tread
Barrier Islands • Features: • Ocean beach • Dunes • Barrier flat • High salt marsh • Low salt marsh • Lagoon
Barrier Beaches Red Sands Beach, Maui
Deltas • Feature: • Triangle deposit of sediment Nile River Delta Mississippi Delta
Features of Submerging Shorelines • Changes in Sea Level: • Tectonic movement • Isostatic adjustment • Worldwide (eustatic) changes in sea level • Ice ages • Global warming
Composition of Beach sand in Hawaii: • Coral • Shells • Sponge spicules • Calcareous algae • Volcanic particles • Shark teeth
Black Sand Beach Big Island
Green Sand Beach Big Island Mahana Bay, HI
Red Sand Beach Maui
Origin of Dunes • An abundant supply of loose sand in a region devoid of vegetation • A wind energy source sufficient to move sand grains • A topography whereby sand particles lose their momentum and settle out
Beach Flora Vegetated dune, Kanaha, Maui.Naupaka shrub and 'aki'aki and pohuehue (with purple flowers) ground cover at center, 'aki'aki (sparse ground cover) in background.
Close up of 'akulikuli. Photo from JOHNSTONE, 1997. Close up of 'aki'aki. Photo from JOHNSTONE, 1997. Close up of pohuehue, Honokahua, Maui Common name: beach morning glory
Sea-Level Rise Wave/Current Action Coastal Erosion Sediment Deficiencies • Sand mining • Dune grading • Sand impounding (behind shoreline structures) • Water quality degradation • Harbor/navigational channel construction
Types of hard stabilization • Hard stabilization perpendicular to the coast within the surf zone: • Jetties—protect harbor entrances • Groins—designed to trap sand • Hard stabilization parallel to the coast: • Breakwaters—built beyond the surf zone • Seawalls—built to armor the coast
Shoreline Hardening: Breakwater Magic Island is a peninsula shooting off from Ala Moana Park. The beach is protected by a man-made breakwater that cuts off the action of the surf while allowing enough water circulation to keep the salt water fresh and clean.
Shoreline Hardening: Seawall Waikiki Beach from the Halekulani Hotel.
Beach Restoration Lanikai
Beach Replenishment Kohio Beach 10,000 cubic yards of sand pumped from off shore
Beach Replenishment Kohio Beach
Beach Replenishment Kohio Beach