Estimating cross-shore and longshore sediment transport from shoreline observation data

Abstract

To effectively address beach morphology, it is crucial to not only analyze shoreline characteristics but also understand sediment transport influenced by wave dynamics and storm-induced sediment behavior. Shoreline changes occur over long-term, mid-term, and short-term periods, each impacting beach morphology differently. Therefore, investigating sediment transport under wave action is essential for accurately identifying beach morphology causes. However, existing studies have been deficient in this regard. We propose a method to estimate cross-shore and longshore sediment components of coastal sediment transport and suspended sediment concentration from observed shoreline data, based on the sediment volume conservation rule. The study focuses on shoreline data observed at Jeongdongjin, Korea. The outcome of this research is expected to significantly contribute to coastal management. This is achieved by indirectly determining these sediment components from shoreline observation data, providing valuable insights for coastal management strategies.