A Model For On Offshore Sediment Transport In The Surfzone

An energetics-based surfzone sediment transport model is evaluated for its ability to predict on-offshore sediment movements using nearshore sediment transport study current meter and beach volume measurements. The magnitude and distribution of pertinent wave velocity moments are also evaluated from the same data set. The latter were found to be linear functions of the significant wave height. Results of the study showed that the current meter data were of insufficient length to evaluate the sediment transport model's validity. A simplified version of the model coupled with estimated wave velocity moment regression equations was found to mimic observed beach volume variations as a function of wave height. (Author).