Difference between revisions of "Active coastal zone"

From Coastal Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Created page with " __NOTOC__ {{Definition|title= Active coastal zone |definition= The active coastal zone (sometimes also called ''active coastal profile'') is the beach zone over which sand i...")
 
 
(9 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 8: Line 8:
  
  
−
For sections of a sandy coast where no losses (or gains) of sand occur caused by gradients in [[littoral drift]], by barrier overwash or by landward aeolian transport, the volume of sand in the active coastal zone is constant in time.  However, the sand distribution within the active zone can change, see Fig. 1.  
+
For sections of a sandy coast where no net losses (or gains) of sand occur caused by gradients in [[littoral drift]], by barrier overwash or by landward aeolian transport, the volume of sand in the active coastal zone is constant in time.  However, the sand distribution within the active zone can change, see Fig. 1. During storms, energetic waves move sand from the beach (and possibly from the foredune) down to the shoreface. During calm weather, swell waves move sand from the shoreface up to the beach (see: [[Shoreface profile]] and [[Dune erosion]]).  
  
−
The seaward limit of the active coastal zone is the most landward depth seaward of which there is no significant change in bottom elevation and no significant net sediment transport between the nearshore and the offshore, for a given or characteristic time interval. This depth is generally called ''[[closure depth]]''. The extent of the active coastal zone thus depends on the time scale at which changes in beach profile are considered. When considering beach evolution at seasonal time scale, the closure depth (generally called '' inner closure depth'', <math>h_{in}</math>) can be estimated from the yearly mean significant wave height <math>H_s</math> by the approximate formula (for micro/meso-tidal beaches):  <math>h_{in} \approx  9 H_s</math>.  
+
The seaward limit of the active coastal zone is the most landward depth seaward of which there is no significant change in bottom elevation and no significant net sediment transport between the nearshore and the offshore, for a given or characteristic time interval. This depth is generally called [[closure depth]]. The extent of the active coastal zone thus depends on the time scale at which changes in beach profile are considered. When considering beach evolution at seasonal time scale, the closure depth (generally called inner closure depth, <math>h_{in}</math>) can be estimated from the yearly mean significant wave height <math>H_s</math> by the approximate formula (for micro/meso-tidal beaches):  <math>h_{in} \approx  9 H_s</math>.  
  
−
When considering beach evolution at larger time scales, the seaward limit of the active zone corresponds to a larger closure depth, often designated by <math>h_{out}</math>. Estimates for  <math>h_{out}</math> are given in the [[Closure depth|literature]]. It is more careful, however, to derive <math>h_{in}</math> and <math>h_{out}</math> from field data because the closure depth depends on local characteristics of wave climate, tide, sediment and bathymetry.
+
When considering beach evolution at larger time scales, the seaward limit of the active zone corresponds to a larger closure depth, often designated by <math>h_{out}</math> (see [[Closure depth]]). It is more careful, however, to derive <math>h_{in}</math> and <math>h_{out}</math> from field data because the closure depth depends on local characteristics of wave climate, tide, sediment and bathymetry.
  
  
 
==Related articles==
 
==Related articles==
−
 
−
* [[Definitions of coastal terms]]
 
 
* [[Closure depth]]
 
* [[Closure depth]]
−
* [[Types and background of coastal erosion]]
+
* [[Shoreface profile]]
−
* [[Parametric equilibrium models]]
+
* [[Bruun rule]]
 +
* [[Shoreline retreat and recovery]]
 +
* [[Nearshore sandbars]]
 
* [[Natural causes of coastal erosion]]
 
* [[Natural causes of coastal erosion]]
 
* [[Human causes of coastal erosion]]
 
* [[Human causes of coastal erosion]]
 +
* [[Dealing with coastal erosion]]
 
* [[Accretion and erosion for different coastal types]]
 
* [[Accretion and erosion for different coastal types]]
−
* [[Typical examples of structural erosion]]
 
 
* [[Dune erosion]]
 
* [[Dune erosion]]
−
* [[Classification of coastlines]]  
+
* [[Classification of sandy coastlines]]  
−
* [[Coastal zone characteristics]]
+
* [[Characteristics of sedimentary shores]]
−
* [[Classification of coastal profiles]]
 
 
* [[Coastal Hydrodynamics And Transport Processes]]
 
* [[Coastal Hydrodynamics And Transport Processes]]
−
* [[Long-term modelling using 1-line models - GENESIS and new extensions]]
+
* [[Littoral drift and shoreline modelling]]  
−
* [[Swash zone dynamics]]
+
* [[Data analysis techniques for the coastal zone]]
−
* [[Beach Cusps]]
+
* [[Definitions of coastal terms]]
−
* [[Shallow-water wave theory]]
 
−
* [[Rhythmic shoreline features]]
 
−
* [[Data analysis and Statistical Approaches]]
 
−
* [[Data-driven models and statistical approaches]]
 
  
  
−
{{author
+
[[Category:Physical coastal and marine processes]]
−
|AuthorID=120
+
[[Category:Beaches]]
−
|AuthorFullName=Job Dronkers
+
[[Category:Morphodynamics]]
−
|AuthorName=Job Dronkers}}
 

Latest revision as of 16:07, 26 August 2022


Definition of Active coastal zone:
The active coastal zone (sometimes also called active coastal profile) is the beach zone over which sand is exchanged in cross-shore direction by natural processes. The seaward limit corresponds to the closure depth and the landward limit to a hard boundary (seawall, cliff, ..). In the case of a dune coast the active zone comprises part of the front dune that can be eroded by storm waves.
This is the common definition for Active coastal zone, other definitions can be discussed in the article
Fig. 1. Schematic representation of the active coastal zone for a dune coast.


For sections of a sandy coast where no net losses (or gains) of sand occur caused by gradients in littoral drift, by barrier overwash or by landward aeolian transport, the volume of sand in the active coastal zone is constant in time. However, the sand distribution within the active zone can change, see Fig. 1. During storms, energetic waves move sand from the beach (and possibly from the foredune) down to the shoreface. During calm weather, swell waves move sand from the shoreface up to the beach (see: Shoreface profile and Dune erosion).

The seaward limit of the active coastal zone is the most landward depth seaward of which there is no significant change in bottom elevation and no significant net sediment transport between the nearshore and the offshore, for a given or characteristic time interval. This depth is generally called closure depth. The extent of the active coastal zone thus depends on the time scale at which changes in beach profile are considered. When considering beach evolution at seasonal time scale, the closure depth (generally called inner closure depth, [math]h_{in}[/math]) can be estimated from the yearly mean significant wave height [math]H_s[/math] by the approximate formula (for micro/meso-tidal beaches): [math]h_{in} \approx 9 H_s[/math].

When considering beach evolution at larger time scales, the seaward limit of the active zone corresponds to a larger closure depth, often designated by [math]h_{out}[/math] (see Closure depth). It is more careful, however, to derive [math]h_{in}[/math] and [math]h_{out}[/math] from field data because the closure depth depends on local characteristics of wave climate, tide, sediment and bathymetry.


Related articles

Retrieved from "https://www.coastalwiki.org/w/index.php?title=Active_coastal_zone&oldid=79805"