Empirical Models of Longshore Currents

Abstract

It is proposed that the singularity of each beach setting results in longshore current developments unique to the location and conditions. Therefore it is plausible that the inter-relationships between the longshore current variables are not constant. This is in spite of the similarity of results in past studies that suggest a general form for longshore current regression solutions and current mathematical refinements of equations.Herein contemporaneous empirical studies of two dissimilar nearshore environments along Sandy Hook, New Jersey suggest different reactions to the same wave train. Regression models with coefficients of determination exceeding 60% reveal that wave period, nearshore slope, and the angle of wave approach are important on low energy beaches while breaker height is the primary control on longshore current velocities for higher energy beaches.