Field measurement of longshore sediment transport: Sandy Hook, New Jersey, USA : Allen, J.R., 1985. J. coast. Res., 1(3):231–240. Natl. Park Serv., North Atlantic Region, 15 State St., Boston, MA 02109, USA

Abstract

An integrated mass approach to the measurement of longshore transport is provided to overcome the limitations of the kinematic method. A data set (N=60) for longshore sediment transport at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, USA, developed from a multi-elevational sediment trap, indicates that the transport can be best predicted by the energy flux factor using solitary wave theory with a coefficient of proportionality equal to 0.77. The energetics approach to longshore transport is found to be less accurate unless exceptionally large non-wave driven currents are present. The long-term predictive relationship is shown to be nearly exact for the essentially unidirectional oceanside transport system although the instantaneous relationship may be in error by an order of magnitude.