Longshore Drift Rates and Directions along the Carmel Coastline

Both the direction and rate of the net longshore transport along the Carmel coast is noted to be variable and disputed between different studies. It was found that the dominant wave direction approaching the coast is very close to that of the beach normal, which means that small changes of wave directions, and the wave-induced currents, result in reversals in the direction of longshore sand transport, leading to a low net drift. During the literature review limited to no estimates were found on gross drift rates, year-to-year or seasonal variations in longshore drift or estimates for the distribution of the drift across a beach profile. This study sought to expand on the current knowledge by providing estimates of these parameters of drift rates. Analysis of the monthly variation of the potential longshore drift indicated a seasonal variation in rates and directions. A lower drift rate with a southwards bias in direction occurred during the summer whilst a higher drift rate with a northwards bias in direction occurred during the winter. Furthermore, variations of drift rates and directions were found with distance across the beach profile. The upper section of the beach profile showed a net southward sediment transport, whilst the lower section of the beach profile showed a net northwards sediment transport.