The evaluation of near-shore current components on macro-tidal beaches: Field analysis and numerical approach

With increasing population growths on the Coastal fringes, it is becoming more important to be able to successfully model the coastal processes. To monitor the erosion of the beach profile requires information about the nearshore currents for sediment transport calculations. However, due to the large tidal ranges of macro -tidal beaches, the current will be a complex combination of both wave -induced and tidal current components, with the total current varying with time and distance along the intertidal zone.

In this thesis, FORTRAN programs for the numerical modelling of tidal currents will be developed (WAVECHT and SURFCW respectively). Also, a statistical program (STATCW) for the evaluation of the intertidal currents and

wave conditions from field data will be detailed.

Finally, a preliminary evaluation of the current components at the sub -tidal and inter -tidal zones for a macro -tidal beach on the Capricorn Coast will be made.The evaluation will be based on the subjective interpretation of the reduced

field results from STATCW, with the aid of the prediction models WAVECHT, and SURFCW. Particular focus will be on the relative importance of the longshore tidal current component on the nearshore currents for macro -tidal regions.