The transport of particles along a shore is a paramount process when it comes to the evolution of a coastal environment. Factors affecting sediment displacement lead the morphodynamics of a given beach towards a state of erosion, equilibrium or expansion. A proper management of a littoral area cannot set aside an insight awareness of the influence that the processes acting on the nearshore exert on the sediments the beaches are composed of. For this reason particle transport is a topic that has been widely addressed in the scientific literature especially for sandy beaches (White, 1998; Ciavola, 2004). Only recently sediment movement on coarse-grained beaches has been matter of several research studies (Allan et al., 2006; Curtiss et al., 2009; Bertoni et al., 2012): scientific productivity on this environment increased mostly because of new technical solutions that solved many of the logistic problems encountered previously (Buscombe and Masselink, 2006; Bertoni et al., 2010). For instance, the chance to track individual pebbles by means of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technique provided a major boost towards the definition of coarse sediments displacement on coarse-grained beaches (Allan et al., 2006; Bertoni et al., 2010). In addition, the use of gravel and pebble beaches as a form of coastal protection has progressively increased lately, because they are more resistant to wave action rather than sandy beaches. Thus, improving the knowledge about this environment is of great significance also to optimize future projects involving the construction of artificial coarse-grained beaches.
On the displacement of marked pebbles on two coarse-grained beaches during short fair-weather periods (Marina di Pisa and Portonovo, Italy)
BERTONI, Duccio;CIAVOLA, Paolo;GROTTOLI, Edoardo;
2012
Abstract
The transport of particles along a shore is a paramount process when it comes to the evolution of a coastal environment. Factors affecting sediment displacement lead the morphodynamics of a given beach towards a state of erosion, equilibrium or expansion. A proper management of a littoral area cannot set aside an insight awareness of the influence that the processes acting on the nearshore exert on the sediments the beaches are composed of. For this reason particle transport is a topic that has been widely addressed in the scientific literature especially for sandy beaches (White, 1998; Ciavola, 2004). Only recently sediment movement on coarse-grained beaches has been matter of several research studies (Allan et al., 2006; Curtiss et al., 2009; Bertoni et al., 2012): scientific productivity on this environment increased mostly because of new technical solutions that solved many of the logistic problems encountered previously (Buscombe and Masselink, 2006; Bertoni et al., 2010). For instance, the chance to track individual pebbles by means of the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technique provided a major boost towards the definition of coarse sediments displacement on coarse-grained beaches (Allan et al., 2006; Bertoni et al., 2010). In addition, the use of gravel and pebble beaches as a form of coastal protection has progressively increased lately, because they are more resistant to wave action rather than sandy beaches. Thus, improving the knowledge about this environment is of great significance also to optimize future projects involving the construction of artificial coarse-grained beaches.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
