The Relationship Between the Foreshore Slope, Grain Size and Wave Height

Abstract

This study reports on the relationship between the foreshore slopes, grain size characteristics and the wave height on the Hamilton-Burlington Beach. This beach is a non-tidal, low-energy beach. At five stations along the beach, profiles were taken, sediment samples were collected and the average wave heights determined. The slopes were plotted against the mean grain size, the median grain size and the wave heights. There was no clear relationship between the variables tested. It was determined, however, that there existed three areas along this beach. The first area was he one affected only by the wave energy, the second are was affected by both the wave energy and the grain size characteristics, and the third region was affected by the grain size characteristics.