TITLE:
Investigating the Temporal Cross-Shore Beach Profile Evolution Using CSHORE on a Sand Beach on West-Central Florida’s Barrier Islands
AUTHORS:
Lloyd Ndlovu, Zaid Mustafa
KEYWORDS:
Beach Erosion, CSHORE, Sand Beach, Beach Recovery, Numerical Model
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Civil Engineering,
Vol.14 No.4,
October
28,
2024
ABSTRACT: Predicting the beach response to an extreme storm is important in planning and management of beach environment and helps in hazard control. Coastal dunes and sand beaches provide protection against sea waves and rising water levels to many coastal communities especially during a storm event. Barrier islands along the West of Florida constantly face wave action and when a severe storm is added to the forcing, the islands face severe erosion. In this study, the numerical model CSHORE was applied to predict the short-term cross-shore profile evolution on Sand Key Beach located on the barrier islands west of Florida. The initial beach profile used in the study was measured after a beach nourishment project on the barrier islands. In a few years, the coast experienced severe storms including Hurricane Ian. Beach profiles were measured post the hurricane period and therefore this study investigated how the cross-shore beach profile was affected due to sediment transportation dynamics caused by the climate. Coastal Hazard Systems storm data sets were used as forcings on the beaches to assess the response of the beaches to the conditions. The results were compared to the field measurements taken across transects on the beach cross sections.