SURF ZONE DYNAMICS ALONG THE SOUTH KARNATAKA COAST BETWEEN BHATKAL AND ULLAL, WEST-COAST OF INDIA

Field study between Bhatkal and Ullal from June 1989 to May 1990 indic ated that the beaches along this segment of coastline are essentially stable showing only seasonal fluctuations. Beaches after being subject ed to erosional phase during southwest monsoon season, were found to r egain their profiles by January or February. The erosion observed at t he river mouths can be attributed to the readjustment of the river mou ths during monsoon season when the river flow was highest. Longshore c urrents were stronger in June, and relatively low and steady during th e rest of the year. Coast between Padubidri and Ullal experienced rela tively stronger longshore currents than the coast between Maravanthe a nd Malpe. Longshore sediment transport rate was relatively low at Mara vanthe and Ullal compared to Malpe and Padubidri.