G. Masselink et Ad. Short, THE EFFECT OF TIDE RANGE ON BEACH MORPHODYNAMICS AND MORPHOLOGY - A CONCEPTUAL BEACH MODEL, Journal of coastal research, 9(3), 1993, pp. 785-800
Natural beaches may be grouped into several beach types on the basis o
f breaker height (H(b)), wave period (T), high tide sediment fall velo
city (w(s)) and tide range (TR). These four variables are quantified b
y two dimensionless parameters: the dimensionless fall velocity (OMEGA
= H(b)/w(s)T) used by WRIGHT and SHORT (1984) to classify micro-tidal
beaches, and the relative tide range (RTR = TR/H(b)) introduced in th
is paper. The value of the dimensionless fall velocity indicates wheth
er reflective, intermediate or dissipative surf zone conditions will p
revail. The relative tide range reflects the relative importance of sw
ash, surf zone and shoaling wave processes. A conceptual model is pres
ented in which beach morphology (beach type) may be predicted using th
e dimensionless fall velocity and the relative tide range, whereby the
mean spring tide range (MSR) is used to calculate the relative tide r
ange. The model consists of the existing micro-tidal beach types, whic
h as RTR increases, shift from reflective to low tide terrace with and
finally without rips; from intermediate to low tide bar and rips and
finally ultra-dissipative; and from barred dissipative to non-barred d
issipative and finally ultra-dissipative. Using this model, all wave-d
ominated beaches in all tidal ranges can be classified.