WAVE REFRACTION PATTERN AND ITS ROLE IN THE REDISTRIBUTION OF SEDIMENT ALONG SOUTHERN COAST OF TAMILNADU, INDIA

Wave convergent zones are identified at Manappad, Tiruchendur, Tamirab arani river mouth, Tuticorin, Kallar, Vaippar, Vembar and Valinokkam b eaches. Wave divergent zones especially from Mandapam to Chinna Ervadi are marked by strong progradational activities in the prevailing low energy environment. Textural parameters of the sediments show a charac teristic variation in mean size and sorting in the zones of wave diver gence and convergence. At wave divergent zones, sediments are of fine, moderately sorted, negatively skewed and mesokurtic in nature. Coarse sediments of well sorted, negatively skewed and mesokurtic nature are the characteristic of sediments in convergent zones.