Estimation of longshore sediment transport along Puducherry coast, Eastcoast of India; based on empirical methods and surf zone model

1307-1319Measured waves at 15 m water depth off Puducherry coast were used to estimate the longshore sediment transport along the Puducherry coast based on empirical methods and surf zone model. Comparison of longshore sediment showed that transport rate estimates gave wide variation among the empirical methods and surf zone model. Transport rate estimates using CERC gave higher (factor 2.5) and Kamphuis gave factor 1.5 when compared to VanRijn transport estimates. Estimated littoral drift using surf zone model was close agreement with estimated littoral drift using VanRijn method. Estimated annual longshore sediment transport based on surf zone model along the Puducherry coast show that the highest northerly transport occurred in the month of May, followed by September, July, June and August. Highest southerly transport was observed in December followed by November. Net monthly transport was northerly from March to October and southerly during the remaining months. Transport rate was found to be low in February. Volume of annual gross transport was estimated as 0.40 x 106 m3/year and the volume of annual net transport was 0.13 x 106 m3/year (towards north)