ANALYSIS AND NUMERICAL MODELING CROSS-SHORE PROFILES IN THE SOUTH AND NORTH COASTS

Precise knowledge about cross-shore sediment transport and beach profile seasonal change is crucial in coastal engineering. This phenomenon affects the quantity and characteristics of longshore sediment transport. It also influences the interaction between sediment and the coastal structures. For example, swell-induced cross shore sediment transport after storm impact s deposition behind the head of the breakwater at harbor entrance. This is the time when the storm-induces sand bar moves back toward the shoreline. Coastal morphology is highly sensitive to the cycles of storm-swell impacts. There are several relevant papers in the literature. Among them are Sallenger (2003), Houser et al. (2008), van Rijn et al. (2003), Lashte Neshaei et al. (2007), Judge et al. (2003), and Masselink (2008). However, still more research is needed to understand the sand-bar migration during and after storm. This paper addresses cross-shore sediment transport and beach-profile variations at two representative Iranian shorelines; Nowshahr (Caspian Sea) and Zarabad (Makran). Figures (1) and (2) illustrates the shorelines and the studied profiles. Lots of measured profiles have been studied with the corresponding wave time series (measured). The wave climates at the two selected sites are different, including monsoonal wave behavior at Zarabad and irregular frequent storms with steep waves at Nowshahr. Seasonal profile types have been studied and compared. Two numerical models -Litpack and SBeach- have been tested.