Sand movement on the Waltair beach, Visakhapatnam, India

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the analysis of the profile data of the Waltair beach which is subject to three distinct influences: (a) rhythmic short period tide cycles, (b) random 'Cataclysmic' events like rain storms and (c) beach erosion induced by the construction of a breakwater. The marked changes in the profile area in November 1958 are correlated to the unprecedented floods in the Visakhapatnam area and the consequent prevalence of erosion conditions. The construction of a break-water near the entrance to the Visakhapatnam Port impeded the movement of littoral drift in the .N.E. direction, resulting in beach erosion in the Waltair area. This erosion process seems to follow a negative exponential trend. It is found that the net mean rates of change for the foreshore, backshore and the beach during 1958 are +0.24. - 16.44 and - 15.35 sq. ft./day respectively.