Field Comparisons of Cross-Shore Transport Models

During the Nearshore Sediment Transport Study experiment at Torrey Pines Beach, CA, in November 1978, beach profiles were measured over a several week period concurrent with extensive daily measurements of wind, waves, and currents. These surf zone data were used to predict the cross-shore transport of sand using eight models available in the literature. Several models were found to have skill in predicting major changes, but none was capable of predicting more than a third of the total beach volume variability.