FORMATION OF A SANDY BEACH DUE TO SAND SUPPLY FROM VICINITY OF REEF EDGE

Abstract

 Field observation was carried out on November 26, 2018 near Point Zampa facing the South China Sea in Okinawa to investigate the deposition of the coral sand (debris) along the shoreline. On the basis of the measured grain sizes of coral sand and the berm height, the movement of sand placed along the reef edge due to waves was predicted using the BG model considering the change in grain size. Near Point Zampa, the most predominant wave direction is from NNW and the secondly direction of waves from SW. Due to these wave incidences, sand can be driven to the shoreline from the north reef edge, forming the present sandy beach along the shoreline.