Characteristics of Inter-Annual Bar Migration on the Ishikawa Coast, Japan

Abstract

This study analyzes a bathymetric dataset sampled annually for 51 years along the Ishikawa Coast, Japan, where the morphological variation is characterized by the cyclic cross-shore migration of bars with approximately 10-year return period. Five cycles have been identified from 1960 to 2010. The variability of spatial pattern during individual cycle is analyzed to quantify the characteristics of three-dimensional morphological evolutions. Considerable changes in plan shape were observed such as quasi-regular crescentic patterns, parallel alignment of oblique bars, disconnection and realignment of bars. This is in contrast to the quasi two-dimensional progress of net offshore migration (NOM) of sandbars reported in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, and Japan.