How do Groynes Prevent Longshore Drift

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To determine how groynes prevent longshore drift.

The issue:

Longshore drift influences the deposition and erosion of sediments. Waves erode the coast and transport the eroded material along the coastline. Over a period of time, the material will be deposited on a beach or form a larger feature such as a spit. Groynes are structures built at equal intervals along the coastline. Their purpose is to restrict longshore drift, preventing coastal erosion.

Figure 1 - Google Maps

About the location:

The location of the study area is Silver Beach in Kurnell Peninsula, near Cronulla. It is located in the Sutherland Shire, south of Sydney Central Business District (CBD) and just directly south of Kingsford Smith International Airport. The area also has a historical significance as it is near the landing place of Captain James Cook on the 28th of April 1770 in Botany Bay.

Figure 2 - Close up of the study area, Silver beach is located just on the border of Captain Cook Drive

Figure 3 - Captain Cook Obelisk, taken by Saksham Yadav on 25/2/14 at Botany Bay

Importance of the issue:

Longshore drift is a process by which sediments are transported from one place to another. When this process occurs, beaches, spits and sandbars are accreted over time. If the process of longshore drift is altered by factors such as stronger winds and stronger currents, beach erosion begins at a faster rate and this may result in many serious problems. The main stakeholders of longshore drift are resort owners. They rely on people to visit their resorts and enjoy the beach. However, if longshore drift erodes too much sand, it can permanently deprive sand from the area, which can also threaten structures close to the shoreline.

How the issu...

... middle of paper ...

...otection: Groynes." Coastal Protection: Groynes. Slideshare, n.d. Web. .

"Geography Site: Coasts - Longshore Drift." Geography Site: Coasts - Longshore Drift. N.p., 11 Jan. 2008. Web. .

"Groynes as Shore Protection." - Coastal Wiki. N.p., 24 Oct. 2012. Web. .

"Landing Place Reserve." Kurnell. N.p., n.d. Web. .

"Silver Beach, Kurnell." - Sutherland Shire Council. N.p., n.d. Web. .

Figure 9 - Captain Cook Obelisk (Vando in the foreground) - Photo by Saksham Yadav at Botany Bay

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