ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION FOR NOURISHMENT OF BEIDAIHE BEACH

The environmental conditions of the Beidaihe beach, includeing its landforms, sediments, water dynamics and sediment transport, are discussed in this paper. The research shows that the coast of Beidaihe, as a sandy headland coast, is favorable for beach nourishment. There are several disconnected sandbars parallel to the coast. Beach profiles suggest that the coast is now under erosion. The rate of erosion is more than 2 m/a in the western beach. Strong waves occur in NNE, ENE direction, while the norml waves are in NS. The reciprocal tidal current moves in NE-SW direction. As the result, the net transport of sediments is in NE-SW. The mean grain size of the sediments dredged from the Yanghe river vary in a range of 0.31~0.58 mm with good physical and chemical properties. They could be used as an ideal source for nuourishment. Beach nourishment in combination with construaction of artificial headlands and offshore submerged breakwaters are recommended to protect the beach from erosion.