Possible Interchange of Sediments Between a Beach and Offlying Linear Shoal

• Main Author: Meisburger, Edward P.
• Other Authors: COASTAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER VICKSBURG MS
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1989
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; *LITTORAL DRIFT; *BEACHES; *SEDIMENT TRANSPORT; DEPOSITION; SHALLOW WATER; CONTINENTAL SHELVES; PARTICLES; LINEARITY; ORGANIC MATERIALS; NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN; EXCHANGE; SEDIMENTS; OCEAN BOTTOM; FLORIDA; SEDIMENTATION; SHORES; SHELLS(STRUCTURAL FORMS); INSHORE AREAS; COASTAL REGIONS; PRODUCTION; GILBERT SHOAL(FLORIDA); SHOALS; COQUINA; BANKS(OCEANOGRAPHY); North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA210256; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA210256

An investigation of Gilbert Shoal, a typical nearshore linear shoal on the Florida Atlantic coast, was undertaken to determine if significant interchange of sediments occur between the shoal, the surrounding seafloor, and the adjacent beach. The principal study technique made use of selected sediment particle types or particle characteristics as natural tracers. Seven tracer elements and two particle characteristics were of some use. It was found that some sediment from the shoal reaches the beach, but the amounts involved are small and most of the beach sediment comes from littoral drift, organic shell production on the lower beach and nearshore area, and breakdown of coquina rocks of the Anastasia Formation which crop out on the beach and in the nearshore zone. Gilbert Shoal and the surrounding seafloor apparently receive little, if any, sediment from the beach or nearby St. Lucie Inlet. Gilbert Shoal sediment appears to be derived from the nearby shelf floor and from in situ shell production. Keywords: Banks(oceanography); Sedimentation and deposition; Sediment transport.