Wave Climate Variability and Beach Management

This paper presents a comparison of wave parameters used for design of beach schemes with the conditions experienced post-scheme, to aid schemer performance assessment.

The last 25 years has seen the introduction of Beach Management Plans for beaches where significant sums of money are spent on both capital and maintenance schemes, most of which have involved initial re-nourishment, sometimes with new control structures. Scheme design will generally also have planned for some top-up replenishment or sediment recycling during the scheme’s lifetime. The earliest substantial beach recharge scheme in the UK dates back to 1972 (Portobello, Edinburgh). Numerous schemes were introduced in the 1980’s such as at Seaford, with something of a proliferation during the 1990’s (e.g. at Weymouth, Hurst Spit, Llandudno) and more recently at Littlestone.