An evaluation of combined geophysical and geotechnical methods to characterize beach thickness

Gunn, D.A.; Pearson, S.G.; Chambers, J.E.; Nelder, L.M.; Lee, J.R.; Beamish, D.; Busby, J.; Tinsley, R.D.; Tinsley, W.H.. 2006 An evaluation of combined geophysical and geotechnical methods to characterize beach thickness. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 39 (4). 339-355. DOI: 10.1144/1470-9236/05-038

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Official URL: http://qjegh.geoscienceworld.org/

Abstract/Summary

Beaches provide sediment stores and have an important role in the development of the coastline in response to climate change. Quantification of beach thickness and volume is required to assess coastal sediment transport budgets. Therefore, portable, rapid, non-invasive techniques are required to evaluate thickness where environmental sensitivities exclude invasive methods. Site methods and data are described for a toolbox of electrical, electromagnetic, seismic and mechanical based techniques that were evaluated at a coastal site at Easington, Yorkshire. Geophysical and geotechnical properties are shown to be dependent upon moisture content, porosity and lithology of the beach and the morphology of the beach–platform interface. Thickness interpretation, using an inexpensive geographic information system to integrate data, allowed these controls and relationships to be understood. Guidelines for efficient site practices, based upon this case history including procedures and techniques, are presented using a systematic approach. Field results indicated that a mixed sand and gravel beach is highly variable and cannot be represented in models as a homogeneous layer of variable thickness overlying a bedrock half-space.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	DOI: 10.1144/1470-9236/05-038
Programmes:	BGS Programmes > Marine, Coastal and Hydrocarbons
ISSN:	0481-2085
Additional Keywords:	EW081 , Sediment transport , Coastal areas , Yorkshire , Beaches , Coast , Geophysics , Gravel , Sand , Site investigation
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Related URLs:	http://geolib.bgs.ac.uk/cgi-bin/w24.sh?o...
Date made live:	19 Jun 2008 10:37 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/1469

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

DOI: 10.1144/1470-9236/05-038

Programmes:

BGS Programmes > Marine, Coastal and Hydrocarbons

ISSN:

0481-2085

Additional Keywords:

EW081 , Sediment transport , Coastal areas , Yorkshire , Beaches , Coast , Geophysics , Gravel , Sand , Site investigation

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences