Measurements and Modeling of Gravel Transport under Wind Waves, Vessel-Generated Waves, and Tidal Currents

Abstract Direct measurements of coarse sediment (gravel) transport were obtained over an interval of 14 months from a mixed sand and gravel beach on Bainbridge Island, Puget Sound, WA in order to quantify the relative role of different forcing mechanisms and the corresponding time scales of morphological response. The measurements were applied to validate a system of integrated numerical models that includes: a tidal circulation model, a wind-wave growth and transformation model, a vessel wake model and a one-dimensional, profile-based model. The latter model, which provides a long-term integrated assessment of the beach response to major forcing mechanisms, was the primary tool for investigating the impacts of tides, waves and wakes on the mixed sand and gravel shores of the study area. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) technology was implemented in tracking studies of gravel-sized sediment particles, and complemented the beach profile surveys and meteorological a...