Relationships between sand spit evolution, environmental forcing and inland inundation

ABSTRACT Thomas, T., Lynch, S.K., Phillips, M.R., Williams, A.T., Duck, R.W. 2014. Relationships between sand spit evolution, environmental forcing and inland inundation.In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium(Durban, South Africa),Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 072–077, ISSN 0749-0208. Topographic field data and environmental forcing agents were used to assess morphological changes (1995–2010) at Ginst Spit, Pendine Sands, West Wales and flood potential at Laugharne, a town in the lee of the spit. Areal change between annual surveys showed variable distal end migration eastward extending into the channel of the Towy, Taf and Gwendreath estuaries. Dominant waves emanate from south toward southwest and suggest that the longshore sediment drift is from west toward east. However, sub-dominant waves from southeast are limited by fetch but engender a counter drift back toward the west at the distal end forming the customary northward h...