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Beach Profile

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Encyclopedia of Coastal Science

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Science Series ((EESS))

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The beach profile is one the most studied features of coastal morphology. The shape of the beach profile determines the vulnerability of the coast to storms, the extent of usable beach for habitat and recreation, and the legal boundary distinguishing public and private ownership of land (Shalowitz, 1962, Shalowitz, 1964; Anders and Byrnes, 1991). The first modern studies of the beach profile were motivated to understand its shape and variability in support of amphibious operations during World War II, when personnel and supply boats had to cross the beach profile from offshore to the dry beach (Bascom, 1980).

Beach profile terminology

The term “beach profile” refers to a cross-sectional trace of the beach perpendicular to the high-tide shoreline and extends from the backshore cliff or dune to the inner continental shelf or a location where waves and currents do not transport sediment to and from the beach. The profile shape is variable, depending on the time of year within the annual...

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Bibliography

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  3. Bruun, P., 1954. Coast erosion and development of beach profiles. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Beach Erosion Board, Technical Memorandum No. 44.

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  5. Dean, R.G., 1991. Equilibrium beach profiles: principles and applications. Journal of Coastal Research, 7(1): 53–84.

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Cross-references

  1. Accretion and Erosion Waves on Beaches

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  2. Bars

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  3. Coastal Warfare

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  4. Depth of Closure on Sandy Beaches

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  5. Monitoring, Coastal Geomorphology

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  6. Meteorologic Effects on Coasts

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  7. Storm Surge

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  8. Surf Zone Processes

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  9. Tidal Datums

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Authors
  1. Nicholas C. Kraus
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA

    Maurice L. Schwartz

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© 2005 Springer

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Kraus, N.C. (2005). Beach Profile. In: Schwartz, M.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Science Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3880-1_37

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