A Study on Nearshore Bar Dynamics in a Low-Energy Environment; Northern Zealand, Denmark

Abstract

Rhythmic bar movements have been investigated in a low- energy environment. During sporadic high-energy events the two innermost bars moved seaward and again shoreward when conditions became calmer. In very calm periods, the bars were arrested in position. Bar dimensions have been compared to the structure of standing infragravity edge waves to test the hypothesis that these waves control the shape and formation of the bars. In the main, edge wave periods calculated from the rhythmic pattern conformed well with those calculated from the bar distance to shore, especially after a major storm. Other hypotheses of bar formation have been evaluated, but it was found that standing edge waves may be a predominant parameter in the formation and position of bars.