A STUDY OF MAPUTALAND BEACH DYNAMICS.

The northeast coast of South Africa is a high energy, microtidal environment with a northward longshore drift and sandy beaches backed by high forested dunes. Dune morphology is influenced by longshore currents and winds and repeated transgressions and fluvial deposits. The availability and grain size distribution of sediment has a direct effect on beach and dune morphology. Analysis of grain size distributions and beach profiles provides information related to the processes that lead to the present coastal morphology and management thereof. Coarser sediment accumulates on the south side of headlands due to wave induced transport and strong southerly winds. At Mabibi, on the more sheltered north side of a headland, small grain sizes occur and the beach profile over a four year period has undergone recession that may be both seasonal, due to differences in wave energy, and long term, due to rising sea level. Through understanding coastal processes, insight can be gained as to how coastlines will respond to human impacts and environmental trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]