COASTAL PROCESSES AND MORPHOLOGIC FEATURES OF FLORIDA HEADLANDS CASE STUDIES IN SOUTH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA, USA

摘要

This paper discusses analysis of physical features and sediment transport regimes around coastal headlands in Florida, USA. Three case studies are used to describe natural and artificial headlands along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of Florida. The analysis includes a review of available data over the past century documenting the morphodynamic and hydrodynamic forcings that controlled the beach evolution around the headlands studied. The natural headlands at Singer Island and Palm Beach Island along the Atlantic coast of Florida are discussed to demonstrate the role of nearshore hardbottom on shaping the coastline and resulting headland dynamics. The analysis includes the effects of wave climate on the evolution of longshore sand bars and long-term variations of sediment pathways around headlands. The case of Honeymoon Island is selected to provide an example of an artificial headland created through early development along a barrier island and the engineering approach to maintain sediment pathways at an artificial headland.