Littoral drift analysis based on long-term observation of mesotidal beach profile in Kuta Beach, Bali for coastal retreat assessment

Abstract

The beach profile survey in the intertidal zone is crucial for a temporal variability study of shoreline and beach profile change for coastal management. The combination of numerical modelling and field data has proven to be successful in identifying the primary hydrodynamic and sediment transport processes such as littoral and cross-shore drift. Those parameters are relevant to the sandbar migration process and shoreline changes. The purpose of the present study is to analyse the littoral drift that caused temporal variability shoreline change in mesotidal beach for coastal retreat mitigation. Beach profile data of Kuta Beach was analyzed by 7 years of long-term field observation data both east monsoon and west monsoon situation. The shoreline definition used mean sea level (MSL)1.3 m and high water level (HWL) 2.6 m as reference. By using the MeEPASoL program as a graphical user interface program, shoreline changes converging to an equilibrium state can be simulated by taking into account the existing breakwater. Temporal shoreline position resulting from littoral drift and beach width change from its initial position is estimated for coastal erosion analysis. The result showed that dominantly, the littoral drift pattern moved from south to north. Furthermore, this study can be used in the process of identifying the primary hydrodynamic analysis in erosion disaster management as assessment of the beach erosion.