Nearshore Tidal and Nontidal Currents, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Book excerpt: Simultaneous measurements by Eulerian and Lagrangian methods were made continuously between 30 July and 5 August 1962. The survey zone extended southward along the shore 11.5 km (7.2 mi.) from the Cape Henry Light and offshore for a distance of 1.4 km (0.87 mi.). Three Roberts Radio Current Meter Stations were established along the seaward margin of the zone; five stations were established on shore for longshore-current and wave measurements. Wave heights for the 7-day period ranged between 0.3 and 0.5 m, wave lengths between 14 and 159 m, and wave energies between 6.3 and 553 kg-m/m. Winds were less than 16 mph during the period, total wind movements being greatest from the east and southeast. Shoaling waves made angles with the shore line that should have resulted in a southward longshore current during 48 of 69 observations, on a coast uninfluenced by other currents. Direction of longshore current movement was measured as northerly in 55 instances, owing to tidal and nontidal currents. (Author).