INVESTIGATING THE FETCH EFFECT ON AEOLIAN SEDIMENT TRANSPORT ON A SANDY BEACH

In aeolian environments, the fetch effect significantly influences sediment transport, particularly on narrow beaches. It describes the increase in sediment transport with increasing distance from a non-erodible boundary, affecting landform evolution. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus on the relationship between wind speed and critical fetch distance. This new study focuses on the fetch effect on a sandy beach, examining the relationship between wind speed and critical fetch distance and the growth rate of sediment transport with distance downwind. Eight experiments were conducted under various wind conditions, offering insights into this complex phenomenon and its impact on aeolian sediment transport in sandy beach environments.