A Fluorescent Tracer Study at a Tidal Inlet (Rudee Inlet, Virginia)

Patterns and approximate rates of littoral transport south of Rudee Inlet. Virginia were investigated with fluorescent tracers. Sand movement was traced under a variety of longshore current and wave conditions. Patterns of tracer dispersal reflected the importance of wave height, breaker angle, and longshore current velocity on modes of littoral transport. A direct relationship between angle of breaker incidence. generated longshore current. and direction of tracer sand movement was found. Onshore offshore paths were taken by tracer material during periods of weak longshore currents and small breaker angles while alongshore paths were followed by tracer material during strong longshore currents and increasing breaker angles. Drift rates were calculated from tracer analysis. An approximate mean northerly drift rate of 70,000 yds. 3/yr. was determined from calculated drift rates for each test and analysis of swell data.