Aeolian transport of sediment on a beach during and after rainfall, Wildwood, NJ, USA

A field investigation was conducted 9 March 1994 on a dissipative beach to compare wind characteristics and aeolian transport during and after a light rain. Winds blew alongshore during the monitoring period. Moisture content of surface sediment on the backbeach was above 7% during rain and 4% four hours after rainfall ceased. Trapping rates, measured using a cylindrical vertical trap, were 14.1 kg m−1 h−1 during rainfall and 140.2 kg m−1 h−1 for a period beginning 3 h 33 min after rainfall ceased. Results indicate that light rain, resulting in bulk surface moisture values over 7%, is not sufficient to eliminate transport, but the rate of transport is lower than can occur on the beach three to four hours following rain. The amount of sand trapped at Wildwood during rainfall is relatively high when compared to many previous studies on beaches in the absence of rain. The great length of the beach as a source area, combined with parallel or oblique winds are significant in increasing rates of sediment transport.