Wave Climate Variability and Longshore Sediment Transport Evaluation along Ramin Harbor, Southeast Coast of Iran

This paper examines the variation of wave characteristics and net Longshore Sediment Transport (LST) rates along the Ramin Harbor, southeast coast of Iran. Potential LST rates were determined based on three empirical relationships, namely, CERC, Kamphuis and Komar and using transformed hindcast offshore waves from 1985 to 2006. Detailed analysis of 22-year deep water wave information for the region indicates considerable seasonal variations for the wave conditions, with high energy monsoon waves being generated in Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea from southern direction during monsoon season. Moreover, the long period swell waves originated from Indian Ocean usually approach the coast from southeast to south. Further, the variable sea waves characterized by shorter-period, normally spreading from west to southwest, are superimposed on the basis swell during non-monsoon season. In order to assess the reliability and accuracy of the predicted magnitudes for LST rates, the achieved results were compared with the field data, with the Kamphuis equation being found to give acceptable estimation for the potential LST rate. Finally, through morphological analyze of the adjacent shorelines and coastal region, a reasonable agreement was established for the LST direction.