Seasonal beach response at East Hampton, N.Y.

Abstract

from the introduction, "The East Hampton Beach is in what is known as the headland section of the shore, and there are severe erosional problems in many areas of the headland section, as there are in other coastal areas of Long Island. Over long time periods, the East Hampton beach appears to be accreting or, at least, stable in marked contrast to the long-term recession of both the barrier beaches to the west and the high cliffs to the east. This does not mean that East Hampton's shore front does not suffer - · from erosion. All beaches undergo seasonal changes. Sand is removed from the beach by large winter waves and stored temporarily in offshore bars. In the summer when the waves are less severe, the process is reversed and sand is returned to the beach. This onshore-offshore motion is superimposed upon the longshore drift of sand east or west down the beach. Although the net result of many seasonal cycles may be accretion of the beach, irregular but severe, erosion during the winter may cause serious loss of property or may break through the dunes that protect the inland areas from flooding . . ."