Longshore Transport Volumes: A Critical View

The methods used to determine or predict volumes of sand transported by longshore currents are briefly reviewed. We argue that the methods are flawed and that a fundamental re-examination of both field and theoretical approaches is in order. Net transport numbers obtained by any existing method should be considered order-of-magnitude values at best that are in no case sufficiently precise for coastal engineering purposes such as prediction of beach nourishment costs and environmental impacts.