Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 3.9
Tombolo formed in the lee of a breakwater on the coast of Singapore. © Geostudies
It may be possible to use mobile, floating breakwaters, which can be anchored
in the nearshore zone as a means of inducing beach accretion, then towed away
to allow the accreted beach to be washed and nearshore water cleaned by wave
action. Various attempts have been made to construct floating breakwaters of rub-
ber tyres, oil drums or timber, intended to reduce wave action and so diminish ero-
sion or promote accretion on the beach, but these rarely survive the next storm.
Demands for the halting of cliff recession and beach erosion have thus pep-
pered the world's coastline with an array of artificial structures of various kinds,
some of which have been successful, others of little value: many have not been
Fig. 3.10
After a sea wall and groynes failed to retain a beach at Litorale di Pallestrina on the
NE coast of Italy limestone boulders were dumped on the shore. © Geostudies
