Beach profile evolution

Petra is a numerical model which studies the short term cross-profile evolution. The model solves the sediment flow equations within the break zone as well as the bathymetric changes associated to the spatial variation in the sediment transportation.

The magnitude of the sediment transport depends on the morphological characteristics of the environment (sedimentation and bathymetries) and the hydrodynamic conditions (induced waves and currents). Petra aims to study the response of the beach planform during a storm in regards to the coast line recession and the resulting beach profile.