A formula for the calculation of the longshore sediment transport including spectral effects

The objective of this paper is to propose an expression for the calculation of thelongshore sediment transport (LST) including the effect of the spectral shapeassociated with the free surface displacement. The expression is derived theoreticallyby using the wave flux approach in conjunction with the spectral representation of thewave field propagating to the coast. The resulting expression possesses the simplicityof implementation of classical LST formulae, with the additional feature of including adimensionless coefficient encapsulating the spectral shape influence. The reliability ofthe proposed formula is assessed against the results of pertinent field data. Further, itsadequacy is investigated at the light of existing formulae. The paper shows that theproposed LST formula is capable of reducing the large overestimations associated withthe LST calculation and of reducing the scattering between the calculated and themeasured LST rates.