Morphodynamic State of Beaches Between Vaipar and Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu

The relationship between the surf zone processes and the morphodynamic state of beaches between Vaipar and Tiruchendur along the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu was studied through 46 beach profile measurements and other morphological features across and along the shoreline. The energy variations in the beach along with the morphological and sedimentological properties are distinguished by the surf-scale parameter. The dissipative beaches with higher wave heights and low beach gradients yield the higher amount of surf-scale parameter (22.0 to 154.3) whereas at the other extreme, the reflective beaches with steep beach gradients and lower wave height conditions resulted with low surf-scale value (0.5711 to 2.500). Intermediate beach states possessing dissipative and reflective elements with four transitional stages are recognised.