Depositional Environment of a Tropical Estuarine Beach near Sharavati River Mouth, Central West Coast of India

Beach sediments of Pavinkurve and Kasarkod, located adjacent to the Sharavati River mouth at Honnavar, Central West Coast of India are medium to fine grained (1.21 - 2.30Φ) and moderate to well sorted (0.17-0.55). The convergence of long-shore circulation and interaction of river and wave processes are the main influence for the distribution of sediments along these beaches. The sediment transport land-ward during fair weather season (pre-monsoon) is mainly due to westerly wave approach. The re-suspension of sediments owing to agitation of sea during westerly wave approach, their land-ward movement during high tide, and the obstruction caused by the submerged bar formation during falling tide leading to their deposition are the main causes for siltation in the river mouth.