Open Sandy Beach Morphology and Morphodynamic as Response to Seasonal Monsoon in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia
Résumé
Understanding beach morphology and morphodynamic changes is important in regions where there is a large amount
of recreation and development. Kuala Terengganu beaches has many anthropogenic infastructure such as an extension
to an airport runway similar in design to a groin which affect morphology and morphodynamics in response to seasonal
monsoon storms. Seasonal monsoon storms are one of the most important controls on the cycle of erosion and accretion
on beaches. Beach profile data and wave modelling were used to determine the response of five beaches on the north
of Kuala Terengganu to Northeast and Southwest seasonal monsoons. The beaches along the Kuala Terengganu state
coast before the construction of the airport extension exhibited a classical morphodynamic response. This includes
erosion during Northeast monsoon and accretion/recover during Southwest monsoon. The airport construction
disturbed and changed normal coastal evolution. Two distinct sediment cells were generated, each having developed a
proper morphodynamic response within the Northeast and Southwest monsoon wave regimes.