Abstract:
Study on beach profile changes and sediment distribution was conducted in Bidong
Island off the coast of Terengganu in the South China Sea. The study was carried out on
March and July 2010 in order to determine the recent beach slope and sediment
characteristics and their relationship. Sampling was done in three different stations with
total 20 transects points with 50 m interval between each transect. Total station TOPCON
GPT-3000 had been used to measure beach profile. Meanwhile, moment method was
used to calculate the sedimentological parameters. Based on the beach profile analysis,
deposition mostly appeared in the lower part of the beach where the upper parts were
eroded. Also, the beach gradient for these three stations showed weak trend of changes
where small differences in the value of degree of slope. Majority station I, II and III were
decreasing in the value of beach slopes during the second sampling. However, for
sediment characteristics, the mean values showed that the beaches were covered with
medium, coarse and very coarse grains. Decreasing of mean values indicates that the
grains were getting coarser. The sediment sorting for the stations were in the range of
well sorted, moderately well sorted, moderately sorted and poorly sorted. Increasing
values of sorting indicates that those beaches were experienced poorly sorted of
sediments.
