Surf side, Myrtle, and North Myrtle are beaches from south to north that are 

 located in South Carolina. These beaches have been important in the recre- 

 ation industry of the state. The North Carolina segment is composed of main- 

 land beach and six barrier islands separated by small inlets. From east to 

 west, these include Smith, Oak, Ocean Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, Sunset Beach, 

 and Bird islands. They are separated from the mainland by marsh, tidal 

 creeks, and the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway. Most are less than 5 m above 

 MSL. Inlets from east to west include New Inlet, which is north of Cape Fear; 

 Cape Fear River; Lockwood Folly; Shallotte Sound; Tubbs ; and Mad Inlet. 



Coastal Environment 



Winds and waves 



10. Along this reach of coast, south and southwest winds prevail, espe- 

 cially during spring and summer months (Figure 2*). During fall and winter, 

 north, northeast, and easterly winds prevail. Northeast quadrant winds are 

 generally strongest and thus dominate in effect on the coastline. Initiation 

 of sediment motion by wind requires a minimum velocity of 16 km/hr, and at 

 least 25 km/hr are required to sustain transport (Bagnold 1941) . Winds of 

 this velocity are most likely to occur from the northeast quadrant. 



11. Wind direction is influential in controlling wave approach along 

 this coastline. Sea and swell data for the block of 30- to 35-deg north lati- 

 tude and 75- to 80-deg west longitude (US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) 

 1974, taken from the US Naval Oceanographic Office, Oceanographic Atlas) indi- 

 cate the effect of wind in controlling wave direction (Figure 2) . Predominant 

 seas are from the northeast and southeast, and swell most frequently occurs 

 from the northeast and east followed by the southeast. Seasonal directional- 

 ity of offshore waves are indicated in Figure 3. Bloomer (1973) concluded 

 that water circulation patterns on the south Atlantic inner shelf are con- 

 trolled primarily by wind direction and secondarily by tides. Wave direction 

 is the driving force behind movement of littoral drift, which is predominantly 

 to the southwest along this entire stretch of coast (Brown 1977) . Local 

 reversals because of nearshore bathymetry and coastal orientation do occur. 



* A table of factors for converting non-SI units of measurement to SI 

 (metric) units is presented on page 7. 



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