NEARSHORE TIDAL AND NONTIDAL CURRENTS, VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA 
by 
W. Harrison, Morris L. Brehmer, and Richard B. Stone 
Virginia Institute of Marine Science 
Gloucester Point, Virginia 
and 
School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary 
Williamsburg, Virginia 
ABSTRACT 
Simultaneous measurements by Eulerian and Lagrangian 
methods were made continuously between 30 July and 5 August 
1962. The survey zone extended southward along the shore 11.5 
km (7.2 mi.) from the Cape Henry Light and offshore for a 
distance of 1.4 km (0.87 mi.). Three Roberts Radio Current 
Meter Stations were established along the seaward margin of 
the zone; five stations were established on shore for longshore- 
current and wave measurements. 
Wave heights for the 7-day period ranged between 0.3 and 
O.5 m, wave lengths between 14 and 159 m, and wave energies 
between 6.3 and 553 kg-m/m. Winds were less than 16 mph during 
the period, total wind movements being greatest from the east 
and southeast. Shoaling waves made angles with the shore line 
that should have resulted in a southward longshore current 
during 48 of 69 observations, on a coast uninfluenced by other 
currents. Direction of longshore current movement was measured 
as northerly, however, in 55 instances, owing to tidal and non- 
tidal currents. 
Current meter observations at Cape Henry and just south 
of Rudee Inlet revealed semi-diurnal tidal currents that were 
roughly reversing on the flood and rotary on the ebb, at the 
surface. A meter midway between the Cape Henry and Rudee Inlet 
meters indicated reversing currents at the surface, as did all 
intermediate depth and near-bottom meters. When 280 returns of 
neutrally-buoyed drift bottles, released over a year's period, 
are integrated with detailed current-survey data, a circulation 
model can be constructed. This model confirms earlier specula- 
tion that the nontidal drift describes a clockwise eddy movement 
south of Cape Henry. The southern limit appears to be near Rudee 
Inlet. 
