beach (10 to 15 m from shore) were generally faster than those at the end of 
the pier but slower than those at the midsurf location; current directions at 
the beach agreed well with the midsurf directions. Mean annual current values 
(Table 13) show an approximately even distribution of northward and southward 
currents measured at the beach, a southward mean at the pier end, and a north- 
ward resultant at the midsurf position. Monthly mean currents tend to agree 
best during high wave conditions (i.e. January, February, and October through 
December). 
Table 13 
Monthly and Annual Longshore Surface 
Currents at the FRF* 
Pier End, cm/sec Pier Surf, cm/sec Beach, cm/sec 
1980- 1980- 1981- 1981- 
Month 1982 1981 1982 1982 1981 1982 1982 1981 1982 
Jan 9 19 17 16 26 21 19 12 14 
Feb a4 a4 a4 21 -9 6 17 6 10 
Mar 17 20 19 -13 21 4 4 10 8 
Apr 17 T 9 -23 -2 -13 2 -1 0 
May 5 13 11 -25 t 9g -8 0 -3 
Jun 1 7 6 -26 -13 -20 -11 -13 -12 
Jul 3 4 4 -23 -16 -20 -15 -16 -16 
Aug 6 8 8 -16 0 -8 -9 -10 -10 
Sep 14 10 11 -9 -10 -10 =) -9 -7 
Oct 3 12 10 -4 25 11 -7 a4 14 
Nov 7 16 144 7 22 15 12 20 17 
Dec 12 11 al 14 23 19 5 14 11 
Annual 10 12 12 -7 6 -1 1 3 2 
* + = southward; - = northward. 
93. Temporal variability. Monthly mean currents in January, February, 
November, and December were directed southward at all locations during 1982. 
During the spring and summer, they were directed northward at both nearshore 
locations. However, frequent reversals occurred throughout the other months. 
This seasonality of currents was consistent with wind and wave patterns pre- 
viously discussed. 
1982 versus previous years 
94. Longshore current speed and direction for 1982 were reasonably 
consistent with those of previous years at the seaward end of the pier and at 
the beach (Figure 24), though strong northward flow during two storms did 
58 
