Backstrom, J.T., Jackson, D.W.T. and Cooper, J.A.G., 2007. Shoreface Dynamics of Two High-Energy Beaches in Northern Ireland. Journal of Coastal Research, SI 50 (Proceedings of the 9th International Coastal Symposium), 594 – 598. Gold Coast, Australia, ISSN 0749.0208

The morphological response of shorefaces to fair-weather and storm forcing on two geologically distinct beaches on the north coast of Northern Ireland is under investigation. Measurements of shoreface morphology and related wave forcing at the adjacent beaches of Portrush West Strand and Portstewart reveal important differences in form and behaviour at seasonal and monthly timescales. The shoreface at Portrush has a high degree of geological constraint – it is located in a headland-embayment cell and is backed by an intermediate beach and a seawall. A thin veneer of sand on the beach is underlain by peat that crops out periodically. Portstewart is a long, sandy dissipative beach backed by a vegetated dune system and contains abundant sand on the shoreface and inner shelf. The shoreface at Portrush is steep and concave and highly responsive to storm events while that of Portstewart is convex in profile and largely stable, except along the very upper shoreface. The differences between the beaches and the behaviour predicted by existing conceptual models may be related to sediment abundance.