beach is divided according to the relationship with the land in two types (Shepard
1973). The northern half is the actual beach of about 5 km connected to the land. In
the southern half there is a sand barrier, which is separated from the beach by a
dried lagoon (Lake Siutghiol) with a length of about 8 km. Deposits on the beach
are caused by accumulations of sand and deposits of bivalves. In this area, the storm
wave action and deflation are major energy factors, which determine both a change
in the geomorphology and transport, accumulation and erosion of the beach.
The categories of fine sand and very fine sand are prevalent in backshore
sediments participating on average by 68% (weight almost equal to 34% between
the two classes) with variations between 30% (the breakwater area, profile 5 and
northern profile, MM1) to 96% in the other profiles. Sand class represents 34% on
average, with variations between 19% (lowest in the north) and 47% (highest in the
north). The percentages of the very fine sand class of 34%, range between 56%
(in northern sections) and 10% (lower share in the southern sector with the lowest
percentages in the breakwater area by 10–30%).
The mean has a wide range of variation from 0.13 to 0.58 mm. The degree of
sorting is very poor to poor in the north and moderate to poor in the south.
Sedimentary deposits have generally a statistical distribution of very coarse skewness, with qurtosis frecvently platycurtic, for the northern part, and mezocurtic for
the southern area (Table 8.1).
8.3.2 Swash Zone
Swash zone overlaps the area of foreshore and shoreline with two components:
uprush and backwash (advancing and withdrawing the pellicle of water on the
backshore), which is consuming final wave energy by throwing the jet upward
bathing on the shore. The swash zone sediments are deposited from accumulations
of coarse, medium and fine shell fractions, fine and very fine sand.
Accumulated sedimentary deposits ranging from fine sand, in the extreme north
(Midia Harbor) and south (Constanta marina) and very coarse, coarse and medium
in the breakwater area and central area. The average diameter ranged from 1.2 to
0.12 mm. The degree of sorting is very well for very fine sandy sediment and poorly
to very coarse and coarse sand. Asymmetry generally is very coarse and kurtosis is
from very leptocurtic to platycurtic (Table 8.2).
8.3.3 Surf Zone
This area is the result of wave dissipation by generating turbulence in the water and
sediment transport driven by the bottom.
In this area sediments (considered at depth of 1 m, 3 m and 5 m for sampling)
become more homogeneous, as an effect of the environmental conditions (waves,
136
D.I. Diaconeasa
1973). The northern half is the actual beach of about 5 km connected to the land. In
the southern half there is a sand barrier, which is separated from the beach by a
dried lagoon (Lake Siutghiol) with a length of about 8 km. Deposits on the beach
are caused by accumulations of sand and deposits of bivalves. In this area, the storm
wave action and deflation are major energy factors, which determine both a change
in the geomorphology and transport, accumulation and erosion of the beach.
The categories of fine sand and very fine sand are prevalent in backshore
sediments participating on average by 68% (weight almost equal to 34% between
the two classes) with variations between 30% (the breakwater area, profile 5 and
northern profile, MM1) to 96% in the other profiles. Sand class represents 34% on
average, with variations between 19% (lowest in the north) and 47% (highest in the
north). The percentages of the very fine sand class of 34%, range between 56%
(in northern sections) and 10% (lower share in the southern sector with the lowest
percentages in the breakwater area by 10–30%).
The mean has a wide range of variation from 0.13 to 0.58 mm. The degree of
sorting is very poor to poor in the north and moderate to poor in the south.
Sedimentary deposits have generally a statistical distribution of very coarse skewness, with qurtosis frecvently platycurtic, for the northern part, and mezocurtic for
the southern area (Table 8.1).
8.3.2 Swash Zone
Swash zone overlaps the area of foreshore and shoreline with two components:
uprush and backwash (advancing and withdrawing the pellicle of water on the
backshore), which is consuming final wave energy by throwing the jet upward
bathing on the shore. The swash zone sediments are deposited from accumulations
of coarse, medium and fine shell fractions, fine and very fine sand.
Accumulated sedimentary deposits ranging from fine sand, in the extreme north
(Midia Harbor) and south (Constanta marina) and very coarse, coarse and medium
in the breakwater area and central area. The average diameter ranged from 1.2 to
0.12 mm. The degree of sorting is very well for very fine sandy sediment and poorly
to very coarse and coarse sand. Asymmetry generally is very coarse and kurtosis is
from very leptocurtic to platycurtic (Table 8.2).
8.3.3 Surf Zone
This area is the result of wave dissipation by generating turbulence in the water and
sediment transport driven by the bottom.
In this area sediments (considered at depth of 1 m, 3 m and 5 m for sampling)
become more homogeneous, as an effect of the environmental conditions (waves,
136
D.I. Diaconeasa