New model predicts sand transport to protect against marine flooding.
Sand on narrow beaches is moved by the wind to form dunes over months to years. Existing models struggle to predict this movement accurately. A new model incorporating beach width and wind direction was developed using video monitoring and weather data. Strong winds along the shore lead to significant sand transport, while cross-shore winds cause limited transport. The model predicts moments of sand movement well, with unlimited transport being rare but important for dune growth and ecosystem protection. Testing at other locations is planned to improve predictions further.