Have you ever wondered about the number of grains of sand on a whole beach? Researchers have recently begun counting on a sandy stretch located in Cornwall, England.
A team hailing from England, America, and Australia is utilizing a 40m stretch of beach to evaluate coastal erosion, employing over 100 advanced instruments designed to monitor water levels, flow speeds, sand movement rates, and changes to the beach.
The sand grain counting initiative is set to continue until October 22, with the gathered data to be analyzed in order to ascertain if coastal erosion is leading to the shrinking or displacement of beaches.
Prof Gerd Masselink from Plymouth University stated, ‘This comprehensive field experiment has been in development for five years and will yield new essential insights into the movement of sand along beaches.
‘The findings will aid in the creation of computer models for sediment transport and coastal erosion and will enhance our predictions regarding beaches’ responses to climate change.’
Instruments will be positioned using a 40m scaffold structure that has been placed at the high-tide line.