Impact of the beach-forming sediments excavation on the sea floor dynamics off the Chorokhi river mouth

Abstract

The Chorokhi river yearly brings about 15 mln tons of alluvium to the sea coast. Main part of the load gets into the submarine canyon, the head of which is at 10 meters depth. About 10% of the load is included into longshore drift and moves northward towards the Batumsky Promontory.

During the period from 1982 to 1985 2,5 mln m3 of beach-forming sediments had been excavated near the river mouth, which averages 18% of total beach-forming load input and exceeded 30% in 1984. Results of 15 bathymetric surveys in 1976 to 1985 years indicate the offshore zone near the river mouth to be dynamically stable and the excavation volume to be compensated.