Servet Karasu from Turkey received a scholarship from his country’s national science foundation (TUBITAK) to spend a year with Georgia Tech’s team in Savannah. As part of his Ph.D., he had done a laboratory study of beach nourishment evolution, which complemented a study done by P.A. Work in the late 1990’s. Karasu’s time in Savannah included further analysis of his laboratory data, and the development of a numerical model for beach nourishment evolution (see Karasu et al. 2008, ASCE J. of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, January edition).

Beach nourishment is a major issue in the southeastern United States (and elsewhere). Many beaches, particularly those downdrift of dredged navigation channels, are eroding and on a periodic nourishment schedule. The photo below shows Folly Island, SC, during beach nourishment activities in 2005.