In this experiment, the table and media were flooded from the downstream (left) end to model a rising sea level, and the wavemaker was allowed to run for 45 minutes with the table set to 0 degrees tilt to distribute, saturate, and pack the color-coded media. The groundwater valves were then opened to slowly draw water down to about 40% capacity, and the table raised to 1.5% tilt to model falling sea levels and geologic uplift. The wavemaker continued to run for 2 hours without any input from the river pump, after which the model was emptied with the groundwater drains overnight.

 

Starting from the left, we can observe the formation of a pronounced breaker bar with coarser white and yellow particles building up on top of the finer black and red particles. In the trough between the bar and the beach we can see well-developed ripple marks in the media, and coarse yellow particles spilling off the steep beach step. Farther to the right is a long beach face ending in a sharp swash bar showing the highest reach of the waves at the right edge of the frame. Note the coarse white and yellow particles of our Memphis color-coded media overlaying the finer black and red particles on the beach. The underlying particles both here and in the breaker bar show evidence of prior rippling before the development of an organized beach.