Golfwerking

Golfwerking is a term used in coastal science to describe the process by which ocean surface waves transfer energy to the coast, driving sediment transport and shaping shorelines. The word is Dutch in origin, with golf meaning wave and werking meaning action or functioning; in English texts the phenomenon is often referred to as wave action.

Physical basis: Waves carry energy toward shore and generate orbital motion in the water column. As waves shoal and break, energy is dissipated and transformed into nearshore currents. The resulting sediment transport occurs both across the shore (cross-shore) and along the coast (longshore) and depends on wave height, period, direction, and coastal bathymetry. Longshore transport moves sand along the shoreline and can lead to accretion in some areas and erosion in others.

Measurement and modeling: Coastal scientists monitor golfwerking with wave buoys, pressure sensors, and current meters. Numerical models simulate wave spectra, shoaling, breaking, and sediment transport to predict shoreline change under different wave climates. Popular tools include spectral wave models and coupled circulation models.

Applications and impacts: Understanding golfwerking informs the design and maintenance of shore protections such as breakwaters, groynes, and dune stabilization, as well as beach nourishment strategies. It also supports risk assessment for coastal flooding and erosion under climate change and extreme storm events.

History and usage: The concept emerged from coastal engineering research in the 20th century, particularly in Dutch and British literature on beach morphodynamics. While the exact term is regionally used, the underlying physics of wave-driven sediment transport is widely taught in oceanography and geomorphology.