Can You Predict When Beaches Will Be Sanded In?

[detectorman5050]

Ive recently traveled to some of my favourite beach 'hot spots' at different locations to find them 'sanded in.' The troughs filled with ancient goodies, have had loads of sand dumped on them, and basically no longer exist (though I am sure they will re-appear.)

I was wondering if there is any way you can predict when beaches will be 'sanded in'? I detect on the west coast of Scotland, and normally the wind comes from the South West. Recently it has been coming from the East/North East, and I was wondering if that that was the reason for the changes in sand deposition on my local beaches?

[fred]

Definitely. I know how the wind direction affects all my local beaches. It takes many years to learn though.

[detectorman5050]

Definitely. I know how the wind direction affects all my local beaches. It takes many years to learn though.

I've really only got into beach detecting in the past year. All I can say is that it looks an easterly wind is 'bad news' for my location. All three beaches I've been to recently, have been a waste of time.

I reckon the easterly/north easterly wind picks up the dry sand from the top of the beach, and then dumps it below the high tide mark in the middle of the beach, effectively 'filling in' my detecting hot spots.

[Easylife]

Definitely. I know how the wind direction affects all my local beaches. It takes many years to learn though.

I've really only got into beach detecting in the past year. All I can say is that it looks an easterly wind is 'bad news' for my location. All three beaches I've been to recently, have been a waste of time.

I reckon the easterly/north easterly wind picks up the dry sand from the top of the beach, and then dumps it below the high tide mark in the middle of the beach, effectively 'filling in' my detecting hot spots.

That sound quite logical, so on any beach an onshore wind would be most desirable?

[fred]

Definitely. I know how the wind direction affects all my local beaches. It takes many years to learn though.

I've really only got into beach detecting in the past year. All I can say is that it looks an easterly wind is 'bad news' for my location. All three beaches I've been to recently, have been a waste of time.

I reckon the easterly/north easterly wind picks up the dry sand from the top of the beach, and then dumps it below the high tide mark in the middle of the beach, effectively 'filling in' my detecting hot spots.

That sound quite logical, so on any beach an onshore wind would be most desirable?

Sorry but not at all mate.

Here (south east, generally south facing) strong onshore winds tend to bulldoze the shingle, 3 days of easterlies cut out gullies and northerlies knock it all flat. However, because the coastline is wiggley and beaches face slightly different directions the effects vary according to the exact wind direction, strength and duration. Chuck in some other important factors like the tide cycles and air pressure and predicting how beaches will behave beaches becomes very complex indeed. Finally even when the beaches do move there may be nothing much revealed.

Generally when I set off I have some idea where is likely to be productive but the ride out to find somewhere to detect is always speculative. Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised and other times I don't even get the detector out of the car!

[Giz]

Don't forget that spring tides have a bearing as well as wind direction.