An Analytical Study on the Formation of Submerged Bars in the Southern Coasts of Caspian Sea

Measuring cross-shore profiles is very important in coastal engineering studies, since the cross-shore profile determines the behavior of the sea in the coastal area and determines the process of depth changes in this region. As a result of waves, cross-shore profiles change, which will vary in stormy waves (erosion profile) in compare to normal wave conditions (cumulative profile). Considering the great changes in the Caspian Sea level, the purposes of this study are to investigate and determine the erosion or accumulation of coastal profiles based on Sunamura and Horikawaꞌs studies , determine the number of bars in profiles by Short and Aagaardꞌs equations and also determine the relations between coastal parameters with the wave steepness and changes in water level. The results show that for all the coastal areas in the Caspian Sea, the C-parameter is above 8; in other word a stormy erosional nature is dominant. Also according to 0 B -parameter, for all regions the values are above 100 which means a very high possibility to form multi bars profiles (three bars) very high. As the wave's steepness rises, the location of the formation of the bars moves toward the coast, and the depth of water decreases at the beginning and the ends of the bars; also, in terms of lowering in the water level with the change in the height of the waves, the position and the geometric shape of the bars will not follow a certain trend.