ABSTRACT
222The prediction of sediment transport on continental shelves involves equations which attempt to relate net or gross sediment movement to readily measured parameters such as wave height and period, wind speed and direction, tidal currents and mean currents. However, the link between the moving sediment near the sea bed and these synoptic parameters is highly complex. To formulate satisfactory equations we must understand both the hydrodynamics of the boundary layer at the seabed and the sedimentary response to the boundary layer flow. In this paper, we review the current understanding of the relationships between synoptic parameters and sediment transport and discuss the possibilities for improving both our understanding of sediment transport and our predictive models.
