Epilogue

A final, increasingly valuable

at the FRF. Many of these have now

aspect of FRF activities is the ongo-

been accomplished, some more

ing collection of long-time series of

than once. Relevant among the

This paper has reviewed the

beach variability at a representative

remaining studies is the movement

capabilities and progress of the Field

of nearshore placed material for

nearshore site. Only in the last

Research Facility, established by the

beach nourishment, an experiment

decade has the existence and

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in

that is presently being discussed.

importance of interannual beach

1977 to support their coastal

Many topics not on the original list

changes become apparent (Wijnberg

research requirements. Through the

are now feasible to study owing to

and Terwindt 1995; Plant et al.

unique combination of facilities, vehi-

new instruments and technologies.

1999). Bathymetry and wave records

cles, long-term measurements, staff

Some subjects are wave breaking,

from the FRF are one of only three

expertise, and a large and energetic

sediment transport (to include size

long data records worldwide

community of users, the original

fractional rates), and the influence of

(Aarninkhof and Holman 1999;

objectives of the FRF creators have