Initially, No was calculated using wave data five days prior to the date of beach surveys. T is the wave period. The extent of erosion along the west beach has repeatedly threatened infrastructure on the barrier, including a regionally important commercial fishing marina, recreational marinas, and an access road leading to these facilities. Wave direction was predominately SSE at 152 degrees. The average sediment grain size in the swash zone was 0.394 mm.
Littoral transport is from the east to west.
The beach profile was surveyed at nine transects established along the western beach at Shinnecock Inlet during the interval from November 1997 to December 1999. The surveys were made at intervals between 2 and 6 weeks. Measurements were made with an automatic level and level rod following standard techniques. Measurements were taken at four transects beginning in November 1997 and increased to nine transects in February 1998. The number of transects was again reduced to four from April 1999 to December 1999.