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Coastal CellsCSV

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FID	Shape_Leng	Cell_Numbe	Cell_Name	Descriptio	Shape__Length	UpdatedDescription
1	17916.7906998	7	Portstewart to Magilligan	Between Portstewart and the Lough Foyle shoreline of Magilligan Point, are a series of apparently linked sandy beach/dune systems that are interrupted only by the engineered mouth of the river Bann. The large shoreline advance at both sides of the River	17916.7907791588	Between Portstewart and the Lough Foyle shoreline of Magilligan Point, are a series of apparently linked sandy beach/dune systems that are interrupted only by the engineered mouth of the river Bann. The large shoreline advance at both sides of the River Bann mouth is probably due to the two jetties which trap sediments from both directions, making the river mouth a convergent point for the local littoral drift. The cell is bounded in the east by a 5 km-long rocky coast with rocky shore platforms and an absence of littoral sediment. The system appears to extend into Lough Foyle where erosion of sandy shoreline by waves generated in the lough at the mouth, generates significant volumes of eroded sand on a semi-continuous basis. The transport pathways and ultimate sink of this sand is currently unknown, but circumstantial shoreline changes suggest it may be linked to the seaward part of the coastal cell on Benone/Castlerock. At the mouth of Lough Foyle, the ebb delta (Tunns Bank) is an important element in sediment storage and supply between itself and the adjacent shoreline (Carter et al., 1982). The Magilligan Point appears to fluctuate between erosion and accretion with a multi-decadal periodicity.
2	37088.0830159	6	North Coast (Fair Head to Portstewart, including Rathlin Island)	The north coast, subjected to the effects of swell waves, is a high topography rocky coast with several distinct sand/gravel beaches developed in deep embayments (Jackson et al., 2005). These are in general, physically separated from each other and from	37088.0830158602	The north coast, subjected to the effects of swell waves, is a high topography rocky coast with several distinct sand/gravel beaches developed in deep embayments (Jackson et al., 2005). These are in general, physically separated from each other and from adjacent cells by prominent and extensive rock outcrops. Consequently, this large cell includes several isolated coastal sub-cells that are probably unconnected to each other. Instead, they are dominated by cross-shore sediment exchanges on a seasonal and event (storm) basis. The main mobile shorelines are present at Ballycastle, Whitepark Bay, Runkerry, Portballintrae, Curran Strand (Portrush East) and Portrush West Strand, as well as Church Bay on Rathlin Island. Those systems that have been studied, exhibit a dominant cross-shore sediment transport. This is driven by seasonal or episodic increases in wave energy that cause depletion of sand volumes on beaches and dunes, followed by landward transfer of eroded sediment in subsequent fairweather conditions.
3	73072.2000361	5	East Antrim (Whitehead to Fair Head)	This cell consists of a high topography rocky shoreline with sand and gravel deposits developed on low-lying bedrock and shallow coastal indentations (Figure 6). The nett drift, driven by wind waves, generated in the Irish Sea, is probably toward the nor	73072.2000360752	This cell consists of a high topography rocky shoreline with sand and gravel deposits developed on low-lying bedrock and shallow coastal indentations (Figure 6). The nett drift, driven by wind waves, generated in the Irish Sea, is probably toward the north, but the sub-cell structure has not been studied. It is bounded to the south by Belfast Lough and in the north by rocky shoreline around Fair Head, both of which form definite breaks in littoral sediment transport pathways. The shallowly indented embayments at Browns Bay, Drains Bay, Ballygally, Glenarm, Carnlough, Red Bay, Cushendall, Cushendun contain sand and/or gravel beaches (Jackson et al., 2005). They are quite widely spaced, with large stretches of rocky coast or thin veneers of sand and/or gravel fringing the intervening coast and may or may not be connected via longshore drift.
4	54665.7018722	4	Outer Ards (Barr Hall to Ballymacormick Point)	The Outer Ards coast is a low topography rocky coast with several shallowly-indented bays within which sandy beaches have developed. These are separated by low rocky headlands and rock platforms. Well-developed embayed beaches exist at Millin Bay, Knocki	54665.7018722127	The Outer Ards coast is a low topography rocky coast with several shallowly-indented bays within which sandy beaches have developed. These are separated by low rocky headlands and rock platforms. Well-developed embayed beaches exist at Millin Bay, Knockinelder, Cloghy, Portavogie, Ballyhalbert, Ballywalter, and Millisle, but a semi-continuous beach runs along the coastal margin where it rests on low gradient bedrock. Detailed wave modelling studies (Bowden and Orford, 1984) indicated the presence of eight sub-cells with varying drift directions (both north and south) between Knockinelder and Millisle. Temporal changes in the position of cell boundaries could lead to exchanges between the sub-cells and Bowden and Orford point to the potential influence of storms or occasional swell waves in this regard. Nonetheless, the major boundaries of this cell are delimited by the mouths of Strangford Lough and Belfast Lough.