Leatherman-style sand traps are constructed of PVC tubing with two openings near the top of the tube. One of the openings is covered with a fine mesh screen to permit wind to pass through the trap. The other opening has known dimensions and faces into the wind. The trap is installed so that the bottom of the opening is level with the ground surface and most of the trap is below ground. Moving sand enters the trap through the opening, cannot exit through the screen, and falls into a collection tube in the trap.

Trapped sand is measured by removing the collection tube and either a) measuring the height of the sand in the tube, b) removing the sand, drying and weighing it, or c) both. We usually record the height of sand and take the tube back to the lab to dry and weigh the sand. A clean, empty collection tube is inserted into the sand trap.

We use Leatherman-style sand traps for relative measurements of sand movement at different locations over week-long periods. For example, we put four sand traps in a line with openings facing different directions and we can see how much sand was moving from different directions. We place sand traps on the beach and on the top of the foredune and we can compare how much sand was moving in both locations.

Methods: return to Sand Traps page / go to Winter Sand Trap description / return to Methods home page