The multidecadal spatial pattern of erosion on sandstone shore platforms in south-eastern Australia

Abstract

Knowledge of the spatial pattern of erosion on shore platforms is needed to better understand their evolution. The long-term spatial and temporal variation of downwearing remains difficult to interpret from erosion data commonly collected over 1–3 years of monitoring. We report erosion data recorded with a micro-erosion meter (MEM) over 40 years (1979–2019) on sandstone shore platforms in a micro-tidal environment along the Otway coast, Victoria, Australia. This well-preserved monitoring network (43 out of 44 original MEM sites) allowed a detailed investigation over a multidecadal timescale not previously considered. Over 40 years the mean erosion rate was 0.25 mm/yr. This value was statisti..