Journal article
Decadal-scale gravel beach evolution on a tectonically-uplifting coast: Wellington, New Zealand
D Olson, DM Kennedy, I Dawe, M Calder
Earth Surface Processes and Landforms | WILEY | Published : 2012
DOI: 10.1002/esp.3233
Abstract
Uplift of the shoreline in tectonically-active areas can have a profound influence on geomorphology changing the entire process dynamics of the coast as the landforms are removed from the influence of the sea. Over decadal timescales it is possible for the landforms to return to their pre-earthquake condition and this paper examines the re-establishment of mixed sand and gravel beaches on the coast of Wellington, New Zealand, subsequent to an uplift event in 1855. Over 60 topographic profiles were surveyed, seven sets of aerial photographs from a 67year period were mapped and sediment size analyses conducted in order to quantify the nature of beach change following uplift, and associated rel..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This project was funded by the Greater Wellington Regional Council and Hutt City Council, New Zealand. Hamish McKoy is thanked for assistance with the ground penetrating radar, Andy Rae with GIS software and GiGi Woods for grain size analysis. Helene Marsters, Nick Mulcahy, Louise Odlin and Liz Stichbury are thanked for their assistance in the field. The cartographic services of Chandra Jayasuriya (University of Melbourne) were also appreciated. Comments of two anonymous reviewers helped improve the manuscript.