Abstract
The morphological form of mixed sand and gravel beaches is distinct, and the process/response system and complex dynamics of these beaches are not well understood. Process response models developed for pure sand or gravel beaches cannot be directly applied to these beaches. The Canterbury Bight coastline is apparently abundantly supplied with sediments from large rivers and coastal alluvial cliffs, but a large part of this coastline is experiencing long-term erosion. Sediment budget models provide little evidence to suggest sediments are stored within this system. Current sediment budget models inadequately quantify and account for the processes responsible for the patterns of erosion and accretion of this coastline. We outline a new method to extrapolate from laboratory experiments to the field using a geographical information system approach to model sediment reduction susceptibility for the Canterbury Bight. Sediment samples from ten representative sites were tumbled in a concrete mixer for an equivalent distance of 40 km. From the textural mixture and weight loss over 40 km tumbling, we applied regression techniques to generate a predictive equation for Sediment Reduction Susceptibility (SRS). We used Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) to extrapolate the results from fifty-five sites with data on textural sediment composition to field locations with no data along the Canterbury Bight, creating a continuous sediment reductions susceptibility surface. Isolines of regular SRS intervals were then derived from the continuous surface to create a contour map of sediment reductions susceptibility for the Canterbury Bight. Results highlighted the variability in SRS along this coastline.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Adams J., 1978. Data for New Zealand pebble abrasion studies. New Zealand Journal of Science 21: 607–610
Adams J., 1980. Contemporary uplift and erosion of the Southern Alps, New Zealand: Summary I. Geological Society of America Bulletin 91:2–4
Bluck B.J., 1967. Sedimentation of beach gravels: examples from South Wales. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 37:128–156
Burrough P.A., R.A. McDonnell. 1997. Principles of Geographical Information Systems. Oxford University Press, Frome, Somerset. 333 pp
Carter R.W.G., J.D. Orford. 1984. Coarse clastic barrier beaches: a discussion of the distinctive dynamic and morphosedimentary characteristics. Marine Geology 60:377–389
Dornbusch, U., C. Moses, D.A. Robinson, and R.B.G. Williams. in press. Laboratory abrasion tests on beach flint shingle. Pages in R.N. Mortimore, and A. Duperret (eds.), Coastal chalk cliff stability. London Geological Society
Flatman M., 1997. Cliff erosion and coastal change, mid Canterbury. Master of Science, University of Canterbury, Christchurch. 176 pp
Gibb J.G., J. Adams. 1982. A sediment budget for the east coast between Oamaru and Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 25:335–352
Griffiths G.A., 1981. Some suspended sediment yields form south island catchments, New Zealand. Water Resources Bulletin (American Water Resources Association) 17:662–671
Griffiths G.A., G.P. Glasby. 1985. Input of river derived sediments to the New Zealand continental shelf: I. Mass. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 21:773–787
Hemmingsen M.A., 2001. The abrasion of greywacke on a mixed sand and gravel coast. Journal of Coastal Research 34(Special issue):278–287
Hemmingsen, M.A. 2004. Reduction of greywacke sediments on the Canterbury Bight coast, South Island, New Zealand. Doctoral thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch. 2 Volumes. 541 pp
Hey R.W., 1967. Sections in the Beach-plain deposits of Dungeness, Kent. Geological Magazine 104:361–384
Hicks, D.M. 1994. Modelling historical and future change of the Washdyke-Opihi shoreline. In: NIWA Client Report, Christchurch, New Zealand. 46 pp
Hicks, D.M. 1998. Sediment budgets for the Canterbury Coast: a review, with particular reference to the importance of river sediment. In: NIWA Client Report CHC 98/2. 85 pp
Holmes, M.P.A. 1998. The geomorphology and radar facies of Kaitorete Spit, Canterbury, New Zealand. M. Sc. Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch. 271 pp
Jennings R., J. Shulmeister. 2002. A field based classification scheme for gravel beaches. Marine Geology 186:211–228
Kirk R.M., 1980. Mixed sand and gravel beaches: morphology, processes and sediments. Progress in Physical Geography 4:189–210
Kirk R.M., 1992. Experimental beach reconstruction-renourishment on mixed sand and gravel beaches, Washdyke Lagoon, South Canterbury, New Zealand. Coastal Engineering 17:253–277
Kirk R.M. 1994. The origins of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. Pages 9–16 in J.D.G. Davies, L. Galloway, and A.H.C. Nutt (eds.), Waihora, Lake Ellesmere: past, present, future. Lincoln University Press, Canterbury, UK
Kirk, R.M. 1995. Personal correspondence between Professor Kirk and the Canterbury Regional Council. Pages in E. Canterbury (eds.), MO5C-0016. Christchurch, NZ
Kirk, R.M., I.F. Owens, and J.G. Kelk. 1977. Coastal dynamics, East Coast of New Zealand, South Island.240-244 pp. In: 3rd Australian Conference on Coastal and Ocean Engineering, Melbourne
Kirk, R.M., and R.J. Weaver. 1985. Coastal hazards and experimental beach renourishment at Washdyke, South Canterbury, New Zealand. Pages 393–400 in Australasian Conference on Coastal and Ocean Engineering, Christchurch, NZ
Kodama Y., 1994. Experimental study of abrasion and its role in producing downstream fining in gravel-bed rivers. Journal of Sedimentary Research A A64:76–85
Marshall P., 1928. The wearing of beach gravels. Transactions 507–532
Marshall P., 1929. Beach gravels and sands. Transactions NZ. Institute 60:324–365
McKay P.J., T.A. Terich. 1992. Gravel barrier morphology: Olympic National Park, Washington State, U.S.A. Journal of Coastal Research 8:813–829
Orford J.D., R.W.G. Carter S.C. Jennings. 1991. Coarse clastic barrier environments: evolution and implications for Quaternary sea level interpretation. Quaternary International 9:87–104
Orford J.D., R.W.G. Carter S.C. Jennings. 1996. Control domains and morphological phases in gravel-dominated coastal barriers of Nova Scotia. Journal of Coastal Research 12:589–604
Randell, R.E., and R.M. Fuller. 2001. The Oxford shingles, Suffolk, UK: evolving solutions in coastline management. Pages 242–260. in J.R. Packham, Randell, R. E., Barnes, R. S. K., and Neal, A. (eds.), Ecology and geomorphology of coastal shingle. Smith Settle, West Yorkshire (Ottey), England
Sherman D.J., 1991. Gravel beaches. National Geographic Research and Exploration 7:442–452
Single, M.B., and M.A. Hemmingsen. 2001. Mixed sand and gravel barrier beaches of South Canterbury, New Zealand. Pages 261–276 in J.R. Packham, Randell, R. E., Barnes, R. S. K., and Neal, A. (eds.), Ecology and geomorphology of coastal shingle. Smith Settle, West Yorkshire (Ottey), England
Sokal R.R., F.J. Rohlf. 1995. Biometry: the principles and practice of statistics in biological research. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York. 887 pp
Stephenson W.J., R.W. Brander. 2003. Coastal geomorphology into the twenty-first century. Progress in Physical Geography 27:681–697
Stephenson W.J., J. Shulmeister. 1999. A Holocene progradation record from Okains Bay, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 42:11–19
Tierney, B.W., and R.M. Kirk. 1978. Nearshore sediment movement around the Port of Timaru. Pages 80–104 in Proc. 7th N. Z. Harbour Engineer’s Conference. N.Z. Harbours Association, Dunedin, NZ
Wentworth C.K., 1922. The shapes of beach pebbles. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 131:75–83
Williams A.T., N.E. Caldwell. 1988. Particle size and shape in pebble-beach sedimentation. Marine Geology 82:199–215
Zar J.H., 1999. Biostatistical analysis. Prentice-Hall, Inc, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. 663 pp
Zenkovich V.P., M.L. Schwartz. 1987. Protecting the Black Sea: Georgian S.S.R. Gravel Coast. Journal of Coastal Research 3:201–209
Acknowledgments
Both authors would like to thank the University of Canterbury for Doctoral Scholarships, Environment Canterbury, for a grant in support of the work, and the Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, where the study was undertaken. Paul Bealing helped with figures. We also thank Professors Bob Kirk, Roger McLean, Paul Komar, and Ian Owens, and three anonymous reviewers for their support and review of this research.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Eikaas, H.S., Hemmingsen, M.A. A GIS Approach to Model Sediment Reduction Susceptibility of Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches. Environmental Management 37, 816–825 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-004-0388-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-004-0388-z