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Multi‐decadal coastal change in New Zealand: Evidence, mechanisms and implications
Author(s) -
Bryan Karin R.,
Kench Paul S.,
Hart Deirdre E.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
new zealand geographer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1745-7939
pISSN - 0028-8144
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-7939.2008.00135.x
Subject(s) - storm , climatology , oceanography , environmental science , geography , geology
Abstract: Coastal research and monitoring on New Zealand beaches have typically examined seasonal and event‐driven (storms) changes in the coast. However, historical records are now of sufficient length to indicate that change occurs at longer timescales. This paper presents examples of multi‐decadal change at three case‐study locations around New Zealand. Results show that morphological adjustment of the coast occurs at multi‐decadal scales and is much larger than short‐term dynamics. Physical mechanisms driving changes are ill defined but may be associated with El Niños and La Niña episodes which modulate waves and sea level, as well as changes in sediment supply.