Holocene fluvial-coastal interactions on a mixed sand and sand and gravel beach system, North Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract

Fluvio-coastal interactions are examined on a progradational sand, and mixed sand and gravel beach sequence between the Ashley and Kowai rivers, Pegasus Bay, New Zealand. This coastal system presents an example of a wave-dominated environment energetic enough to deal with the sediment supply derived from the rivers, but where the coast is still prograding. Progradation occurs because of the inability of the marine system to evacuate wave-eroded sediment from the bay floor. This results in gradual nearshore aggradation until nearshore storage is filled and sediment is finally transported landward to form a new beach ridge. This type of coastal system can be identified by a diagnostic morphological assemblage comprising a ‘small river’ coastal morphology (sensu Zenkovich (1967, Processes of Coastal Development, Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh) backed by a sequence of beach ridges. Sediment fractionation (shape and size sorting) is identified as the primary effect of erosional processes on a mixed sand and gravel beach. Fractionation is capable of converting sandy beaches with minor gravel components to graveldominated beaches. Gravel is concentrated by the evacuation of sand from the shoreface. This occurs dominantly through storm sifting but also occurs in response to normal swash processes. This process is very similar to the process of chenier production on mixed mud and sand beaches, and fractionation is highlighted as a dominant erosional process on mixed beaches, irrespective of grain size.