New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Beach erosion at Waihi Beach Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

K. G. Harray*

T. R. Healy

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Abstract Since the 1940s, severe dune erosion has threatened property at Waihi Beach. This paper investigates beach erosion and dune recession in relation to wave climate, sedimentoldgy and mineralogy of the beach sediments, cyclical beach changes and sediment budget, and the littoral drift. Average dune recession along the entire beach between 1948 and 1977 was 27 m, although maximum recession recorded to 1977 was 83 m. Sand loss rates 1948-1977 average 3.4 m3 per metre of beach per year. Net littoral drift is towards the south-east, and the basic reason for beach erosion at Waihi Beach is the lack of sediment to supply the littoral drift.

N.Z Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 12 (2): 99-107.
Received 29 October 1976; revision received 9 November 1977.

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (709K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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