Geomorphological control on boulder transport and coastal erosion before, during and after an extreme extra-tropical cyclone

Naylor, L. A. , Stephenson, W. J., Smith, H. C.M., Way, O., Mendelssohn, J. and Cowley, A. (2016) Geomorphological control on boulder transport and coastal erosion before, during and after an extreme extra-tropical cyclone. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 41(5), pp. 685-700. (doi: 10.1002/esp.3900)

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Abstract

Extreme wave events in coastal zones are principal drivers of geomorphic change. Evidence of boulder entrainment and erosional impact during storms is increasing. However, there is currently poor time coupling between pre- and post-storm measurements of coastal boulder deposits. Importantly there are no data reporting shore platform erosion, boulder entrainment and/or boulder transport during storm events – rock coast dynamics during storm events are currently unexplored. Here, we use high-resolution (daily) field data to measure and characterise coastal boulder transport before, during and after the extreme Northeast Atlantic extra-tropical cyclone Johanna in March 2008. Forty-eight limestone fine-medium boulders (n = 46) and coarse cobbles (n = 2) were tracked daily over a 0.1 km2 intertidal area during this multi-day storm. Boulders were repeatedly entrained, transported and deposited, and in some cases broken down (n = 1) or quarried (n = 3), during the most intense days of the storm. Eighty-one percent (n = 39) of boulders were located at both the start and end of the storm. Of these, 92% were entrained where entrainment patterns were closely aligned to wave parameters. These data firmly demonstrate rock coasts are dynamic and vulnerable under storm conditions. No statistically significant relationship was found between boulder size (mass) and net transport distance. Graphical analyses suggest that boulder size limits the maximum longshore transport distance but that for the majority of boulders lying under this threshold, other factors influence transport distance. Paired analysis of 20 similar sized and shaped boulders in different morphogenic zones demonstrates that geomorphological control affects entrainment and transport distance – where net transport distances were up to 39 times less where geomorphological control was greatest. These results have important implications for understanding and for accurately measuring and modelling boulder

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This paper benefitted from funding from a Royal Geographical Society EPSRC small grant (Dr Naylor) and an Australian Research Council Discovery grant DP0557205 (Dr Stephenson); permission from Countryside Council for Wales.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Naylor, Dr Larissa
Authors: Naylor, L. A., Stephenson, W. J., Smith, H. C.M., Way, O., Mendelssohn, J., and Cowley, A.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
Publisher:John Wiley and Sons
ISSN:0197-9337
ISSN (Online):1096-9837
Published Online:25 February 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 41(5):685-700
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
678081Developing a sustainable, ecosystem-based coastal climate change adaption routemap for policy makers and practitionersLarissa NaylorNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)NE/M010546/1SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHICAL & EARTH SCIENCES