Research Commons
      • Browse 
        • Communities & Collections
        • Titles
        • Authors
        • By Issue Date
        • Subjects
        • Types
        • Series
      • Help 
        • About
        • Collection Policy
        • OA Mandate Guidelines
        • Guidelines FAQ
        • Contact Us
      • My Account 
        • Sign In
        • Register
      View Item 
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Theses
      • Masters Degree Theses
      • View Item
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Theses
      • Masters Degree Theses
      • View Item
      JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

      Episodic, seasonal, and long term morphological changes of Coromandel beaches

      Wood, Andrew
      Thumbnail
      Files
      thesis.pdf
      4.102Mb
      Citation
      Export citation
      Wood, A. (2010). Episodic, seasonal, and long term morphological changes of Coromandel beaches (Thesis, Master of Science (MSc)). The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/4345
      Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/4345
      Abstract
      The Coromandel Peninsula was subject to subdivision and development primarily

      since the 1960's. Much of the development that has occurred now renders

      protection from the existing beach systems which have typically been altered by

      development. Coupled with huge populations during summer, the region is of

      national significance therefore an understanding of coastal impacts is paramount.

      Analysis of the spatial and temporal variation of beaches along the eastern

      Coromandel Peninsula from Whangapoua in the north to Whiritoa in the south

      provided results ranging from single storm events to decadal scale oscillations.

      Beach similarity was determined by measuring parameters such as beach length,

      beach connectivity to neighbouring beaches, aspect, and beach slope. The analysis

      of variability in beach face volumes was undertaken using an extensive beach

      profile database collected by R. Keith Smith, Ron Ovenden and a monitoring

      program maintained by Environment Waikato since 1978. The database had a

      higher-resolution sampling interval from 1996 until present (a maximum sampling

      frequency of approximately bimonthly).

      Results showed that short term beach volume changes were explained by the

      beach classification devised from the Wright and Short (1984) model and

      available planform morphology data. Intermediate beaches overall had a greater

      range of variation, but had a higher frequency of low magnitude of change events.

      Reflective beaches had a higher frequency of large magnitude of change events

      and subsequently greater short term volume changes. Beaches adjacent to

      harbours and two outliers were identified which did not accord to the

      classification. The classification model maintained its applicability for seasonal

      scale beach response. Embayed beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula also

      exhibited beach rotation to varying degrees. Beaches with similar planform

      morphology showed similar long term beach rotation characteristics. A biennial

      oscillation related to the El Ni o Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was evident as

      well as an interdecadal oscillation related to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation

      (IPO) was evident across the Peninsula. In particular, no beaches north of the

      Kuaotunu Peninsula showed a strong ENSO signal, and the strongest IPO

      response was on beaches north of the Kuaotunu Peninsula. The IPO appeared to

      enter a long term negative phase indicating decadal scale persistence of La Ni a

      events, therefore Coromandel beaches are likely to exhibit erosion dominant

      trends for the next 20 to 35 years.

      Based on these results, 3 sediment transport and behavioural cells were defined,

      they were: beaches located north of the Kuaotunu Peninsula from Whangapoua to

      Otama with northerly orientations; Mercury Bay beaches including Opito Bay;

      and, easterly orientated beaches south of Mercury Bay.
      Date
      2010
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Name
      Master of Science (MSc)
      Supervisors
      Bryan, Karin R.
      Publisher
      The University of Waikato
      Rights
      All items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
      Collections
      • Masters Degree Theses [2122]
      Show full item record  

      Usage

      Downloads, last 12 months
      76
       
       

      Usage Statistics

      For this itemFor all of Research Commons

      The University of Waikato - Te Whare Wānanga o WaikatoFeedback and RequestsCopyright and Legal Statement