Contemporary process controls on the evolution of sedimentary coasts under low to high energy regimes: western Ireland

摘要: Sedimentary environments, representative of the Irish west coast, have been studied to examine their responses at microscale (10-1–100 yr). This was achieved using a variety techniques, including grain-size analysis, measurement accretionary and radiometric dating. Monthly elevation monitoring silt-dominated marshes shows an annual pattern in sediment accumulation. reflects two processes: a) winter accretion attributable storm events, b) summer consolidation contraction marsh sediments. Together, results suggest that intertidal sedimentation is likely be dominated by episodic processes, primarily storms. Examination tidal regime weaker than expected influence hydroperiodicity on accretion, although this remains distinctive, as expressed landward textural fining. Storms were also identified major importance functioning higher-energy sandy coastal systems, again having largely accretional influence, through aeolian transport. Erosion such study sites probably controlled attainment critical threshold surface elevation, or exceptional action, combination both. The linking rates with those meso- macroscale, assessment for functioning, difficult due geological averaging effect sedimentary record. Human impacts coast historical times are large but quantify.