Sea-level, sediment supply and coastal changes: Examples from the coast of Ireland

Sediment supply and pre-existing shoreline morphology are crucial factors in controlling coastal changes due to sea-level rise. Using examples from both southeast and northeast Ireland, it can be shown that sea-level change may trigger a sequence of events which leads to both static and dynamic shoreline equilibrium. Cliff erosion and longshore sediment movement in east Co. Wexford has led to injection of sediment onto the shelf, and the growth, under both wave and tide regimes, of linear offshore shoals. These shoals now control the pattern of shoreline erosion and provide a template for possible stepwise evolution of the coast under any future sea-level rise. In contrast, the nearby coast of south Co. Wexford comprises a series of coarse clastic barriers moving monotonously onshore, via overwash processes. Here the behavior of the barrier is conditioned by the antecedent morphology of both the beach face and stream outlet bedforms. Finally, the rock platform coast of Co. Antrim presents a far more resistant shoreline to incident marine processes, yet even here there is strong evidence of present process control over so-called ‘raised’ platforms and embayments. It is concluded that coastal sediment supply and dynamics, together with coastal morphology and its interaction with waves, present a far more complex variety of sea-level indicators than is normally acknowledged.     

The University of Durham Southern Hemisphere VHE gamma ray telescope

The design of very high energy (VHE) gamma ray telescopes is discussed and it is shown that a triple-mirror telescope operating in threefold fast coincidence provides an effective instrument. The design, construction and operation of a large VHE gamma ray telescope with an energy threshold of 300 GeV (at the zenith) and incorporating several novel features is described. The use of a coincidence guard ring technique is shown to result in the rejection of about 50% of the off-source (proton) events which form a high background and limit the sensitivity of such telescopes.     

Overwash processes along a gravel beach in south-east Ireland

Recent overwashing, and to a more limited extent overtopping, has occurred on a gravel-dominated beach just west of Carnsore Point in south-east Ireland. At relatively low points swash excursions have breached the duneline and extensive gravel fans have formed on landward-facing slopes. Also, at interbreach positions, swash ramps have been built-up in front of previously eroding dune cliffs, allowing overtopping at heights of up to 5 m above MHWOST, spreading a veneer of sediment over the adjacent dune ridge. In both cases events appear to be preceded by erosion and backbeach sand and gravel deposition. Stratigraphic, textural and fabric analyses assist in identifying environmental conditions that prevailed during overwash throat and fan, and overtopping ramp, sedimentation.     

Challenging assumptions of future coastal habitat development around the UK

One habitat management requirement forced by 21st century relative sea‐level rise (RSLR), will be the need to re‐comprehend the dimensions of long‐term transgressive behaviour of coastal systems being forced by such RSLR. Fresh approaches to the conceptual modelling and subsequent implementation of new coastal and peri‐marine habitats will be required. There is concern that existing approaches to forecasting coastal systems development (and by implication their associated scarce coastal habitats) over the next century depend on a certain premise of orderly spatial succession of habitats. This assumption is shown to be questionable given the possible future rates of RSLR, magnitude of shoreline retreat and the lack of coastal sediment to maintain the protective morphologies to low‐energy coastal habitats. Of these issues, sediment deficiency is regarded as one of the major problem for future habitat development. Examples of contemporary behaviour of UK coasts show evidence of coastal sediment starvation resulting from relatively stable RSLR, anthropogenic sealing of coastal sources, and intercepted coastal sediment pathways, which together force segmentation of coastal systems. From these examples key principles are deduced which may prejudice the existence of future habitats: accelerated future sediment demand due to RSLR may not be met by supply and, if short‐ to medium‐term hold‐the‐line policies predominate, long‐term strategies for managed realignment and habitat enhancement may prove impossible goals. Methods of contemporary sediment husbandry may help sustain some habitats in place but otherwise, instead of integrated coastal organization, managers may need to consider coastal breakdown, segmentation and habitat reduction as the basis of 21st century coastal evolution and planning. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical treatment of oversampling

During searches for periodicity in very high energy (VHE) gamma ray data, the freedom usually exists to place a trial period anywhere within the spacing between independent periods normally associated with a Fourier transform of data of finite duration. The problem has been previously addressed by Monte Carlo techniques, which are limited by the demands of computing time to small data sets and signal strengths. This letter provides an analytical technique for calculating the oversampling factor for any data set size and any statistical test. The method is illustrated using the Rayleigh statistic, which is widely used in testing for periodicity     

Depositional and post-depositional controls on magnetic signals from saltmarshes on the north-west coast of Ireland

Magnetic measurements were carried out on samples from two saltmarshes deposited during the last century on the north-west coast of Ireland. Based on profiles from cliffed saltmarsh edge, mid-marsh and supratidal locations, the processes that affect the generation and persistence of magnetic properties in environments were investigated. This was done to help in understanding the geochemical processes affecting north-west Irish coast saltmarshes and to determine the frequency and provenance of sediment-laden flooding events; hence, disentangling the importance of clastic and organic contributions to saltmarsh growth. Magnetic properties indicate depositional and post-depositional effects varying on both temporal and spatial scales. The interpretations presented here suggest that both biogenic and diagenetic processes have a strong effect on the magnetic properties recorded: in the former case, the growth of magnetotactic bacteria is the main process; in the latter case, it is reductive diagenesis, associated with organic matter decomposition, that is important. The biogenic and diagenetic effects overprint and degrade the detrital magnetic signatures respectively. This suggests that magnetic measurements within the context of north-west Irish coast saltmarshes can provide limited information on clastic sediment input to these environments. Comparisons between sites on the north-west coast of Ireland show similar magnetic properties, despite differences in deposition rates, implying that significant post-depositional alteration of magnetic properties occurs within the first 20–40 years after deposition. Magnetic properties of north-west coast Irish saltmarshes are put into a regional context by comparison with magnetic profiles from similar sites.     

Saltmarsh deposition and its relationship to coastal forcing over the last century on the north-west coast of Ireland

The mesoscale (time) control of annual storm-surge activity on quasi-annual saltmarsh (tidal marsh) deposition is studied from two estuarine saltmarshes on the high-energy NW coast of Ireland. Both saltmarshes exhibit a cliffed edge where maximum sedimentary variation is expressed in the form of lamination. Sections were logged and characterised by lithofacies based on grain-size determinations. Sections dated using Cs and Pb determinations indicated deposition records of decadal to century scale (c. 0.5 cm a^-1). Linear multiple regression explains (p< 0.05) half the variation of the deposition rate by annual coastal forcing (surge frequency and magnitude) and sediment modes (coarse silt to clay). Further variability in deposition rate is partially reflected in the non-linear response between forcing and deposition that is affected by mesoscale (30, 11 and 5-year) periodicities in forcing. Increased annual surge activity appears to be associated with a coarsening of, and reduction in annual deposition. A relationship between annual deposition rate and fractal dimension of surge timing (i.e. the clustering of surge events) is identified.     

Coarse clastic barrier beaches: A discussion of the distinctive dynamic and morphosedimentary characteristics

Coarse clastic barriers are common on mid- and high-latitude coasts. They possess a morphosedimentary and dynamic distinctiveness which sets them apart from sandy fineclastic barrier forms. The reflective nature of the seaward barrier favors the development of zero mode, sub-harmonic edge waves particularly during long period swells (10–20 s), manifest in the formation of high level cusps. In some circumstances the pattern of recent overwashing of the barrier is related to cusps. Lack of distinct tidal passes, due partly to the high seepage potential of coarse barriers, means that very little sediment is transported seaward. Thus the barriers roll steadily onshore, and sections show a variety of washover facies, related to the volume of overwash surges.