Pg. Sanderson et al., HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF A FOREDUNE PLAIN AT DESPERATE BAY, WESTERN-AUSTRALIA, Journal of coastal research, 14(4), 1998, pp. 1187-1201
Coastal accretion in Desperate Bay at Coolimba on the Central West Coa
st of Western Australia has resulted in formation of a small foredune
plain. Since the area was first surveyed by aerial photography in 1944
the plain, which is approximately 150 metres wide and 1 km long, has
partially filled a sheltered embayment and has linked with an islet to
form a small tombolo. Deposition was particularly rapid between 1965
and 1990 with approximately 97,000 m(3) accumulating on the coast duri
ng that time. Such levels of accretion are unusual in Western Australi
a and apparently elsewhere. Development of the plain has been investig
ated photogrammetrically through a geographic information systems (GIS
) analysis of maps of shoreline movement and sequential aerial photogr
aphy, field surveys of marine processes and coastal stratigraphy, and
laboratory analyses of sediment characteristics and distribution. Hist
orical records of shoreline movement show that the plain developed rap
idly, with much of its formation taking place since 1965. Stratigraphi
c surveys are consistent with interpretation of the historical records
that the plain has developed within recent historical time. Sediments
within the landward part of the stratigraphic sequence include nylon
rope similar to that currently used by the local rock lobster fishery.
They also indicate that deposition of sediment occurred gradually, al
beit with some variation in quantity induced by storm activity and dep
osition of wrack on the beachface. The process measurements indicate t
hat mechanisms for deposition are related to increased southerly wind
activity, coincidental with a decline in the frequency of northwesterl
y storm events during the past 30 years, and formation of a tombolo in
the northern part of Desperate Bay. Foredune formation in Desperate B
ay has occurred in an environment where there are very low levels of w
ave and tidal activity, compared to sea level ranging associated with
frequent storm events. The foredunes have formed in response to interm
ittent washover of the backshore area of the beach during winter storm
s, when water levels and wave heights are raised. The storm deposition
contributes sediment to the upper surface and lee side of the active
foredune ridge to heighten and broaden it while producing a slow migra
tion inland. Subsequent calm-weather accretion contributes a small aeo
lian cap to the foredune, gradually widens the beach, and eventually s
trands the ridge. In this respect, the foredunes of this very low ener
gy coast primarily are considered to be a function of local surge heig
ht, and secondarily a result of sediment trapping by pioneer vegetatio
n. However, more direct measurements of sediment transport processes a
nd their interaction are required to test this proposition.