Characteristics of beaches formed in polar climates

Nichols, Robert L.

doi:10.2475/ajs.259.9.694

Cited by 65 publications

(44 citation statements)

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“…During spring and summer thawing, this ma− terial create various e.g. micro land−forms such as "beach creating on ice", the ma− jority of which are ephemeral (Nichols 1961;Jahn 1977;Zagórski 2004). In gen− eral, shore ice protects the coast from the action of storm waves, but tall ice cliffs facilitate erosion and transportation of material along the shoreline (Dionne 1973;Rodzik and Zagórski 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shoreline dynamics of Calypsostranda (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Svalbard) during the last century

Zagórski¹

2011

Polish Polar Research

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A 6 km long stretch of the coast of Calypsostranda between Skilvika and Joseph− bukta, situated on the western side of Recherchefjorden, was investigated. It is made of an accumulative marine terrace at a height of 2-8 m a.s.l. (terrace 1) and width of 40-180 m, divided by a cliffed section in the frontal moraines of Renardbreen. From the character and intensity of changes, the area was divided into 6 zones. The aim was to analyse the dynamics of changes within coastal zone from 1936 to 2007 and to characterise the influence of vari− ous morphogenetic factors (marine, fluvial, cryospheric). The important element of this study has been to determine sources and directions of sediment transport. The dynamics of changes of coastal zone in the Calypsostranda region was established from archival maps and precise GPS measurements for the periods: 1936-1960, 1960-1990, 1990-2000, 2000-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007. Comparing the extension of shoreline between 1936 and 2007 showed that there was more erosion than accumulation. Nearly 110 000 m 2 of the area of terrace 1 decreased, whereas about 77 000 m 2 appeared. The net balance for 1936-2007 was about −32 700 m 2 , on average over the whole length of the shoreline, it re− treated by 5.7 m (0.08 m a −1 ). The cease of sediment delivery in the extramarginal sandur fans area of Renardbreen caused intensification of marine processes, that made the shore− line retreat by over 100 m. Continuing sediment delivery from the Scottelva catchment, with contribution of material from erosion of the north end of the shoreline studies, caused the aggradation of coastal zone by over 60 m near its mouth.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shoreline dynamics of Calypsostranda (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Svalbard) during the last century

Zagórski¹

2011

Polish Polar Research

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“…Notwithstanding these preservation constraints, taylor and mcCann (1976) found numerous ice-push scars and mounds on the raised beaches of northern Somerset Island and southwest Devon Island. Raised ice-push ridges and mounds were also described in the Arctic by Washburn (1947) and in Antarctica by Nichols (1961). Nevertheless, periglacial processes and wave reworking reduce the preservation potential of sea-ice features on raised beaches.…”

Section: Arctic Gravel Beach Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Raised Gravel Beaches as Proxy Indicators of Past Sea-Ice and Wave Conditions, Lowther Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago

St-Hilaire-Gravel¹,

Bell²,

Forbes³

2010

ARCTIC

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ABStRACt. this study investigates whether raised beach sequences preserved on emergent coasts of the central Canadian Arctic Archipelago contain a proxy record of past sea-ice conditions and wave intensity. We hypothesize that periods of reduced sea ice (increased open water) expose shorelines to more prolonged and higher wave energy, leading to better-developed beach ridges. Surveys of raised beach sequences on Lowther Island revealed the following patterns: a) high, wide, single-to multicrested barriers backed by deep swales or lagoons characterize both the active and lowest relict shorelines; b) small, narrow, discontinuous ridges of poorly sorted gravel extend from 1.0 to 7.5 m asl, except from 4.5 to 5.0 m asl; c) ridge morphology is similar to the active and first relict ridges between 7.5 and 11 m asl; d) a near-featureless zone with minor terraces and ridges above 11 m extends to above 30 m asl. these distinct morphological and sedimentary units are interpreted as a function of wave climate and thus of summer sea-ice conditions. this model suggests periods

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“…Polar beaches are strongly influenced by the presence of ice (Nichols 1961;Forbes & Taylor 1994;Forbes 2011;Forbes & Hansom 2012). In some areas, glaciers were responsible for supplying much polymictic, very poorly sorted glacial drift including large erratic boulders.…”

Section: Beach Depositsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These include such things as ice-push ridges, sea-ice kettles (pits), sea-ice sand and gravel cones in the lower part of the beach, and small meltwater rills and microdeltas in the upper foreshore and backshore. Nichols (1961) listed a series of features typical of polar beaches, among which, paraphrasing and modifying slightly, are the following: (a) arctic/antarctic beaches develop on frozen substrate, are pitted owing to melting of interstitial ice blocks, and have ridges and mounds formed by ice push or deposition from run-up or stranded ice blocks; (b) they contain ice-rafted material including exotic blocks, LOW-LYING COLD TO WARM COASTAL ZONESpoorly rounded clasts, locally ventifacts and sparse remains of cold climate organisms, mainly molluscs and marine and terrestrial bones; and (c) they may develop several periglacial features such as cracks, stone circles and local cryo-and solifluction deposits.…”

Section: Beach Depositsmentioning

confidence: 99%

General considerations and highlights of low-lying coastal zones: passive continental margins from the poles to the tropics

Martini

2014

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This Special Publication presents 23 papers that examine comparable, predominantly siliciclastic coastal zones of low-lying passive trailing-continental margins (primarily east Americas) from polar areas to the equator. The objective is to establish similarities and major differences among them. This introductory paper outlines major contributions of the various papers, but will also highlight coastal differences and briefly add information not fully treated by others. This is done in three parts: (a) some basic concepts are stressed, such as the importance of 'coastal zone' (total landscape) in the north-south comparison and the variable climates; (b) a review is made of the component materials of the coasts, such as difference in sediments owing to source rocks, weathering and geological history (glaciations), and in flora and fauna such as burrowing organisms; and (c) a few classical examples are reported from warm zones, such as Galveston Island and the Sapelo Island marshes, but the focus is on less well-known environments of cold areas -those most impacted by climate change. Each component of the coastal zone can develop diagnostic characteristics, but the entire assemblage of sedimentary and biological features is what uniquely defines present environments and allows identification of ancient coastal zones.

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Characteristics of beaches formed in polar climates

Cited by 65 publications

References 0 publications

Shoreline dynamics of Calypsostranda (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Svalbard) during the last century

Shoreline dynamics of Calypsostranda (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Svalbard) during the last century

Raised Gravel Beaches as Proxy Indicators of Past Sea-Ice and Wave Conditions, Lowther Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago

General considerations and highlights of low-lying coastal zones: passive continental margins from the poles to the tropics

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