Geomorphic Coastal Variability, Northwestern Australia.

Abstract

Interactions of dynamic processes such as wind, ocean waves, tides, littoral currents, river flow, and biological and chemical activity cause variations in worldwide coastal landscapes. Successful operational procedures must therefore consider these environmental factors, and predictive capabilities will be possible only when these process-form relationships are thoroughly understood. The coastline from Darwin, Australia, to the western limit of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf displays a wide variety of coastal landscapes in a region characterized by low wave energy, extreme tidal range, and a tropical monsoon climate. Ten discrete coastal provinces were identified along this 950-mile coastline, and the variations in the coastal landforms between these provinces are attributed to varying combinations of nearshore processes. Thus a link between nearshore processes and coastline characteristics has been established for a certain combination of environmental conditions. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0755154

Entities

People

  • Bruce G. Thom
  • James M. Coleman
  • Lynn D. Wright

Organizations

  • Louisiana State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Australia
  • Energy
  • Landforms
  • Ocean Waves
  • Ridges
  • Terrain
  • Wave Power
  • Waves

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal Oceanography
  • Urban Planning and Geography.