Australian Coastal Systems Beaches, Barriers and Sediment Compartments

This book describes the entire coast and beaches and barrier systems of Australia. It covers the coastal processes and systems that form and impact Australia's 30.000 km coast, 12.000 beaches and 2750 barrier systems. These processes include geology, geomorphology, climate, waves, tides, currents, sediment supply, as well as coastal ecosystems. The coast is divided into tropical northern and southern temperate provinces, within which are seven divisions, 23 regions and 354 coastal sediment compartments each of which is described in detail in the 34 chapters. Within these systems are the full range of wave through tide-dominated beaches and barriers ranging from cheniers to massive transgressive dune systems together with a range of onshore and longshore sand transport systems. This is an up to date reference for the entire coast, its present condition and likely responses to the impacts of climate change.

The Australian Coast: Introduction

Abstract

1.1       Introduction

1.2       The Coast

1.3       Geology

1.4       Climate

1.5       Coastal processes

1.7       Coastal sediment compartments

References

Abstract

2.1       Introduction

2.2       Geology

2.3       Climate

2.4       Coastal processes

2.5       Biological Processes

2.6       The tropical divisions and regions

2.7       Summary

References

Abstract

3.1       Introduction

3.2       Geology and geomorphology

3.3       Climate

3.4       Coastal processes

3.5       Northwest beach systems

3.6       Northwest barrier systems

3.7       Summary

References

Chapter 4         The Pilbara region: Carnarvon, Pilbara and Canning coasts

Abstract

4.1       Introduction

4.2       Carnarvon coast

4.3       Pilbara coast

4.3       Canning coast

4.5       Pilbara region overview

References

5          Kimberley-Territory division

Abstract

5.1       Introduction

5.2       Geology and geomorphology

5.3       Climate

5.4       Coastal Processes

5.5       Coastal ecosystems

5.6       Summary

References

6          Kimberley region

Abstract

6.2       PC:WA13.01 Point Usborne to Traverse Island

6.3       PC:WA13.02 Traverse Island to Augereau Island

6.4       PC:WA13.03 Augereau Island to Cape Londonderry

6.5       PC:WA13.04 Cape Londonderry to Cape Domett

6.6       PC:W13.05 Cape Domett (WA) to Pearce Point (NT)

6.7       Regional overview

References

7          Western Northern Territory region

Abstract

7.2       PC:NT01.01 Pearce Point - Gunn Point

7.3       PC:NT01.02 Van Diemen Gulf

7.4       Regional overview

References

8          North Arnhem Land region

Abstract

8.2       PC:NT02.02 northern Coburg Peninsula

8.3       PC:NT02.03 central north Arnhem Land

8.4       PC0:NT2.04 northeast Arnhem Land

8.5       Regional overview

References

9          Gulf of Carpentaria division

Abstract

9.1       Introduction

9.2       Geology and geomorphology

9.3       Climate

9.4       Coastal processes

9.5       Coastal ecosystems

9.6       Beach systems

9.7       Summary

References

10        East Arnhem Land region

Abstract

10.2     PC:NT03.01: Cape Arnhem-Cape Barrow

10.3     PC:NT03.02: Cape Barrow-Warrakunta Point

10.4     Regional overview

References

11        Southern Gulf of Carpentaria region

Abstract

11.2     PC:NT04.01 Warrakunta Point to Calvert River

11.3     PC:QLD01.01 Calvert River to Norman River

11.4     Summary

References

12        Western Cape York Peninsula region

Abstract

12.2     PC:QLD02.01: Karumba-South Mitchell River

12.3     PC:QLD02.02: South Mitchell River-Van Spoult Head

12.4     Regional overview

References

13        Northeast Division

Abstract

13.2     Queensland geology

13.3     Climate

13.4     Coastal processes

13.5     Rivers and sediment supply

13.6     Biological Processes

13.7     Beach systems

13.8     Barrier systems

13.9     Summary

References

14        Eastern Cape York Peninsula region

Abstract

14.1     Introduction

14.2     PC:QLD03.01 Van Spoult Head-Sharp Point

14.3     PC:QLD03.02 Sharp Point-Cape Grenville

14.4     PC:QLD03.03 Cape Grenville-Stewart River

14.5     PC:QLD03.04 Stewart River–Cape Melville

14.6     PC:QLD03.05 Cape Melville-Cape Flattery

14.8     PC:QLD03.07 Cape Grafton-Cape Cleveland

14.9     PC:QLD03.08 Cape Cleveland-Cape Conway

14.10   Regional overview

References

15        Central Queensland region

15.1     Introduction

15.2     PC:QLD04.01 Cape Conway to Cape Palmerston

15.3     PC:QLD04.02 Broad Sound: Cape Palmerston-Cape Townshend

15.4     PC:QLD04.03 Townshend Island-Round Hill

15.5     PC:QLD04.04 Round Hill-Sandy Cape<

Andrew Short is a marine scientist specializing in coastal processes and beach morphodynamics. He has degrees from the University of Sydney (BA Hons), University of Hawaii (MA), and Louisiana State University (PhD in Marine Science). He commenced his academic career as an assistant professor in the Coastal Studies Institute at Louisiana State University where he worked on the coasts of north Alaska and Brazil. He then moved to the School of Earth Sciences Macquarie University where he began his intensive study of beach systems around the Australian coast, which ultimately led to the development of the "Australian" beach models in collaboration with his colleague Don Wright. In 1977, he took up a position at the University of Sydney where he remained in the School of Geosciences until 2007.

He has also been visiting professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Utrecht University, the University of Auckland, the University of Ulster, the Universidade Federal Rio Grande (Brazil), and the Universidade Federal do Santa Catarina (Brazil).

He has conducted beach research on the coasts of North and South America, including north Alaska and Hawaii, and Brazil, Europe, New Zealand, Korea, South Africa, and the entire Australian coast. His main area of research and publication is in beach and surf zone morphodynamics, together with related interests in coastal dune and barrier systems, inner shelf morphodynamics, beach hazards and safety, coastal impacts of climate change, and coastal management.

He is presently Honorary Professor in the School of Geosciences at the University of Sydney, Honorary Professorial Fellow in the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences at the University of Wollongong, Senior Coastal Scientist (part-time) with CoastalCOMS.com, and Chair of National Surfing Reserves (Australia). His extensive contribution to both coastal science and beach safety was recognized on Australia Day 2010 with the award of an Order of Australia Medal.

Short has written 10 books, edited 4 books, and has over 200 scientific publications. His last book "Brazilian Beach Systems" covers the entire Brazilian coast and its seventeen coastal states. His most recent project, the "Australia Coastal Sediment Compartments" in collaboration with a small team of 'coastal experts' and funded by the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, mapped and described all 354 coastal sediment compartments around the entire Australian coast as well as their likely response to climate change. These compartments form the basis for the present book "Australian Coastal Systems: beaches, barriers and sediment compartments" which is also based on his intimate knowledge of the entire Australian coast: its coastal processes, beaches and barrier systems.