Chapter 14 The rock coast of Australia

Abstract The rocky coast of Australia has been the focus of scientific enquiry since Charles Darwin visited Sydney during the voyage of the Beagle (1831–1836). As the philosophy of geomorphological enquiry has evolved from Davisian landscape theory to modern questions of landscape response to climate change, so has the understanding of Australian shore platforms. Early work was focused on penultimate levels of coastal planation; however, the majority of research has focused on the balance between marine and subaerial erosion in forming shore platforms. As field instrumentation has advanced there has been a greater variety of data available to researchers which has led to studies of microerosion and the distribution of wave energy across platform surfaces. Platforms formed in Quaternary carbonates and volcanics as well as Mesozoic sediments have been the focus of research. Those found in softer carbonates form closer to low-tide level while those in resistant basalt form at high-tide elevation. Rock hardness and structure are the primary drivers of platform morphology; however at an individual field site the surface morphology, such as the presence of a ramp, will be determined by the balance between wave and subaerial processes as well as local variations in lithology.

[1]  D. Kennedy,et al.  The formation of beaches on shore platforms in microtidal environments , 2015 .

[2]  David M. Kennedy,et al.  Granitic coastal geomorphology: applying integrated terrestrial and bathymetric LiDAR with multibeam sonar to examine coastal landscape evolution , 2014 .

[3]  C. Woodroffe.  Chapter 15 The rock coasts of oceanic islands , 2014 .

[4]  D. Forbes,et al.  Chapter 16 The rock coasts of polar and sub-polar regions , 2014 .

[5]  M. Neves,et al.  Chapter 6 The rock coast of continental Europe in the Atlantic , 2014 .

[6]  A. Trenhaile.  Chapter 2 Climate change and its impact on rock coasts , 2014 .

[7]  A. Trenhaile.  Chapter 8 The rock coast of Canada , 2014 .

[8]  J. Goff,et al.  A synthesis and review of the geological evidence for palaeotsunamis along the coast of southeast Australia: The evidence, issues and potential ways forward , 2012 .

[9]  B. Finlayson,et al.  Long term shore platform surface lowering rates: Revisiting Gill and Lang after 32 years , 2012 .

[10]  C. Woodroffe,et al.  Shore platform development on an uplifting limestone island over multiple sea-level cycles, Niue, South Pacific , 2012 .

[11]  W. Stephenson,et al.  The morphodynamics of shore platforms in a micro-tidal setting: Interactions between waves and morphology , 2011 .

[12]  M. Dickson,et al.  Subaerial weathering versus wave processes in shore platform development: reappraising the Old Hat Island evidence , 2011 .

[13]  J. Goff,et al.  Testing the hypothesis for tsunami boulder deposition from suspension , 2010 .

[14]  J. Goff,et al.  Analysis of the Mahuika comet impact tsunami hypothesis , 2010 .

[15]  J. Goff,et al.  Brief communication "Does the Eltanin asteroid tsunami provide an alternative explanation for the Australian megatsunami hypothesis?" , 2010 .

[16]  D. Kennedy.  Geological control on the morphology of estuarine shore platforms: Middle Harbour, Sydney, Australia , 2010 .

[17]  A. Trenhaile.  The effect of Holocene changes in relative sea level on the morphology of rocky coasts , 2010 .

[18]  L. Naylor,et al.  On the role of discontinuities in mediating shore platform erosion , 2010 .

[19]  M. Quigley,et al.  Tectonic geomorphology of Australia , 2010 .

[20]  C. Woodroffe,et al.  The Coast of Australia , 2009 .

[21]  E. Gill.  The relationship of present shore platforms to past sea levels , 2008 .

[22]  E. Gill.  Rate and mode of retrogradation on rocky coasts in Victoria, Australia, and their relationship to sea level changes , 2008 .

[23]  M. Dickson,et al.  Cliffed coasts of New Zealand: Perspectives and future directions , 2007 .

[24]  Dale Dominey-Howes,et al.  Geological and historical records of tsunami in Australia , 2007 .

[25]  W. Stephenson,et al.  Two‐hourly surface change on supra‐tidal rock (Marengo, Victoria, Australia) , 2007 .

[26]  C. Murray-Wallace.  SEA LEVEL STUDIES | Eustatic Sea-Level Changes Since the Last Glaciation , 2007 .

[27]  L. Thornton,et al.  Rock Strength: A Control of Shore Platform Elevation , 2006 .

[28]  A. Trenhaile,et al.  Tidal wetting and drying on shore platforms: An experimental assessment , 2005 .

[29]  A. Trenhaile.  Modelling the effect of waves, weathering and beach development on shore platform development , 2005 .

[30]  C. Twidale,et al.  Beach etching and shore platforms , 2005 .

[31]  L. Thornton,et al.  Australian Rock Coasts: review and prospects , 2005 .

[32]  R. Kirk,et al.  Short‐term microscale topographic changes of coastal bedrock on shore platforms , 2004 .

[33]  D. Gray,et al.  Tectonic evolution of the Lachlan Orogen, southeast Australia: Historical review, data synthesis and modern perspectives , 2004 .

[34]  J. Nott.  The tsunami hypothesis—comparisons of the field evidence against the effects, on the Western Australian coast, of some of the most powerful storms on Earth , 2004 .

[35]  M. Dickson,et al.  The influence of rock resistance on coastal morphology around Lord Howe Island, southwest Pacific , 2004 .

[36]  J. Nott,et al.  Extreme Marine Inundations (Tsunamis?) of Coastal Western Australia , 2003, The Journal of Geology.

[37]  M. Schreider,et al.  Effects of height on the shore and complexity of habitat on abundances of amphipods on rocky shores in New South Wales, Australia , 2003 .

[38]  A. Trenhaile,et al.  Evolution and inheritance of a rock coast: western Galicia, northwestern Spain , 2003 .

[39]  K. Crook,et al.  Evaluating the impacts of huge waves on rocky shorelines: an essay review of the book 'Tsunami - The Underrated Hazard' , 2003 .

[40]  J. Nott.  Waves, coastal boulder deposits and the importance of the pre-transport setting , 2003 .

[41]  J. Nott,et al.  Tsunami or storm waves? Determining the origin of a spectacular field of wave emplaced boulders using numerical storm surge and wave models and hydrodynamic transport equations , 2003 .

[42]  Ml Cupper,et al.  Quaternary: ice ages - environments of change , 2003 .

[43]  C. Moses.  Observations on coastal biokarst, Hells Gate, Lord Howe Island, Australia , 2003 .

[44]  H. Viles,et al.  A new technique for evaluating short-term rates of coastal bioerosion and bioprotection , 2002 .

[45]  J. Nott,et al.  Geological Indicators of Large Tsunami in Australia , 2001 .

[46]  W. Stephenson.  Shore platforms: a neglected coastal feature? , 2000 .

[47]  R. M. Kirk,et al.  Development of shore platforms on Kaikoura Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand: II: The role of subaerial weathering , 2000 .

[48]  W. Stephenson,et al.  Development of shore platforms on Kaikoura Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand , 2000 .

[49]  E. Campbell,et al.  Development of a basin, doughnut and font assemblage on a sandstone coast, western Eyre Peninsula, South Australia , 1998 .

[50]  R. Young,et al.  Bedrock-Sculpturing by Tsunami, South Coast New South Wales, Australia , 1996, The Journal of Geology.

[51]  R. Young,et al.  Catastrophic wave (tsunami?) transport of boulders in southern New South Wales, Australia , 1996 .

[52]  O. V. D. Plassche,et al.  Coastal evolution -- Late Quaternary shoreline morphodynamics , 1995 .

[53]  C. Murray-Wallace,et al.  A pleistocene origin for shore platforms along the Northern Illawarra Coast, New South Wales , 1994 .

[54]  C. Woodroffe,et al.  Quaternary inheritance of coastal landforms, Cobourg Peninsula, northern territory , 1992 .

[55]  R. Young,et al.  Evidence of Tsunami Sedimentation on the Southeastern Coast of Australia , 1992, The Journal of Geology.

[56]  E. Bryant.  Last interglacial and Holocene trends in sea-level maxima around Australia: Implications for modern rates , 1992 .

[57]  R. Young,et al.  Catastrophic wave erosion on the southeastern coast of Australia: Impact of the Lanai tsunamis ca. 105 ka? , 1992 .

[58]  砂村 継夫.  Geomorphology of rocky coasts , 1992 .

[59]  P. Pirazzoli,et al.  World Atlas Of Holocene Sea Level Changes , 1991 .

[60]  A. Belperio,et al.  The last interglacial shoreline in Australia — A review , 1991 .

[61]  S. Short,et al.  Thermoluminescenge and Uranium‐Thorium chronologies of pleistocene coastal landforms of the Illawarra region, New South Wales , 1990 .

[62]  A. Trenhaile.  The Geomorphology of Rock Coasts , 1987 .

[63]  D. Hopley.  Holocene Sea-level Changes in Australasia and the Southern Pacific , 1987 .

[64]  V. Semeniuk,et al.  Modern and Pleistocene rocky shore sequences along carbonate coastlines, southwestern Australia , 1985 .

[65]  E. Gill,et al.  Micro-erosion meter measurements of rock wear on the Otway coast of southeast Australia , 1983 .

[66]  I. Mcdougall,et al.  Origin and evolution of Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific Ocean , 1981 .

[67]  A. Trenhaile,et al.  Shore Platform Morphology and the Tidal Duration Factor , 1981 .

[68]  A. S. Trenhaile,et al.  Shore platforms: a neglected coastal feature , 1980 .

[69]  A. D. Abrahams,et al.  Shore platform widths between Port Kembla and Durras Lake, New South Wales , 1975 .

[70]  E. S. Hills.  Shore platforms and wave ramps , 1972, Geological Magazine.

[71]  Douglas L. Inman,et al.  On the Tectonic and Morphologic Classification of Coasts , 1971, The Journal of Geology.

[72]  Nk Sanders.  Wave tank experiments on erosion of rocky coasts , 1968, Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania.

[73]  E. Bird,et al.  Shore platforms on the South Coast of New South Wales , 1966 .

[74]  E. S. Hills.  MORPHOTECTONICS AND THE GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SCIENCES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AUSTRALIA , 1961 .

[75]  M. Wolman,et al.  Magnitude and Frequency of Forces in Geomorphic Processes , 1960, The Journal of Geology.

[76]  C. Cotton.  SEACLIFFS OF BANKS PENINSULA AND WELLINGTON: SOME CRITERIA FOR COASTAL CLASSIFICATION , 1951 .

[77]  C. Cotton.  Accidents and Interruptions in the Cycle of Marine Erosion , 1951 .

[78]  A. B. Edwards.  Wave Action in Shore Platform Formation , 1951, Geological Magazine.

[79]  Sherbon Hills,et al.  Shore Platforms , 1949, Geological Magazine.

[80]  J. A. Bartrum.  "Abnormal" Shore Platforms , 1926, The Journal of Geology.

[81]  Robert Blair Vocci.  Geology , 1882, Nature.

[82]  Charles Darwin,et al.  Geological Observations on the Volcanic Islands , 1844 .

[83]  S..  Modeling the Effect of Weathering on the Evolution and Morphology of Shore Platforms , 2022 .