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Geomorphic processes and environmental change on subantarctic Macquarie Island
thesis
posted on 2022-03-29, 02:31 authored by Jennifer M. Selkirk-BellThe major terrestrial geomorphic processes presently active in the cool, moist, windy subantarctic climate of Macquarie Island are tectonic activity, mass movement, and aeolian, fluvial and frost processes. Tectonic activity associated with the island's uplift has been fundamental to the development of the contemporary landscape, creating lake basins, channeling streams and producing numerous fault scarps. Contemporary tectonic activity also occurs. Mass movement is frequent, but as the most frequent types of failure are peat slides, little overall alteration of the underlying hillslope results. Loading of slopes by water and wind-blown mineral material is a more important trigger for mass movement than tectonic activity. Aeolian erosion and deposition are important island-wide in a variety of substrates. The continuous strong winds erode both sand and peat, producing blowouts and bowl-like features. The impact of strong winds on feldmark vegetation is important in maintaining the vegetation-banked terrace form. Fluvial erosion and deposition processes occur as slope wash, rill erosion, stream incision and gullying. Contemporary frost processes are not restricted to surfaces of mineral material, but also affect exposed peat, although this is less common. Primarily, these processes produce small-scale sorted ground; however, the patterning of ground associated with the vegetation-banked terraces and the contribution of frost processes and wind-blown ice and snow in maintaining the terrace form are the most widespread examples of frost processes on the island. Current rates of geomorphic processes are site-dependent. On the plateau and its seaward slopes, mass failure of peat is likely to occur when precipitation exceeds 25 mm d-1. Slopes vegetated by Poa foliosa will fail within 5000 y. Rates of movement of surficial gravels by fluvial and frost processes on vegetation-banked terraces average between 30 and 138 mm y-1. The combination of aeolian and fluvial processes on exposed peat and sand give rates of erosion of 43 mm y-1 and rates of accretion of 28 mm y-1. Wind, water and tectonics, often in combination with each other, are integral to the geomorphology of the Macquarie Island plateau and environmental change, in terms of landscape evolution within the Quaternary, is related to changes in these factors.
History
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Descriptive hydrology -- Chapter 3. Mass movement -- Chapter 4. Active vegetation-banked terraces -- Chapter 5. Vegetation-banked terraces: a reappraisal of form -- Chapter 6. Wind and water erosion of a peat and sand area -- Chapter 7. The exposed southern coastline and plateau: Aeolian and fluvial erosion in a high-energy marine environment -- Chapter 8. Landforms of late Pleistocene age in the valley of North Bauer Creek -- Chapter 9. Contemporary geomorphic processes and environmental change on Macquarie Island - a synthesis -- Appendices.Notes
Bibliography: pages 175-183 "A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the regulations of Doctor of Philosophy, Graduate School of the Environment, Division of Environmental and Life Sciences, Macquarie University, July 2000".Awarding Institution
Macquarie UniversityDegree Type
Thesis PhDDegree
PhD, Macquarie University, Division of Environmental and Life Sciences, Graduate School of the EnvironmentDepartment, Centre or School
Graduate School of the EnvironmentYear of Award
2000Principal Supervisor
John PickardAdditional Supervisor 1
Don AdamsonAdditional Supervisor 2
Trish FanningRights
Copyright disclaimer: http://www.copyright.mq.edu.au Copyright Jennifer Selkirk-Bell 2000. Complete version suppressed due to copyright restrictions. However, on receipt of a Document Supply Request, placed with Macquarie University Library by another library, we will consider supplying a copy of this thesis. For more information on Macquarie University's Document Supply, please contact lib.interlib@mq.edu.auLanguage
EnglishJurisdiction
TasmaniaExtent
1 online resource (xiii, 222 pages) illustrations, mapsFormer Identifiers
mq:31241 http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/290659 2093790Usage metrics
Categories
Keywords
Sedimentation and depositionGeomorphologyErosionFrost -- Tasmania -- Macquarie IslandFrostGeomorphology -- Tasmania -- Macquarie IslandMorphotectonicsEolian processes -- Tasmania -- Macquarie IslandEolian processesSedimentation and deposition -- Tasmania -- Macquarie IslandErosion -- Tasmania -- Macquarie IslandMorphotectonics -- Tasmania -- Macquarie Island