The Recent Transgressive Evolution of a Paraglacial Estuary as a Consequence of Coastal Barrier Breakdown: Lower Chezzetcook Inlet, Nova Scotia, Canada

The lower Chezzetcook Inlet on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia is being affected by relatively rapid sea-level rise (c̠. 3.8 mm/year). Sediment released from eroding drumlins provides not only the source for protective gravel barriers but also material for infilling estuary lagoons. Since 1945, bot...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of coastal research 1990-10, p.564-590
Main Authors: Cartera, R.W.G., Orford, Julian D., Jennings, Simon C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
B COASTAL GEOMORPHOLOGY LITTORAL DRIFT
Drumlins
Estuaries
Geology
Gravel
Inlets
Pollen
Sandspits
Sea level rise
Sediments
Single lens reflex cameras
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Summary:The lower Chezzetcook Inlet on the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia is being affected by relatively rapid sea-level rise (c̠. 3.8 mm/year). Sediment released from eroding drumlins provides not only the source for protective gravel barriers but also material for infilling estuary lagoons. Since 1945, both lateral sand spits and flood-tide deltas have developed up-estuary, as a reaction to increased erosion of existing estuary mouth barriers, which are now exhausting their drumlin sediment sources. The evolution of these morpho-sedimentary structures can be significantly correlated with the rate of sea-level changes. Textural analysis of vibrocore sediments taken on both active and abandoned flood deltas, point to episodic sediment influx and/or remobilisation within the last 400 to 600 years, which may indicate breakdown phases in the seaward barrier and the release of large volumes of fine sediment into the lower estuary. It is suggested that the contribution of terrestrial sources of infilling, linked to European settlement of the area, might be less than reported previously.
ISSN:0749-0208
1551-5036