Barrier spit accretion model of Southern Sylt, German North Sea : Insights from ground-penetrating radar surveys and sedimentological data

Past to present Quaternary landform change : natural and anthropogenic drivers

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)



Description :
The stratigraphy, sedimentary structure, and architecture of the southern Sylt system were investigated through an integrated approach using high-resolution ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and sedimentological analyses of shallow sediment cores drilled at selected sites along the radar profiles. Based on detailed radar- and sediment-facies analysis the model of the southern barrier spit describes the major episodes of spit evolution. It shows that southerly barrier spit accretion into the tidal inlet was interrupted by erosional events during severe storm surges. Between distinct storm surges longshore currents along the west coast of Sylt provided the southern spit-end with sediment. Spit growth during this phase depended on the interval of storm surges. Annual winter storms set off erosional overwash processes which formed elongate washover channels. During stable stages of sea level horizontal beach deposits and foredunes were accumulated, the latter forming the present dune area of the southern island spit of Sylt.


Type de document :
Article de monographie

Source :
Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, issn : 0372-8854, 2014, vol. 58, n°. 3, Suppl., p. 137-161, nombre de pages : 25, Références bibliographiques : 3 p.

Date :
2014

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Stuttgart, Gebruder Borntraeger