Broad classification of New Zealand inlets with emphasis on residence times

Abstract

Thirty-two New Zealand coastal inlets are tentatively classified into seven groups with probable similar circulation patterns, based on ratios of their physical parameters: volume, tidal compartment, entrance width, surface area, length, and average width. Eighteen of these have a predominant tidal flow, shown from their small ratio (ß < 4) of tidal compartment to total volume, and the cross-sectional areas of their entrances are controlled by the tidal flow: Moutere,

Luminescence dating of young coastal deposits from New Zealand using feldspar

“…The average volume of water exchanged during a tidal cycle is 25×10 6 m 3 (Heath, 1975) and fresh water input amounts to ~7 m 3 ·s -1 on average (Heath, 1976). The lagoon is located at the northernmost part of the Aupouri Peninsula in the far north of North Island (Fig.…”

“…The average tidal prism is 20×10 6 m 3 (Heath, 1975). Numerous small streams drain into the lagoon, resulting in an average freshwater input of ~4 m 3 ·s -1 from the 216 km 2 catchment (Heath, 1976). The dominant sediment source is thought to be these small streams (Armour and Kennedy, 2005).…”

Macroinvertebrate diet in intertidal seagrass and sandflat communities: A study using C, N, and S stable isotopes

“…1), with a mean above-ground biomass ranging from 50 (late winter) to 97 g dry weight (DW) nr 2 (late summer) and mean productivity ranging from 0.2 (winter) to 2.0 g DW nr 2 d" 1 (summer) (Ismail 2001). The site is characterised by well-sorted fine sandy sediments (<1% mud content) (Heiss et al 2000) and has a spring tidal range of 1.74m (Heath 1976). BlueskinBay (45°43'S, 170°35'E), a protected inlet northeast of Harwood, consists mainly of bare sand with some Z. capricorni cover in the centre of the inlet.…”

Morphometrically induced estuarine phytoplankton patchiness in Pelorus Sound, New Zealand

“…2B, D) and consequently poor coupling with the influence of river discharge as a transport mechanism. Under such conditions the residence time within the main channel is determined by the estuarine circulation pattern , and may be longer than the theoretical mean freshwater residence time of about 20 days (Heath 1976). With lower turbidity (Carter 1976) and the continuous release of nutrients from the sediments (Kaspar et al 1985;Gibbs et al 1992), the rapid production of phytoplankton biomass (Vincent et al 1989) is presumably balanced by tidal flushing, sedimentation, and grazing losses to benthic and pelagic herbivores, including farmed mussels, to maintain the low biomass observed (Fig.…”