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Sediments of the Tay Estuary. VI. Sediments of the lower and outer reaches

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

J. McManus ,
A. T. Buller  and
C. D. Green
J. McManus
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Dundee
A. T. Buller
Affiliation:
Tay Estuary Research Centre, Dundee
C. D. Green
Affiliation:
Tay Estuary Research Centre, Dundee
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Synopsis

The main channels converge at Dundee and form a single outlet passing seawards of the Broughty Ferry-Tayport constriction. The coarsest sediments, often of gravels and shell debris, line the floor of the channel, which is locally cut into late-glacial marine clays. Extensive sandy tidal flats seaward of the constriction pass eastwards into dune-covered sand spits pointing into the North Sea. The entrance bar has a delta-like form which is slowly overriding the fine sands of the North Sea floor.

The median, sorting, and skewness of the sediments, and the covariation of several parameters follow patterns readily related to the physiographic features of the estuary.

Many of the beach and tidal flat areas are in a constant state of change, and repeated topographic surveying reveals the magnitude of these changes on a short time scale. The changes in sediment characteristics demonstrated by repeated sampling and analysis of material from one stretch of Broughty Ferry beach are substantial. Size-frequency distribution plots indicate that up to four sub-populations of grains are present. Natural combinations of these in different proportions produce systematic variations in values of the normally used sediment characterising statistics.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 78 , Issue 3-4 , 1980 , pp. s133 - s153
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1980

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