An investigation of historical sediment accumulation in
Abstract
Three 60 cm sediment cores were taken from several locations within the intertidal zone of the Medway Estuary. The sediment cores were dated and the data used to determine sediment accumulation rates in these areas. The method employed was a combination of 210PB and 137Cs dating and a penetrative x-ray technique. In addition, stratigraphic data was collected from the cores, showing differing depths of the redox boundary, sediment composition, and variances in accumulation rates, since 1957 (time datum). The estuary was last anthropogenically modified within 50yrs of the present, resulting in erosion of mature marshland, and development of new accreting zones. Each core came from a different area of the estuary, where there was known accretion. The accumulation rates were found to vary spatially, and overtime, due to changes in the use, and response of the estuary to sediment supply. The core from the northern reaches of the estuary at Kingsnorth Peninsular had an increase in accumulation rate the upper core. The area of least accumulation was at Bedlams Bottom in the southeast corner of the lower estuary.
- Publication:
-
EGS - AGU - EUG Joint Assembly
- Pub Date:
- April 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003EAEJA....13355T