Beach Processes, Figure 4 Examples of beaches in estuaries in Australia showing range of settings, sizes, sediments,
geomorphology, slopes, and wrack. (a) Narrow sandy moderately sloping mid-tidal to high-tidal microtidal beach with wrack at the
upper and lower limit of slope, bordering a sandy tidal flat; beach is cut into a sandy upland; Botany Bay, Georges River estuary,
southeastern Australia. (b) Steep sandy microtidal beach extending from low-tidal to high-tidal, and backed by low dune; shells
retrieved from the low-tidal part of the beach are shown on the sieve; Botany Bay, Georges River estuary, southeastern Australia.
(c) Sandy microtidal beach developed on a low-tidal chenier in the mid-tract of the Georges River estuary, southeastern Australia;
muddy tidal flats and mangroves occur to leeward of the chenier. (d) Microtidal sandy steeply sloping beach developed on the river
bank in the mid-tract of the Georges River estuary, southeastern Australia. (e) Laterally extensive sandy microtidal low-gradient beach
in the central part of the Hacking River estuary (Port Hacking), southeastern Australia; scattered wrack showing high-water levels;
beach backed by low dunes. (f) Small pocket sandy microtidal beach along the estuarine margin, Hacking River estuary (Port
Hacking), southeastern Australia; the beach is interspersed with rocky outcrops. (g) Microtidal sandy moderately sloping beach
developed along river bank in the estuary of Mallacoota Inlet, southeastern Australia. (h) Microtidal sandy beach developed along
a spit that emanates from a mid-estuary island in Mallacoota Inlet, southeastern Australia; the beach is bordered by a sandy tidal flat.
(i) Narrow sandy mid-tidal to high-tidal microtidal low-gradient beach, with lines of scattered wrack, bordering a slightly muddy sand
tidal flat; lower part of the beach is cut into a sandy upland; southeastern Tasmania. (j) Eroding coast of middle Peel-Harvey Estuary,
southwestern Australia (Semeniuk and Semeniuk, 1990) showing cliff cut into peripheral vegetation formations; pocket beaches are
developed between the micro-peninsulae. (k) Linear extensive microtidal sandy beach, the beach being part of the barrier-andlagoon system of the northern Nornalup Inlet estuary, southern Western Australia (Semeniuk et al., 2011). (l) Exit channel with tanninstained water at the mouth of an estuary, southern Western Australia; beach shows cliffing.
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geomorphology, slopes, and wrack. (a) Narrow sandy moderately sloping mid-tidal to high-tidal microtidal beach with wrack at the
upper and lower limit of slope, bordering a sandy tidal flat; beach is cut into a sandy upland; Botany Bay, Georges River estuary,
southeastern Australia. (b) Steep sandy microtidal beach extending from low-tidal to high-tidal, and backed by low dune; shells
retrieved from the low-tidal part of the beach are shown on the sieve; Botany Bay, Georges River estuary, southeastern Australia.
(c) Sandy microtidal beach developed on a low-tidal chenier in the mid-tract of the Georges River estuary, southeastern Australia;
muddy tidal flats and mangroves occur to leeward of the chenier. (d) Microtidal sandy steeply sloping beach developed on the river
bank in the mid-tract of the Georges River estuary, southeastern Australia. (e) Laterally extensive sandy microtidal low-gradient beach
in the central part of the Hacking River estuary (Port Hacking), southeastern Australia; scattered wrack showing high-water levels;
beach backed by low dunes. (f) Small pocket sandy microtidal beach along the estuarine margin, Hacking River estuary (Port
Hacking), southeastern Australia; the beach is interspersed with rocky outcrops. (g) Microtidal sandy moderately sloping beach
developed along river bank in the estuary of Mallacoota Inlet, southeastern Australia. (h) Microtidal sandy beach developed along
a spit that emanates from a mid-estuary island in Mallacoota Inlet, southeastern Australia; the beach is bordered by a sandy tidal flat.
(i) Narrow sandy mid-tidal to high-tidal microtidal low-gradient beach, with lines of scattered wrack, bordering a slightly muddy sand
tidal flat; lower part of the beach is cut into a sandy upland; southeastern Tasmania. (j) Eroding coast of middle Peel-Harvey Estuary,
southwestern Australia (Semeniuk and Semeniuk, 1990) showing cliff cut into peripheral vegetation formations; pocket beaches are
developed between the micro-peninsulae. (k) Linear extensive microtidal sandy beach, the beach being part of the barrier-andlagoon system of the northern Nornalup Inlet estuary, southern Western Australia (Semeniuk et al., 2011). (l) Exit channel with tanninstained water at the mouth of an estuary, southern Western Australia; beach shows cliffing.
BEACH PROCESSES
59