Resource type
Thesis type
(Thesis) M.Sc.
Date created
2012-04-12
Authors/Contributors
Author (aut): Nelson, Mark Christopher
Abstract
Sediment yields in the Southern Alps of New Zealand are among the highest in the world due to high annual precipitation, rapid uplift, weak bedrock and episodic earthquakes. Two neighbouring watersheds, those of the Poerua and Waitangitaona rivers, were studied to determine the impact landslides have on sediment yield. Both watersheds have been recently disturbed by landslides, 1) a large rock avalanche from Mt. Adams in the Poerua River watershed and 2) a failing slope known as the “Gaunt Creek slip” in the Waitangitaona watershed. I conducted a ground penetrating radar survey of the lower Waitangitaona River valley and a dGPS topographic survey of the lower Poerua River valley to determine average sediment yields on different timescales. The estimated sediment yields, which are among the highest in the world, are controlled by differences in the time, size, and character of the landslides that have perturbed the fluvial system.
Document
Identifier
etd7437
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author.
Scholarly level
Supervisor or Senior Supervisor
Thesis advisor (ths): Clague, John
Member of collection
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