Beach and nearshore morphology of Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau, New Zealand: Natural models of the continental shelf

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Abstract
The foreshore and nearshore morphology of beaches around Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau, New Zealand, have developed a distinctive shelf form in response to lake wave processes. The characteristics of this shelf form vary systematically with the degree of exposure to wave activity. Shelf width ranges between 10⋅5 and 87⋅2 m and extends to depths of 1⋅2–5⋅8 m beneath mean lake level. The sediment distribution across the shelf reflects the shore normal dissipation of wave energy. Sandy bed load sediments fine lakeward to the outer edge of the shelf. Over the shelf edge, on the steep offshore slope, muddy sediments are dropped out of suspension. Wave climate studies show the outer edge of the shelf to be formed in response to infrequent, high energy wave events during periods of low lake levels when waves are highly effective in disturbing sandy sediments on the outer shelf. Parallels are drawn between the morphology and sediments on lacustrine shelves and prograding oceanic continental shelves.

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