An assessment of coastal erosion in the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia

Abstract

Understanding sediment processes in the Minas Basin, Nova Scotia, is essential for determining the potential impacts tidal power extraction could have on the system. The main source of sediment to the Minas Basin is the eroding coastline, which is dominated by sandstone cliffs. This thesis uses Geographic Information System methods to generate highly resolved measurements of the locations and volumes of sediment input. Inputs from coastal sources have increased from 9.0 x 105 to 1.3 x 106 m3/yr since the 1960’s, as erosion rates have increased along most of the coastline. The largest sediment source is the northern shore of the Central Basin, from Five Islands to Parrsboro. The amount of sediment entering the Minas Basin is enough to overwhelm the system’s ability to remove it, suggesting that changes in sediment bed texture cannot be predicted from changes in bottom current speeds alone.