Ebb Tidal Delta Breaking Wave Patterns at Whangamatā, New Zealand
Whangamatā ebb tidal delta is at the centre of an ongoing debate that is focused around the morphological changes of the ebb tidal delta.
Whangamatā ebb tidal delta (ETD) is at the centre of an ongoing debate that is focussed around the ETD's morphological changes. The relevance of these morphological changes is that the ETD at Whangamatā is a major component of what is considered to be an excellent surfbreak, being listed as one of 17 nationally significant surfbreaks in the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (DoC, 2010). As part of a broad need to understand the morphodynamics of the Whangamatā Bar, Waikato Regional Council (WRC) has requested the analysis of existing and recently acquired bathymetric data and an archive of wave climate data. The investigation included the analysis of wave breaking and wave driven circulation patterns over the bar.
