Particle size characterisation of Holocene back-barrier sequences from North Atlantic coasts (SW Spain and SE England)

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of bivariate plots of grain size parameters (mean against sorting) in the reconstruction of Holocene environmental change in coastal environments where barrier formation has had an important control on sedimentation. Sites on the North Atlantic coast with differing histories of climate, sediment flux, sea-level change and barrier integrity are investigated to determine the general efficacy of this bivariate parameter model in distinguishing between openand closed-basin conditions, and in reviewing the significance of aperiodic high-energy geomorphic events in controlling late stage back-barrier sedimentation.