DUNE MORPHOLOGY AND THE EVOLUTION OF SABLE-ISLAND, NOVA-SCOTIA, IN HISTORIC TIMES

We describe the dunescape and its evolution on Sable island, Nova Scotia, and consider the role of aeolian processes in developing and maintaining the present morphology of the island. The wind regime is characterized by strong winds from all directions, with a wind resultant towards 99 degrees E of north. The important dunes are the foredune backing the north beach and a series of parabolic dunes, migrating towards the ESE, which dominate the topography of the eastern part of the island. The contemporary dunescape is very dynamic, but the presence and age of paleosols within the dunes indicates that there were more stable conditions prior to 1650. Unequivocally documented changes in the last 200 years are short-term variations in the terminal spits and the loss of a line of dunes along the south shore. Overall the morphology of, and recent changes in, the dunes suggest that they are being reduced in area and that aeolian processes are transferring sand across the island from the west and northwest towards the east and southeast.