THE CREATION OF THE DUNES

1. Longshore drift brings sediment onshore due to the prevailing SW wind, it is deposited by wave deposition

2. Sand dries out on the 150m wide beach face due to the 15⁰C average temperature

3. Aeolian action picks up the sand and moves it onshore by saltation, Suspension or Traction

4. The moving sand encounters the vegetation (spinifex, marram and Pingao) growing on the dunes. This creates a zone of zero wind and causes Aeolian deposition

5. The vegetation catches the sand and stabilises the dune, these then grow taller. At Muriwai the average dune height is 9m