Machair is a Gaelic word which applies to those areas of ancient sand dune systems mainly in the Hebrides of Scotland, but also in west Ireland, where long dune grasses have been superseded and the topography is essentially a low, plain surface (Ritchie 1979). Its main characteristics are summarized below,
- 1.
A level, low-lying, surface at a mature stage of geomorphological evolution, which is part of a very old fully vegetated coastal sand-dune system and is normally marshy in winter.
- 2.
A base of blown sand which has a significant percentage of shell-derived materials and a narrow range of grain sizes.
- 3.
Lime-rich soils with a pH value normally greater than 7.0.
- 4.
A sandy grassland-type vegetation with long dune grasses and other early dune species having been eliminated.
- 5.
Evidence of a history of anthropic interference including heavy grazing (especially rabbits, sheep, and cattle), rotational cultivation and, in places, artificial drainage.
- 6....
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Bibliography
Angus S, Elliott MM (1992) Erosion in Scottish machair, with particular reference to the Outer Hebrides. In: Carter RWG et al (eds) Coastal dunes: geomorphology, ecology and management, for conservation. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 93–112
Carter RWG (1990) Geomorphology of the Irish coastal dunes. Catena Suppl 18:31–39
Gilbertson DD, Schwenninger JL, Kemp RA, Rhodes EJ (1999) Sand drift and soil formation along an exposed north Atlantic coastline: 14,000 years of diverse geomorphological, climatic and human impacts. J Archaeol Sci 26:439–469
Ritchie W (1979) Machair development and chronology in the Uists and adjacent islands. Proc R Soc Edinb 77B:107–122
Ritchie W (1985) Inter-tidal and sub-tidal organic deposits and sea level changes in the Uists, Outer Hebrides. Scott J Geol 21:161–176
Ritchie W, Whittington G (1994) Non-synchronous aeolian sand movements in the Uists: the evidence of the intertidal organic and sand deposits at Cladach Mór, North Uist. Scott Geogr Mag 110:40–46
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Ritchie, W. (2019). Machair. In: Finkl, C.W., Makowski, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93806-6_200
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93806-6_200
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-93805-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-93806-6
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences