The use of multilevel modeling in evaluating controls on erosion rates on inter-tidal shore platforms, Kaikoura Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand

Repeated measurements of erosion rates on seashore platforms on Kaikoura Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand were gathered over a 28-month period using a micro-erosion meter (MEM). The resultant hierarchical dataset was analysed using multilevel regression modeling. Results indicate that there is persistent variation of rates across measurement occasions within individual points and significant variation is also found across sites (or local ‘contexts’). There is little evidence for significant variation across individual points. The explanatory variables of platform/rock type, distance along platform and seasonality all have a significant effect on the erosion rates and aid the explanation of some of the variation in erosion rates across sites.