Long term beach erosion: Morphodynamic case study in Mont-Roig Beach, Spain

Abstract

Long term coastal erosion in beaches induced by long-shore sediment transport is an important aspect to be taken account in beach behavior. If anthropogenic impacts in coastal stretch (harbor, detached breakwaters, lack of sediments from streams and gullies, and urban pressure) interrupting long-shore currents and transport and decreasing sediment supply, the coastal equilibrium disappears. In this paper a case study is shown in order to analyze long term beach behavior in a coastal stretch affected by erosion. After a brief description of morphological aspects, causes and effects that have incidence on the case study area will be shown. General background and coastal works are detailed. The ideas based on a classical analysis of beach behavior are exposed and results obtained from bathymetric analysis and numerical models are showed. Morphology, wave climate, morphodynamics and sediment budget are evaluated and morphodynamic beach behavior is proposed. A diagnosis is made and mitigation proposal for coastal erosion will be proposed.