Physical and morphological changes to wetlands induced by coastal structures

Abstract

This document is focused on the establishment of a methodology to assess erosive processes in a coastal wetland. Particularly, it analyses the spit that separates the lagoon from the sea, elaborating a diagnostic process that helps to characterize the effect of the coastal infrastructure in morphological changes in a short and medium-term. Elements such as the morphology, the wave climate, the hydrodynamic and the evolution monitoring of coastline are key elements to understand whether a coastal wetland is on equilibrium or in the contrary, its state of vulnerability is such that in the slightest change in physics conditions will produce negative effects by the system instability. Generally, it describes the procedure performed to properly understand the relation between modifications of coastal processes and the response of a coastal environment. It uses numerical and theoretical models to assess the behavior of the waterfront, considering the historical changes that have occurred to ultimately predict variations of the spit as consequence of the establishment of new civil works. Finally, it concludes with this method of analysis that the evaluated study case will be affected by the works of action to be developed for facilitating the navigability conditions of a new port currently under construction in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia.