Artificial surfing reefs in the Mediterranean sea: An integrated solution for the erosion of the shoreline in Bahía Norte, Alicante

Abstract

Bahía Norte, located in Alicante, is an artificial coastal area that suffers from erosion, which disturbs the environment, the life and the economy of surrounding areas. In order to mitigate the erosion problem, a solution that provides coastal improvements and allows users to enjoy the structure is proposed. This solution develops artificial surfing reefs as a part of coastal protection management. An artificial surfing reef is not a new concept. However, it is an unknown and innovative idea in the Mediterranean Sea. Given that artificial surfing reefs are a reliable solution for the erosion suffered by the Mediterranean coastline. The project has five aims: controlling the sand loss, providing a recreational area for surfing, improving the security of the swimmers, revitalizing a depressed area and avoiding the visual noise of common structures of coastal defense. Artificial surfing reefs shape new driven current cells that cause an accretion in the shoreline by changing the pre-existing sea currents. Moreover, in order to improve surfing conditions, they fit the shape and height of the incoming waves. This research achieves an alteration of 420 meters of shore with a maximum salient formation of 50 meters, which fits perfectly to the situation of the artificial beach closed by groins. This research has also proved the importance of developing a careful study for the emplacement for this kind of reef being the distance from the structure to the shoreline one of the most determinant factors. It suggests that placing the artificial reef at 200 meters from the coast would be an adequate option.