Narrow Results

This paper analyses the different steps done during the process of defining a coastal management strategy for a highly eroding coast, Montroig (Spain) where existing ecological values have prevented classical coastal engineering actions such as beach nourishment. It covers the process from defining the existence of a problem to proposing solutions for the study area fulfilling the imposed requirements: to preserve the ecological values of the area (Posidonia bed), to solve the problems and to consider the actual littoral dynamics and the foreseen long-term coastal behaviour (several decades).

Beach erosion occurs at a number of time scales and is commonly studied either in plan or profile shape. The present state of the art has not paid enough attention to the effects of storm shapes on the resulting erosion. Issues such as the resulting erosion or profile shape as a function of wave storm shape, storm growth rate or decay rate, storm duration and storm direction have not been adequately solved. The aim of this paper is to examine the uncertainties in assessing beach erosion for the main wave storm features. This has included the definition of what is a wave storm, the calculation of statistical parameters from an inevitably limited storm sample and the dispersion in correlations between "main" variables such a storm duration and peak significant wave height during the storm. The performed morphodynamic calculations show a non-negligible sensitivity of eroded volumes and shoreline recession to wave and surge drivers, consistent with the present state of art.