Coastline Evolution at Esmoriz-Furadouro Stretch (Portugal)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Taveira Pinto, F (Author) Other; Pais Barbosa, J (Author) Other; Veloso Gomes, F (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Coastal Research

No. SI 39

Pages: 673-677

ISSN: 0749-0208

Publisher: Coastal Education & Research Foundation, Inc.

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 6 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-QWK

Abstract (EN): The Portuguese coastal zone stretch (Esmoriz-Mira beach) has faced a number of serious hazards, namely coastal erosion, flooding, destruction of infrastructures and sea defences, dune breaching and overtopping. Based on aerial photographs taken between 1958 and 2002 the coastline evolution is analyzed here in terms of urban development, vegetation line retreat, overwash and overtopping and coastal defences associated with erosion processes and trends. To accomplish the main goal of this work a Geographical Information System (GIS) database called COMODY (Geographical Information System for COastal MOrphoDYnamic) was used. This geodatabase stores aerial photograph datasets, topographic surveys and data resulting from the onscreen analysis in a GIS environment, as well as wave climate, tide and sediment data. Some important conclusions can be drawn from the preliminary results achieved: the number of overwash/overtopping events increased in number, and especially in size, between 1958 and 1998; in the analysis period a high retreat of the foredune/vegetation line was observed at Maceda beach, reaching up to 200 m in some points; in some locations dunes were completely destroyed and artificial dunes had to be built inland from the original location; the number of coastal defence structures have increased from 1967 until now, mainly in urban waterfronts. This stretch is considered highly vulnerable, especially in the southern sand spit of Aveiro Lagoon where the formation of new inlets is expected. If this scenario occurs, the Aveiro Lagoon ecosystem will undergo deep changes; agriculture areas will be lost and infrastructures will be destroyed, causing serious social-economic problems.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5