https://aslopubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.4319/lo.1989.34.4.0790

Coastal environments: An introduction to the physical, ecological and cultural systems of coastlines

Extensive Spanish dune areas were totally altered and destroyed in the course of massive tourist urbanization and road construction projects during the 1960's–1970's. Littoral drift interruption by harbour and marinas as well as sand mining for construction and agriculture purposes also contributed to accelerated dune erosion. Furthermore, human trampling, refuse dumping, excessive dune recreational pressure, use of all-terrain vehicles and cropping, are amongst the main causes contributing and accelerating physical and ecological degradation of most Spanish dune systems. Before 1988, Spanish coastal dunes were totally unprotected. The 1988 Spanish Shore Act (“Ley de Costas”) arose with the aim of regulating the coastal activities and preventing littoral destruction. The Spanish Shore Act protects all coastal dunes precludes their destruction by sand mining and any other form of development, . However, this law still does not prevent some of the above negative activities occuring. Furthermore, th...

https://bioone.org/journals/journal-of-coastal-research/volume-36/issue-sp1/1551-5036-36.sp1.325/Sand-dune-management-problems-and-techniques-Spain/10.2112/1551-5036-36.sp1.325.pdf

Sand dune management problems and techniques, Spain.

Proceedings of the International Conference on Modern Age Fortifications of the Western Mediterranean Coast, FORTMED 2015. Valencia, 15, 16, y 17 de octubre de 2015

Defensive architecture of the mediterranean xv to xviii centuries

The present study assesses coastal vulnerability to erosion processes along a 23-km-long coastal sector that presents different morphological features and grades of human occupation. Seven photogrammetric flights, at different scales, were used for reconstructing the coastal evolution from 1956 to 2001. Several sources were compiled to assess human activities and land uses in the coastal zones that were mapped and divided into four different types. As a further step, coastal vulnerability to erosion was assessed combining the potential coastal retreat with land-use type. More than one third of the studied coast presents a very high–medium risk level and many human structures and activities at Sanlucar village and La Ballena beach will be threatened by erosional processes in the near future.

Vulnerability assessment of a retreating coast in SW Spain

Climatic change-related impacts on coastal areas became an important issue in past decades and nowadays threaten many human settlements and activities. Coastal hazards are linked to flooding and erosion processes associated with sea level rise and the increased strength of hurricanes, cyclones and storms. The main aim of this work is the characterization of coastal storms in Cadiz (SW Spain) and the determination of their recurrence intervals and relationships with several regional cycles. Storm characterization was carried out using the Storm Power Index (Dolan and Davis, 1992) and five classes were obtained, from class I (weak events) to V (extreme events). Storm occurrence probability was 96% for class I (i.e. almost one event per year) to 3% for class V. The return period for class V was 25 years and ranged from 6 to 8 years for classes III and IV storms, e.g. significant and severe events. Classes I and II showed a period of recurrence ranging from 1 to 3 years. Stormy winter seasons were 2009/10 (12 events), 1995/6 and 2002/3 (with 10 events each) and 1993/4 (8 events). Approximately 40% of the change in monthly wave data and storminess indices was related to several teleconnection patterns, the most important drivers of change being the Arctic Oscillation (AO), 21.45%, and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), 19.65%. It is interesting to note that a great number of storms, larger storm duration and higher values of Storm Power Index were only observed when neutral to strong negative NAO and AO phases occurred at the same time (89 storms and 3355 h) and/or when there was an abrupt change of NAO and AO phases, i.e. they moved from a positive to negative phase without passing through a neutral phase. The results obtained in this work have wider applications for ocean and coastal management. It is suggested that methodology used can be easily applied in different areas where wave buoy data are available. In the same way, information obtained with this kind of work constitutes the first step in the development of coastal protection plans to preserve socio-economic activities from the impact of severe storm events.

/pdf/winter-wave-climate-storms-and-regional-cycles-the-sw-oqs3gol2e8.pdf

Winter wave climate, storms and regional cycles: the SW Spanish Atlantic coast

Dinámica litoral de una unidad fisiográfica completa: Sanlúcar-Rota

En la zona SO de la peninsula iberica se han formado extensas areas dunares que son alteradas por las actuaciones antropogenicas. Concretamente, en el termino municipal de Tarifa, Cadiz, existen dos casos de dunas moviles ecologicamente desestabilizadas, Valdevaqueros y Bolonia. En los anos 30, existia ya una incipiente acumulacion de arena en la parte alta de ambas playas. Desde los anos 40, estos parajes han sido objeto de numerosas actuaciones que han retardado el avance de las dunas hacia los pinares adyacentes. El uso turistico de las dunas a partir de 1960 contribuyo a originar su desestabilizacion ecologica. Esta situacion requiere una intervencion tecnica y medioambiental que de soluciones a medio-largo plazo, bajo una constante y correcta planificacion litoral integrada que prolongue la estabilizacion ecologica natural y el uso y disfrute racional de estos ecosistemas dunares.

Ecosistemas dunares en la provincia de Cádiz: Estabilizaciones en Bolonia y Valdevaqueros, T.M. Tarifa

Victoria beach (SW Spain) has a rocky flat at the northernmost zone. This has allowed to choose one profile and monitoring the changes induced by a single day storm. Topographic data taken during 21 days and different tendencies of the beach profile, as the accretion rate, were identified. The analysis is carried out by means of Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) techniques, in order to separate the spatial from the temporal variability of the beach profile data. Among the conclusions, it should be highlighted that a swing or oscillation point of the profile was found around the intertidal zone. Furthermore, the erosion has been irreversible in a short term, and the recuperation consisted only in a modification of the slopes of the emerged part, trying to assimilate them to the ones before the storm.

/pdf/short-term-variability-of-reef-protected-beach-profiles-an-4du8rtl4zj.pdf

Short term variability of reef protected beach profiles: an analysis using EOF

The University College of Marine, Nautical and Radioelectronics Engineering (EINAMAR) of the University of Cadiz is in the process of transition to the new educational system according to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). New technologies can be introduced in some professional subjects that are fundamental in the training of the future Merchant Marine Officer. The application of these technologies to real cases offers the possibility of improving student learning. Basic Maritime Training is a fundamental subject in the three nautical sciences degrees, and once approved it allows the professional title of Seaman to be used, issued by the Merchant Marine Directorate. Firstly, we will introduce an experimental practice having four academic hours which will provide an understanding of the fundamental concepts of navigation and pilotage. To do this, we used low cost GPS navigation receivers and the free tool of Google Earth. This practice is mandatory and will be assessed together with navigation practicals aboard the sail training vessel “Tartessos”, and other practical work of the subject, with a percentage of 20% of the final exam. The practice improves knowledge in the topics of navigation in the subject. Upon completing this course and fulfilling the objectives of the practice, the student will be more proficient, with the following providing an improvement in the learning process: a) Introduction to the new technologies and their applications in real and professional cases, which is fully compatible with the theoretical content of the subject. b) Learning and / or updating basic concepts of navigation and pilotage that have been taught during the lectures and applied objectively with the help and use of new technologies. c) Introduction to e-learning educational technology in this subject. d) The learning progress of the students will be checked during the practice. e) New training material and the use of new media will be facilitated in order to improve the learning and understanding of this subject. At the end of the course, we will assess the success of this initiative by means of survey analyses among the students, as well as the comparison of grading scales obtained in other years with those of the reference year.

/pdf/improving-the-learning-process-in-the-subject-of-basic-40g4cpfprw.pdf

Improving the learning process in the subject of basic maritime training using GPS and Google Earth as useful tools

Located in Tarifa, near the Strait of Gibraltar, the migration of Valdevaqueros dune was controlled by sand extractions for building purpose. As the Spanish Shore Act was approved in 1988, the sale of sand was forbidden and the dune started to move forward, burying the leeward pine wood and the only road to Maspalomas village. Consequently, six topographic levellings have been taken during the last eleven years. Sedimentary granulometries and meteorological features were taken into account. D50 values have been calculated for dune foot, windward and dune top. Wind speed threshold is estimated above 15 km/h. East winds are responsible for dune movement, whose advance rate has reached very high values (over 18 m/year). Slope and volumetric changes have been determined, providing a clearer explanation of the dune evolution.

/pdf/morphological-evolution-in-the-migrating-dune-of-42rwx258ag.pdf

Juan José Muñoz Pérez

Papers

Dinámica litoral de una unidad fisiográfica completa: Sanlúcar-Rota

Ecosistemas dunares en la provincia de Cádiz: Estabilizaciones en Bolonia y Valdevaqueros, T.M. Tarifa

Short term variability of reef protected beach profiles: an analysis using EOF

Improving the learning process in the subject of basic maritime training using GPS and Google Earth as useful tools

Morphological evolution in the migrating dune of Valdevaqueros (SW Spain) during an eleven-year period.