Influence of a rocky platform in the profile morphology: Victoria Beach, Cadiz (Spain)

Abstract

The equilibrium profile concept is a useful tool for the knowledge and management of the coastline. This concept is based on several assumptions that rarely are satisfied in nature. One of these considers that the geologic setting has no influence in the profile morphology. The Victoria beach is a good example that questions this hypothesis. Muñoz-Pérez (1996) and Muñoz-Pérez et al. (1999) proposed an analytical expression of equilibrium beach profile for reefprotected beaches. In this work, data measured at Victoria beach are used to confirm the goodness of this model. The results obtained show that the occurrence of a horizontal rocky platform in subtidal zone modifies the beach slope and the seasonal evolution of the profile.

Reply to J.J. Muñoz-Perez et al. Comments on “Confirmation of beach accretion by grain-size trend analysis: Camposoto beach, Cádiz, SW Spain” by E. Poizot et al. (2013) Geo-Marine Letters 33(4)

“…The two sectors display quite different morphologies, beach profile lengths, slope gradients and morphodynamic conditions, as already recognized by Bernabeu et al (2002) and Avila-Serrano et al (2010). The reef-protected northern sector exhibits shorter and steeper beach profiles and an intermediate morphodynamic state characterized by plunging breakers.…”

“…The absence of a rock-shore platform and the steep slope of Camposoto beach due to the coarse grain size are thus major differences. The northern sector of Victoria beach, by contrast, shows an "artificial" profile with a relatively steep slope, which is only partly related to sediment grain size, but more essentially a function of wave transformation processes on the rock-shore platform (Bernabeu et al 2002;Avila-Serrano et al 2010). …”

Sinking of concrete modules into a sandy seabed: A case study

“…Geologically, the coast is formed of a bioclastic conglomerate, composed mainly of oyster and pectin shells, and dipping 10°to the southeast at Victoria Beach (Bernabeu-Tello et al, 2002). Furthermore, this formation is affected by gravity faults of small throw (6-10 m) (Gutierrez-Mas et al, 2003) that divide the littoral region into different zones.…”

Short Term Variability of Reef Protected Beach Profiles: An Analysis Using EOF

“…There is a plio-quaternary outcrop, a bioclastic conglomerate mostly composed by oysters and pecten shells, which lays in disconformity with the Pliocene rocks and is affected by gravity faults of small throw (Gutierrez-Mas et al, 2003). Moreover, the northernmost zone of Victoria beach presents a rocky platform located roughly at the lowest low water level (Bernabeu et al, 2002).…”