MORPHODYNAMICS OF BEACHROCK INFECTED BEACHES: VATERA BEACH, NORTHEASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

摘要

The objective of the present study is to study the effects of beachrocks (I.e. Of coastal formations consisting of beach material consolidated in situ by mainly carbonate cements) on beach morphodynamics. Towards this objective a detailed study of the beachrock-infected beach of Vatera Bay (Lesvos, Greece) has been carried out using both field sedimentological and morphological data and 1-D morphodynamic modelling. The results of the study show that (a) the beachrock spatial distribution along the Vatera beach is controlled by wave energy levels and beach sediment size; (b) beachrock-infected beaches are characterised by relatively small variability in the morphology of their upper part and their ‘mean’ profile is controlled by that of the exposed and/or buried beachrock surface and ? beachrocks have significant impacts on beach morphodynamics as they facilitate the formation of characteristic morphological features (e.g. ‘scour steps’ at the offshore beachrock margins) and increase beach erosion.