Use of the coastal morphology as a geoindicator of erosional susceptibility in cohesive coasts, Necochea, Buenos Aires.

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the geomorphology and hydrodynamic of the coastal area, to model the evolution of the coastal cohesive cliffs and the hanging dune barrier system along southern Buenos Aires coast. The morphology and evolution of coastal transverse profile are used as geoindicator of erosional susceptibility for planning and manage the coastal communities' development. The vulnerability to erosion increases from dune coasts, to stabilized dunes, cliffs covered with ramps, cliffs with ramps, cliffs with mixed ramps, inactive cliffs and active cliffs. Human intervention such as afforestation, urbanization, mining and interruption of the littoral drift by Quequen harbor groins, have altered the eolian and marine sand supply in the area, modifying the coastal profile configuration, trending to the disappearance of sand ramps.