Beach Profile Evolution
Oral
Gabriela Medellin, PhD
Researcher
CONACYT-Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Alec Torres-Freyermuth, PhD
Associate Professor
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico
We investigate the seasonal and intra-annual beach variability in the vicinity of coastal structures. The study area is located on a barrier island in the Yucatan peninsula. Coastal dynamics are highly controlled by sea breezes and Central American Cold Surges. A 3-year beach monitoring program, along a 2-km stretch of coast, has been carried out. Forcing conditions have been measured to correlate with measured beach changes. EOF analysis of the beach surveys show a clear increasing trend on both the beach width and subaerial volume during the whole period. However, beach rotation was found, especially during El Niño conditions.