Asbtract

Beaches play a crucial role in protecting coastlines from wave energy, acting as the final barrier against coastal erosion. Sandy beaches are particularly susceptible to climate change effects, such as sea level rise and storminess. Understanding the dynamics of these environments amid ongoing changes is essential for designing effective adaptation measures and management strategies. However, the various factors influencing beach morphodynamics, coupled with their dynamic nature, render the integrated monitoring of these areas both resource-intensive and challenging in terms of time, human involvement, and economic resources. Therefore, long-term and high-frequency data-sets, including morphological and wave data, remain scarce in the literature. In this talk, I will present the preliminary results of the analysis of the Son Bou Beach (Menorca, Spain) data-set, with over 13 years (2011-2023) measurements, generated by the Modular Beach Integral Monitoring Systems (MOBIMS) from the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB). The analysis focuses on characterizing the mid and short-term response of Son Bou beach by means of the shoreline position-change detection. A negative trend in beach width was observed, as well as different responses along the beach. The presence of a coastal lagoon and its opening periods have a significant impact on the beach behavior.