Skip to main content

Beaches of Cadiz

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Spanish Coastal Systems

Abstract

The coast of Cadiz province (SW Spain) constitutes a complex system with a wide variety of hydrodynamic and geological-geomorphological conditions. Morphodynamic behaviour of beaches in this area shows more dissipative states in the Atlantic coast and more reflective states in the Mediterranean coast. Recent shoreline trends indicate a relatively stable behaviour along most part of Cadiz coast over the last decades, although there are numerous sectors with a clearly erosive trend, mainly in the Northern half of the province. The great spatial and temporal variability of shoreline changes observed is related to the heterogeneity of the coast, as well as to the diversity of factors contributing to erosion processes on each sector. Several coastal hazard hotspots appear along the study zone, mostly related to extreme meteorological events and short-term trends, namely coastal erosion and flooding. The frequency and severity of the risks derived from these hazards have increased over the last decades, mainly due to the increased anthropogenic pressure and urban development on the coast. The coast of Cadiz province (SW Spain) constitutes a complex system with a wide variety of hydrodynamic and geological-geomorphological conditions. Morphodynamic behaviour of beaches in this area shows more dissipative states in the Atlantic coast and more reflective states in the Mediterranean coast. Recent shoreline trends indicate a relatively stable behaviour along most part of Cadiz coast over the last decades, although there are numerous sectors with a clearly erosive trend, mainly in the Northern half of the province. The great spatial and temporal variability of shoreline changes observed is related to the heterogeneity of the coast, as well as to the diversity of factors contributing to erosion processes on each sector. Several coastal hazard hotspots appear along the study zone, mostly related to extreme meteorological events and short-term trends, namely coastal erosion and flooding. The frequency and severity of the risks derived from these hazards have increased over the last decades, mainly due to the increased anthropogenic pressure and urban development on the coast.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alonso, C., Gracia, F. J., Rodríguez-Polo, S., & Martín-Puertas, C. (2015). El registro de eventos energéticos marinos en la Bahía de Cadiz durante épocas históricas. In J. Rodríguez-Vidal (Ed.), Eventos energéticos marinos históricos y ocupación costera en el Golfo de Cadiz. Rev C & G 29 (1–2) (pp. 95–117).

    Google Scholar 

  • Anfuso, G., Achab, M., Cultrone, G., & López-Aguayo, F. (1999). Utilidad de la distribución de minerales pesados y de los análisis granulométricos en el estudio de la dinámica litoral: aplicación al tramo costero entre Sanlúcar de Barrameda y Rota (Cadiz, suroeste de la península Ibérica). Bol Inst Esp Oceanogr, 15(1–4), 243–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anfuso, G., & Benavente, J. (2006). Approximation to the classification and morphodynamic behaviour of the beaches between Chipiona and Rota (Cadiz, SW Spain). Cien Mar, 32(4), 605–616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anfuso, G., Benavente, J., Gracia, F. J., & Del Río, L. (2006). Morphodynamic characterization of Cadiz beaches (SW Spain). Journal of Coastal Research, 48, 8–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anfuso, G., Benavente, J., Gracia, F. J., & Del Río, L. (2008). An approximation to short-term evolution and sediment transport pathways along the littoral of Cadiz Bay (SW Spain). Environment Geology, 56, 69–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anfuso, G., & Del Río, L. (2003). Cuantificación de las variaciones volumétricas y evolución del litoral entre Chipiona y Rota (Cadiz) durante el periodo 1996–1998. Rev C&G, 17(3–4), 17–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anfuso, G., Domínguez, L., & Gracia, F. J. (2007). Short and medium-term evolution of a coastal sector in Cadiz SW Spain. CATENA, 70(2), 229–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anfuso, G., & Gracia, F. J. (2005). Morphodynamic characteristics and short term evolution of a coastal sector in SW Spain: Implications for coastal erosion management. Journal of Coastal Research, 21(6), 1139–1153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anfuso, G., Rangel-Buitrago, N., Cortés-Useche, C., Iglesias-Castillo, B., & Gracia, F. J. (2016). Characterization of storm events along the Gulf of Cadiz (eastern central Atlantic Ocean). International Journal of Climatology, 36, 3690–3707.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Battjes, J. A. (1974). Surf similarity. In Proceedings 14th Coastal Engineering Conference (pp. 446–480). ASCE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bello-Smith, A., Cerasuolo, G., Perales, J. A., & Anfuso, G. (2011). Environmental sensitivity maps: The north coast of Gibraltar Strait example. Journal of Coastal Research, 64, 875–879.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, J., Anfuso, G., Del Río, L., Gracia, F. J., & Reyes, J. L. (2006a). Evolutive trends of nourished beaches in SW Spain. Journal of Coastal Research, 39, 765–769.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, J., Del Río, L., Anfuso, G., Gracia, F. J., & Reyes, J. L. (2002a). Utility of morphodynamic characterization in the prediction of beach damage by storms. Journal of Coastal Research, 36, 56–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, J., Del Río, L., & Gracia, F. J. (2015a). Riesgos de erosión costera en el litoral de Cadiz: problemática actual y perspectivas futuras. In J. Rodríguez-Vidal & M. C. Núñez-Lozano (Eds.), El litoral de Andalucía (pp. 65–91). Norma y naturaleza: Serv Publ Universidad de Huelva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, J., Del Río, L., Gracia, F. J., & Martínez-del-Pozo, J. A. (2006b). Coastal flooding hazard related to storms and coastal evolution in Valdelagrana spit (Cadiz Bay Natural Park, SW Spain). Continental Shelf Research, 26(9), 1061–1076.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, J., Del Río, L., Plomaritis, T. A., & Menapace, W. (2013). Impact of coastal storms in a sandy barrier (Sancti Petri, Spain). Journal of Coastal Research, 65, 666–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, J., & Gracia, F. J. (2003). Modelización del transporte sedimentario longitudinal en playas de poca energía. Playa de Vistahermosa (Bahía de Cadiz). Geogaceta, 33, 7–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, J., Gracia, F. J., Del Río, L., Anfuso, G., & Rodríguez-Ramírez, A. (2015b). Morphodynamic characterization of the Spanish beaches of the Gulf of Cadiz. Boletin Geologico y Minero, 126(2–3), 409–426.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, J., Gracia, F. J., & López-Aguayo, F. (2000). Empirical model of morphodynamic beachface behaviour for low-energy mesotidal environments. Marine Geology, 167, 375–390.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benavente, J., Martínez-del-Pozo, J. A., Gracia, F. J., Reyes, J. L., & Del Río, L. (2002b). Procesos de desbordamiento en la flecha litoral de Sancti-Petri (Bahía de Cadiz): riesgos asociados. In E. Serrano & A. García de Celis (Eds.), Estudios Recientes en Geomorfología (pp. 23–32). Valladolid: Univ Valladolid.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantabria, I. H. (2014). Website of the viewer of C3E Project (Climate Change in the Spanish Coast). www.c3e.ihcantabria.com.

  • Castelle, B., Dodet, G., Masselink, G., & Scott, T. (2017). A new climate index controlling winter wave activity along the Atlantic coast of Europe: The West Europe pressure anomaly. Geophysical Research Letters, 44, 1384–1392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, J. A. G., Anfuso, G., & Del Río, L. (2009). Bad beach management: European perspectives. Geological Society of America Series, 460, 167–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, R. G. (1973). Heuristic models of sand transport in the surf zone. In Proceedings of the Conference on Engineering Dynamics in the Surf Zone (pp. 208–214). Sydney, NSW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Río, L., Benavente, J., Gracia, F. J., Alonso, C., & Rodríguez-Polo, S. (2015a). Anthropogenic influence on spit dynamics at various timescales: Case study in the Bay of Cadiz (Spain). In G. Randazzo, D. W. T. Jackson & J. A. G. Cooper (Eds.), Sand and gravel spits (pp. 123–128). Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Río, L., Benavente, J., Gracia, F. J., & Chica, J. A. (2015b). Riesgos de erosión en la costa de Cadiz: gestión actual y perspectivas futuras. Geo-Temas, 15, 149–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Río, L., Gracia, F. J., & Benavente, J. (2009). Mass movements and cliff retreat along the SW Spanish coast. Journal of Coastal Research, 56, 717–721.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Río, L., Gracia, F. J., & Benavente, J. (2013). Shoreline change patterns in sandy coasts: A case study in SW Spain. Geomorphology, 196, 252–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Del Río, L., Montes, J. B., Plomaritis, T. A., Martinelli, A. B. M., & Benavente, J. (2017). Aplicación de modelos empíricos para el análisis de la inundación por temporales en playas con diferentes regímenes de marea y oleaje. Geo-Temas, 16, 131–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Río, L., Plomaritis, T. A., Benavente, J., Valladares, M., & Ribera, P. (2012). Establishing storm thresholds for the Spanish Gulf of Cadiz coast. Geomorphology, 143–144, 13–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorman, C. E., Beardsley, R. C., & Limeburner, R. (1995). Winds in the strait of Gibraltar. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 121, 1903–1921.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Lafuente, J., Delgado, J., Criado-Aldeanueva, F., Bruno, M., Del Río, J., & Vargas, J. M. (2006). Water mass circulation on the continental shelf of the Gulf of Cadiz. Deep Sea Research, 2(53), 1182–1197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez Ponce, C., Borja, F., Lagóstena, L., López, J. J., Ruiz, J. A., & Borja, C. (1997). Primeras fases de la evolución de la flecha litoral de Valdela-grana (El Puerto de Santa María, Cadiz). Datos arqueológicos. In J. Ro-dríguez-Vidal (Ed.), Cuaternario ibérico (pp. 165–167). AEQUA: Huelva.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Pina, G., Fages, L., Ramírez, J. L., Muñoz-Pérez, J. J., & Enríquez, J. (2006). A critical review of beach restoration projects in the northern coast of Cadiz (Spain) after thirteen years. Coastal Engineering Procceding, 1(30), 4167–4178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gourlay, M. R. (1968). Beach and dune erosion tests. Delft Hydraulics Lab Report M935/M936.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goy, J. L., Zazo, C., Silva, P. G., Lario, J., Bardají, T., & Somoza, L. (1995). Evaluación geomorfológica del comportamiento neotectónico del Estrecho de Gibraltar (Zona Norte) durante el Cuaternario (pp. 51–69). SECEG, Madrid: IV Coloquio Internacional sobre el enlace fijo del Estrecho de Gibraltar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gracia, F. J., Alonso, C., Martínez-del-Pozo, J. A., Del Río, L., Anfuso, G., & Benavente, J. (2004). Evolución geomorfológica holocena e histórica de la Ensenada de Los Lances (Tarifa, Cadiz). In R. Blanco, J. López, & A. Pérez-Alberti (Eds.), Procesos geomorfológicos y evolución costera (pp. 255–269). Santiago de Compostela: Univ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gracia, F. J., Del Río, L., Alonso, C., Benavente, J., & Anfuso, G. (2006). Historical evolution and present state of the coastal dune systems in the Atlantic coast of Cadiz (SW Spain): Palaeoclimatic and environmental implications. Journal Coastal Research, 48, 55–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gracia, F. J., Rodríguez-Vidal, J., Belluomini, G., Cáceres, L. M., Benavente, J., & Alonso, C. (2008). Diapiric uplift of an MIS 3 marine deposit in SW Spain. Implications in Late Pleistocene sea level reconstruction and palaeogeography of the Strait of Gibraltar. Quaternary Science Reviews, 27(23–24), 2219–2231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gracia, F. J., Rodríguez-Vidal, J., Benavente, J., Cáceres, L., & López-Aguayo, F. (1999). Tectónica cuaternaria en la Bahía de Cadiz. In L. Pallí & C. Roqué (Eds.), Avances en el estudio del Cuaternario español (pp. 67–74). University of Girona.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guza, R. T., & Inman, D. L. (1975). Edge waves and beach cusps. Journal of Geophysical Research, 80, 2997–3012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houser, C., Wernette, P., Rentschlar, E., Jones, H., Hammond, B., & Trimble, S. (2015). Post-storm beach and dune recovery: Implications for barrier island resilience. Geomorphology, 234, 54–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Komar, P. D. (2000). Coastal erosion—Underlying factors and human impacts. Shore and Beach, 68(1), 3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lentz, E. E., & Hapke, C. J. (2011). Geologic framework influences on the geomorphology of an anthropogenically modified barrier island: Assessment of dune/beach changes at Fire Island, New York. Geomorphology, 126, 82–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manno, G., Anfuso, G., Messina, E., Williams, A. T., Suffo, M., & Liguori, V. (2016). Decadal evolution of coastline armouring along the Mediterranean Andalusia littoral (South of Spain). Ocean Coast Manage, 124, 84–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez, J. A., Anfuso, G., & Gracia, F. J. (2001). Recent evolution of a tidal delta in Cadiz Bay (SW Spain) due to human interventions. In E. Özhan (Ed.), Proceedings of MEDCOAST’01 (Vol. 3, pp. 1425–1433). Hammamet, Tunisia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masselink, G., & Short, A. D. (1993). The effect of tide range on beach morphodynamics and morphology: A conceptual beach model. Journal Coastal Research, 9(3), 785–800.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montes, J., Benavente, J., & Del Río, L. (2016). Caracterización preliminar y evolución reciente de las playas de la Bahía de Algeciras (Cadiz). In J. J. Durán, M. Montes, A. Robador, & A. Salazar (Eds.), Comprendiendo el relieve: del pasado al futuro (pp. 539–545). Madrid: IGME.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montes, J., Del Río, L., & Benavente, J. (2017). Caracterización morfodinámica y cambios recientes en las playas mediterráneas de la costa de Cadiz. Geo-Temas, 16, 63–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz-Pérez, J. J., de San, López, Román, B., Gutiérrez-Mas, J. M., Moreno, L., & Cuena, G. J. (2001). Cost of beach maintenance in the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Spain). Coast English, 42(2), 143–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz-Pérez, J. J., Román-Sierra, J., Navarro-Pons, M., Neves, M. G., & Del Campo, J. M. (2014), Comments on “Confirmation of beach accretion by grain-size trend analysis: Camposoto beach, Cadiz, SW Spain” by E Poizot et al (2013) Geo-Marine Letters 33(4). Geo-Marine Letters, 34(1): 75–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plomaritis, T. A., Benavente, J., Laiz, I., & Del Río, L. (2015). Variability in storm climate along the Gulf of Cadiz: The role of large scale atmospheric forcing and implications to coastal hazards. Climate Dynamics, 45, 2499–2514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poizot, E., Anfuso, G., Méar, Y., & Bellido, C. (2013). Confirmation of beach accretion by grain-size trend analysis: Camposoto beach, Cadiz, SW Spain. Geo-Mar Letters, 33(4), 263–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puig, M., Del Río, L., Plomaritis, T. A., & Benavente, J. (2014). Influence of storms on coastal retreat in SW Spain. Journal Coastal Research, 70, 193–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puig, M., Del Río, L., Plomaritis, T. A., & Benavente, J. (2016). Contribution of storms to shoreline changes in mesotidal dissipative beaches: case study in the Gulf of Cadiz (SW Spain). Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 16, 2543–2557.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rangel-Buitrago, N., & Anfuso, G. (2011a). Coastal storm characterization and morphological impacts on sandy coasts. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 36(15), 1997–2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rangel-Buitrago, N., & Anfuso, G. (2011b). Morphological changes at Levante Beach (Cadiz, SW Spain) associated with storm events during the 2009–2010 winter season. Journal of Coastal Research, 64, 1886–1890.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rendón, J. J., Gracia, F. J., & Del Río, L. (2009). Los procesos de erosión hídrica en el retroceso erosivo de acantilados sobre rocas blandas en la provincia de Cadiz. In A. Romero, F. Belmonte, F. Alonso, & F. López (Eds.), Advances in Studies on Desertification (pp. 387–390). Murcia: Univ Murcia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribera, P., Gallego, D., Peña-Ortiz, C., Del Río, L., Plomaritis, T. A., & Benavente, J. (2011). Reconstruction of Atlantic historical winter coastal storms in the Spanish coasts of the Gulf of Cadiz, 1929–2005. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 11, 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Polo, S., Gracia, F. J., Benavente, J., & Del Río, L. (2009). Geometry and recent evolution of the Holocene beach ridges of the Valdelagrana littoral spit (Cadiz Bay, SW Spain). Journal of Coastal Research, 56, 20–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Short, A. D. (1999). Wave-dominated beaches. In A. D. Short (Ed.), Beach and Shoreface Morphodynamics (pp. 173–203). Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Short, A. D. (2006). Australian beach systems—Nature and distribution. Journal of Coastal Research, 22(1), 11–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Talavera, L., Del Río, L., Benavente, J., Barbero, L., & López-Ramírez, J. A. (2017). Eficiencia del uso de drones en la evaluación de cambios costeros: primeros resultados en la playa de Camposoto (San Fernando, SO de España). Geo-Temas, 16, 127–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trenhaile, A. S. (1997). Coastal dynamics and landforms (p. 382). Oxford: Clarendon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, I. (1993). Water table outcropping on macro-tidal beaches: A simulation model. Marine Geology, 115, 227–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, I. (1995). Simulating transported the influence of groundwater seepage on sediment by the sweep of the swash zone across macro-tidal beaches. Marine Geology, 125, 153–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vallejo, I., Sánchez, E., & Ojeda, J. (2000). Transformaciones territoriales y de la dinámica litoral en la Bahía de Algeciras: Aplicaciones de los SIG y la Teledetección (pp. 148–163). Tecnologías geográficas para el desarrollo sostenible: Univ Alcalá.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek, S., Barnard, P. L., Fletcher, C. H., Frazer, N., Erikson, L., & Storlazzi, C. D. (2017). Doubling of coastal flooding frequency within decades due to sea-level rise. Scientific Reports, 7, 1399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vousdoukas, M. I., Almeida, L. P. M., & Ferreira, Ó. (2012). Beach erosion and recovery during consecutive storms at a steep-sloping, meso-tidal beach. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 37, 583–593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, L. D., Chappell, J., Thom, B. G., Bradshow, M. P., & Cowell, P. (1979). Morphodynamics of reflective and dissipative beach and inshore systems: Southeastern Australia. Marine Geology, 32, 105–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, L. D., & Short, A. D. (1984). Morphodynamic variability of surf zones and beaches: A synthesis. Marine Geology, 56, 93–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, L. D., Short, A. D., & Green, M. O. (1985). Short term changes in the morphodynamic states of beaches and surf zones: An empirical predictive model. Marine Geology, 62, 339–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, L. D., Short, A. D., Boon, J. D., Hayden, B., Kimball, S., & List, J. H. (1987). The morphodynamic effects of incident wave groupiness and tide range on an energetic beach. Marine Geology, 74(1–2), 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zazo, C. (2006). Cambio climático y nivel del mar: la Península Ibérica en el contexto global. Rev C&G, 20(3–4), 115–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zazo, C., Dabrio, C. J., Goy, J. L., Lario, J., Cabero, A., Silva, P. G., et al. (2008). The coastal archives of the last 15 ka in the Atlantic-Mediterranean Spanish linkage area: Sea level and climate changes. Quaternary International, 181, 72–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura Del Río .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Del Río, L. et al. (2019). Beaches of Cadiz. In: Morales, J. (eds) The Spanish Coastal Systems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93169-2_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics