Changes in the Shoreline of Costa Rica South Caribbean During the Period 2005–2016

[Introduction]: Globally, 24 % of the planet's sandy beaches are eroding. In the case of Latin America, it is not a general problem, but it is severe in certain regions. On the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, 11 critical points with intense erosion are reported. [Objective]: to analyze the chang...

ver descrição completa

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Barrantes Castillo, Gustavo, Sandoval Murillo, Luis Fernando
Tipo de documento: artigo
Estado:Versão publicada
Data de publicação:2021
País:Costa Rica
Recursos:Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica
Repositório:Portal de Revistas UNA
Idioma:espanhol
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.www.una.ac.cr:article/15584
Acesso em linha:https://www.revistas.una.ac.cr/index.php/ambientales/article/view/15584
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Southern Caribbean of Costa Rica, coastal erosion, coastline, risk of coastal erosion
Caribe Sur de Costa Rica; erosión costera; línea de costa; riesgo por erosión costera.
Caribe Sul da Costa Rica, erosão costeira, linha costeira, risco de erosão costeira
Descrição
Resumo:[Introduction]: Globally, 24 % of the planet's sandy beaches are eroding. In the case of Latin America, it is not a general problem, but it is severe in certain regions. On the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, 11 critical points with intense erosion are reported. [Objective]: to analyze the changes in the coastline in the South Caribbean of Costa Rica, quantify the erosion and accretion processes, and understand the influence of the littoral currents on the sediment distribution. [Methodology]: It is based on the quantification of changes in the coastline for the period 2005-2016 through the DSAS extension, using the vegetation line on the coast as a proxy. [Results]: 54% of the coastline is stable, 23 % experience erosion, and 22 % accretion. There is a severe erosion process at the Limón airport, in the southeast of Westfalia, in Cahuita, Puerto Vargas, Manzanillo, and Gandoca. Beaches with significant accretion were located, such as Cieneguita to the north of the breakwater, Bananito beach, the beach near the Dixibre River, the beach between the mouth of the Estrella and Tuba rivers, and a small sector in Punta Cahuita. [Conclusions]: The southern Caribbean of Costa Rica experiences alternating erosion and accretion processes; the greatest changes are related to migration to the mouths of important river systems. Protected areas are among the most affected sites.