anewmethod forzoning ofcoastalbarriersbased onhydro-geomorphological andclimatecriteria

this paper presents a new methodology for the zoning of littoral sand barriers on the basis oftheir groundwater dynamic responses to the local mean water level (mwl) climate. the method is based onthe comparison of the characteristic scales of the horizontal drainage and recharge processes. using theboussinesq equation and basic hydro-geomorphological parameters, this methodology identifies the climaticevents that markedly affect the groundwater dynamics across the barrier, along with the location of the mostaffected cross sections. the application of the methodology to the mar menor sand barrier shows that asignificant number of cross sections can be particularly vulnerable to the effects of local storm events typicalof the mediterranean coast during the spring and winter seasons. the location of the affected cross sections isanalyzed as a function of both the local mwl forcing and hydrogeological parameters. this case studyhighlights the possible use of the proposed methodology for land use planning and the environmentalmanagementof coastal sand bars.