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Article

Dune Systems’ Characterization and Evolution in the Andalusia Mediterranean Coast (Spain)

by
Rosa Molina
1,
Giorgio Manno
2,*,
Carlo Lo Re
2 and
Giorgio Anfuso
1
1
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
2
Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bd. 8, 90128 Palermo, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Water 2020, 12(8), 2094; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082094
Submission received: 26 May 2020 / Revised: 16 July 2020 / Accepted: 21 July 2020 / Published: 23 July 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Dynamic and Evolution)
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Abstract

:
This paper deals with the characterization and evolution of dune systems along the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia, in the South of Spain, a first step to assess their relevant value in coastal flood protection and in the determination of sound management strategies to protect such valuable ecological systems. Different dune types were mapped as well as dune toe position and fragmentation, which favors dune sensitivity to storms’ impacts, and human occupation and evolution from 1977 to 2001 and from 2001 to 2016. Within a GIS (Geographic Information System) project, 53 dune systems were mapped that summed a total length of ca. 106 km in 1977, differentiating three dune environments: (i) Embryo and mobile dunes (Type I), (ii) grass-fixed dunes (Type II) and (iii) stabilized dunes (Type III). A general decrease in dunes’ surfaces was recorded in the 1977–2001 period (−7.5 × 106 m2), especially in Málaga and Almería provinces, and linked to dunes’ fragmentation and the increase of anthropic occupation (+2.3 × 106 m2). During the 2001–2016 period, smaller changes in the level of fragmentation and in dunes’ surfaces were observed. An increase of dunes’ surfaces was only observed on stable or accreting beaches, both in natural and anthropic areas (usually updrift of ports).

1. Introduction

Human interest in coastal processes and evolution has greatly increased in recent decades due to the increment of human developments recorded in coastal areas [1] and the impacts of extreme events, such as hurricanes and storms [2,3], the effects of which are enhanced by sea level rise and other climatic change-related processes, such as the increasing height of extreme waves, or changes in the tracks, frequency and intensity of storms [4,5,6,7]. Coastal development, which is essentially linked to tourism—one of the world’s largest industries [8]—continues to increase, and some 50% of the world’s coastline is currently under pressure from excessive development [1]. In Europe, the rapid expansion of urban artificial surfaces in coastal zones during the 1990–2000 period [9] has occurred in the Mediterranean and South Atlantic areas, namely Portugal (34% increase) and Spain (18%), followed by France, Italy and Greece.
Activities and infrastructures related to tourism and other human developments too (e.g., fishing and industrial activities) are significantly affected by the impacts of storms and hurricanes that, over the past century, have caused huge economic losses along with high mortality rates along the world’s coastlines [10,11,12,13]. Coastal erosion and flooding processes have reduced beach and dune ridges’ width and produced the loss of associated touristic, aesthetic and natural values [14,15,16,17]. Beach erosion/accretion cycles are often recorded at an inter-annual time scale and are related to seasonal wave climate variations due to temporal and spatial distributions of high-latitude storms and hurricanes/typhoons [3,18,19,20,21,22]. Erosion is observed after storm events, at high latitudes recorded during winter months, but beach recovery takes place during fair weather conditions, which is known as “seasonal” beach behavior [10,23], and in general happens at longer time intervals, from weeks to months [24,25]. Hence, natural beach recovery guarantees the reformation of a wide beach and its associated protection function and touristic use, but dune response to erosive events is very different. Meanwhile, dune erosion is always very rapid and time located accretion is a process that usually takes place with low rates over a long time, from several months to years in the Andalusia Atlantic littoral [26]. Hence, the determination of coastal dune characteristics, behavior and evolution need special attention in the attempt to reduce erosive/flooding processes’ impacts on natural and urbanized coasts. Several recent investigations [27,28] have identified dunes as one of the most relevant coastal ecosystems as a natural defense able to reduce flood sensitivity/vulnerability and hence, dunes’ maintenance/emplacement has been considered as an effective coastal protection measure included among possible “Disaster Risk Reduction” (DRR) strategies in several European directives [28,29,30,31,32]. In fact, dune ridges protect large sections of low-lying coasts against flooding during extreme storms [9,33,34], and hence, lateral dune continuity and level of fragmentation are extremely relevant [35,36,37,38].
This paper is the first one that deals with the characterization and evolution of all dune systems along the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia (South of Spain), and this is a first step to assess their great ecological value, sensitivity and relevance in coastal flood protection. Different dune types have been mapped as well as their level of fragmentation (by means of a new index proposed in this paper) and present human occupation and evolution from 1977 to 2016. Results obtained are of relevance to enhance the general database on dune characteristics along the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia and the possibility of use ecosystem-based solutions in coastal protection along with, or instead of, traditional engineering approaches [27,28].

2. Study Area

Located in South Spain, the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia administratively belongs to the provinces of Cádiz, Málaga, Granada and Almería (Figure 1). It has a prevailing rectilinear E-W outline, with two NE-SW easterly facing sectors, i.e., the Gibraltar Strait and the Almería easternmost coastal sector (Figure 1). It is a micro-tidal environment (tidal range < 20 cm) with a total length of ca. 546 km, including rocky sectors (ca. 195 km) and intermediate to reflective beaches (ca. 350 km) [39], usually composed of medium to coarse dark sands and/or pebbles. Dune systems, which have a total length of ca. 76 km, are especially observed along the provinces of Cádiz and Almería ( Figure 1 and Figure 2) [25,40,41].
The Betic Range, a tectonically active mountain chain that, at places, reaches relevant elevations higher than 2200 m above sea level (m a.s.l.) close to the coast, determines coastal orography and morphology, forming cliffs, embayments and promontories. Several small coastal plains are especially extended at the mouth of short rivers and ramblas (seasonal streams) draining the chain, the most important being the Guadiaro, Guadalhorce, Guadalfeo, Adra and Andarax rivers (Figure 1 and Figure 2). In the past decades, river basin regulation plans devoted to water management for tourist and agricultural purposes have enhanced the construction of dams and reservoirs that have reduced sediment supplies to the coast and have promoted coastal retreat in most deltas [39,42,43,44].
Large coastal towns are Málaga (>500,000 inhabitants), Almería (ca. 200,000 inhabitants) and the tourist towns along the western part of Costa del Sol area, namely Marbella (150,000 inhabitants), Fuengirola (80,000) and Torremolinos (70,000). Málaga is the province that has experienced the most important coastal occupation, in particular due to the construction of structures related to national and international tourism [45]. Main commercial ports are located at Almería, Algeciras, Cádiz and Málaga, and several marinas at Costa del Sol [46,47,48].
Concerning weather characteristics, the provinces of Cádiz, Málaga and Granada have a Mediterranean climate with sub-tropical characteristics, with coastal orientation and the Betic Chain favoring average annual temperature of ca. 13 °C and, in July and August, the average is 19 °C. Annual rainfall ranges from 400 to 900 mm, with the most abundant values observed at Gibraltar Strait. The province of Almería presents a Mediterranean climate with sub-desert characteristics, i.e., rainfall is extremely limited (ca. 200 mm/year), average annual temperature is 21 °C and in July–August, temperature is 26 °C [49].
The coast is generally exposed to winds blowing from E to W and from NNE to SW in the easternmost part of Andalusia (i.e., at Carboneras, Figure 1), with minimum and maximum velocities ranging from 0.4 to 9.0 m/s [50]. The wave climate and storm energy are very variable [13,50]: the coast of Cádiz province is mainly affected by eastern storms, Málaga, Granada and (partially) Almería provinces are exposed both to western and eastern storms, whereas the easternmost portion of the coast of Almería province is primarily exposed to eastern storms [13,50].
The mean duration of storm events ranges from 0.9 to 7.0 days, despite their intensity. Waves show a clear seasonal behavior with storm conditions being recorded during November–March, i.e., the winter season [42,50,51], with mean values of significant wave height that reaches 5.18 m in extreme storm conditions [50]. A storm characterization for the studied area was developed by Molina et al. [50], using the Energy Flux parameter to classify storm events into five classes, from weak (Class I) to extreme (Class V). They observed that the most energetic area was the central part of the Mediterranean Andalusian coast, i.e., the coast between Málaga and Almería provinces, highly exposed to storms belonging to all classes, and specially to most energetic ones that can have a great impact on both natural and urbanized sectors [50].
Due to shoreline orientation, predominant easterly winds (Figure 1) and associated storm waves give rise to sea wave conditions generating a prevailing westward littoral drift [51]; meanwhile, an opposing drift is particularly important in certain coastal sectors and/or periods [42,50].

3. Materials and Methods

Aerial orthophotographs dated 1977, 2001 and 2016 (Table 1) were used to map different dune systems, and to quantify their surface evolution, level of fragmentation and the progression of human occupation. Aerial orthophotographs were obtained from the Web Map Services (WMS) of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) of the Andalusia Regional Administration [52].
Orthophotographs were elaborated within a GIS project (reference system WGS84–UTM 30N) by means of the ArcMap application from ArcGIS Desktop, Release 10 Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems Research Institute. All dune systems with a minimum longshore seaward front of 100 m in length were mapped, summing a total of ca. 106 km in 1977, including 53 systems (Figure 2). Within each system, three dune environments were mapped according to Sanjaume Saumel and Gracia Prieto [25], who defined, on the base of the most important coastal dune habitats in Spain [53], i.e., (i) embryo and mobile dunes (Type I), (ii) grass-fixed dunes (Type II) and (iii) stabilized dunes (Type III). Coastal dune habitats described at the study area corresponded to the Sites of Community Importance (SCI’s) of the European Commission Habitat Directive listed in Table 2.
The first group (Type I) comprises embryo and mobile dunes, which are the first band of colonizing vegetation and the first important continuous sandy relief. The second group (Type II) comprises grass-fixed dunes, which develop in a more stable soil and form a more continuous plant cover based on lawns or even some woody plants and bushes. The third group (Type III) comprises the stabilized dunes, is the innermost band of the dune system, and is made up of fully fixed vegetated dunes, with structured and stabilized soils. Its vegetation evolves into forests and a dense and diverse vegetation cover is developed.
The main characteristics used to distinguish between each dune type was the color and vegetation density, so that as systems evolve, color darkens and plant density increases, i.e., embryo and mobile dunes are often called “white” or “yellow” dunes and fixed dunes are called “grey” dunes because of their characteristic color. Díez-Garretas et al. [55], in their study on spatio-temporal changes of coastal ecosystems in Southern Iberian Peninsula (Spain), used a similar classification, taking into account the phytosociological plant communities present at the location studied and the habitat code. They related the habitat code with the ecological units present in their study, including mobile dunes, semi-fixed dunes and stable dunes. Pintó et al. [56] recognized the distinct habitats present in their study area and related them to the sea-to-land ecological gradient and the Habitats of Community Interest. Their classification is more detailed, attending more to morphological than ecological criteria.
The position, evolution and fragmentation of the dune toe position was also reconstructed, and the latter aspect favors dune sensitivity to storms’ impacts [40,57,58,59]. Further, the total surface of each one of the 53 system and dunes’ surfaces occupied by human structures/interventions was calculated. The proxy used to map the dune toe was the seaward dune vegetation line, manually detected by a GIS operator [13,39,48,60,61,62]. To calculate dune fragmentation, a database was obtained for each dune system containing three shape files: the first file included a polyline of the total length of the dune toe line, the second file included the length of all breaks observed along the dune toe line of each system, and a third file, which was the result of the differences between the two previous shape files. The level of fragmentation was calculated by determining the ratio between the length of all breaks and the whole dune toe length at each dune system and year. These values were normalized according to a constant length of 100 m by dividing the total length of all breaks in the shorefront dune toe (“l”) by the entire length of the dune toe (“L”):
F = l L
The F Index is a new index proposed for the first time in this paper vaguely based on the coefficient of infrastructural impact “K” [63]. It was applied along unitary coastal sectors of 100 m in length in order to reduce the importance of dune seaward length. The F Index was calculated for the systems present in all investigated periods (37 out of 53 systems), that is, the dune systems that disappeared in the second period were not taken into account to avoid interpreting a decrease in fragmentation when, in the reality, the entire system was lost. Values of the F Index used to express the fragmentation level were classified into three classes using the Natural Breaks Function [64], from Class 1 (“Null or very low fragmentation”, 0.00 < F < 0.06), Class 2 (“Medium fragmentation”, 0.06 < F < 0.16) to Class 3 (“High fragmentation”, 0.16 < F < 0.41).

4. Results

4.1. Dune Systems’ Distribution and Evolution

Of the 53 dune systems investigated in the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia, 10 belonged to natural protected areas and, from an administrative point of view, 10 were located in Cádiz province, 18 in Málaga, 2 in Granada and 23 in Almería province (Figure 2, Appendix A Table A1). In Cádiz province, dune systems were equally divided between the Algeciras Bay and an exposed, rectilinear shoreline, including both natural and urbanized areas (Figure 2A). In Málaga province, they were mainly located at the westernmost part of the littoral (Figure 2B), and south of the Guadalhorce river mouth and west of the Vélez river delta (Figure 2C). In Granada province, only 2 dune systems were observed, located in an area updrift of the port of Motril and at Carchuna (Figure 2C). In Almería province, 5 systems were located close to delta areas, namely at Adra and, especially, at Andarax river delta (Figure 2E,F), and 8 were located at rectilinear coastal sectors limited by ports, promontories or river deltas (Figure 2E–G). Very developed dune systems were located in the relevant protected area of Punta Entinas-El Sabinar (Figure 2E); meanwhile, several systems were located at the easternmost area of Almería province and the most relevant system was observed in a large pocket beach (Los Genoveses) (Figure 2F,G).
A total of 15 dune systems disappeared from 1977 to 2016, 7 of them located in Málaga, 7 in Almería and 1 in Cádiz provinces. Dune systems’ extension was changing during the periods studied without a clear trend; meanwhile, a clear decrease in size was evident for the three largest dune systems (Appendix A Table A2). Surfaces of “Embryo and mobile dunes” (Type I), “Grass-fixed dunes” (Type II) and “Stabilized dunes” (Type III) were calculated within each one of the 53 dune systems and per each time span considered. The progressive decrease of typologies I and II was observed, meanwhile, “Stabilized dunes” (Type III) recorded a decrease from 1977 to 2001 and a slight increase from 2001 to 2016 (Figure 3).
The distribution of the different dune typologies within each dune system varied during the studied period (Figure 4). At all provinces (but Cádiz), a reduction of all dune typologies was recorded during the 1977–2001 period; meanwhile, a decrease in all provinces (but Almería) of types I and III and an increase of Type II was recorded in the 2001–2016 period (Figure 4).
The comparison of the total amount of eroded/accreted surfaces recorded in each system for the periods 1977–2001, 2001–2016 and 1977–2016 showed a clear negative balance for 49 systems and a positive one for 4 systems (Figure 3). The dune systems that showed a positive balance were located at Playa del Rinconcillo (System no. 2, 38,884.4 m2), at the Guadarranque (no. 5, 19,262.8 m2) and at the Guadalquitón (no. 9, 260,531.7 m2) rivers’ mouths in Cádiz province (Figure 2A), and in the Albufera de Adra (no. 31, 6708.5 m2), a natural protected area at the Adra river delta (Almería province, Figure 1 and Figure 2E). The most eroded dune systems were located at Ensenada de San Miguel (System no. 34, −557,765.0 m2), Punta Entinas–El Sabinar (no. 35, −4,166,157.9 m2) and Vera (no. 53, −567,841.2 m2) areas, in Almería province.
Comparing the evolution of each system in the 1977–2001 and 2001–2016 periods, it was observed that 3 systems recorded accretion and 23 erosion in both periods, and the others showed different behaviors. Regarding the distribution of these records, the 3 accreting dune systems were located in Cádiz province and most of the dune systems that recorded erosion or disappeared were located in Málaga province, and dunes in Granada province presented erosion for both periods. In Almería province, the systems located in Almería Bay and at the easternmost part of the province presented a negative trend for both periods, and the group located from the Adra river delta to Ensenada de San Miguel presented erosion and then accretion. The two dune systems located at Roquetas de Mar disappeared in 2001–2016 (Figure 2E and Figure 5).

4.2. Anthropic Occupation Evolution

Surfaces occupied by human structures/interventions were calculated within each one and per each year of the 53 dune systems (Figure 6). The greatest increase (ca. 2.3 × 106 m2) was observed in the 1977–2001 period.
Comparing the evolution of human occupation of each system in the 1977–2001 and 2001–2016 periods, it was observed that 21 out of 53 systems presented an increase of human occupation in both periods and 2 systems a decrease due to the removal of small installations (Figure 7). Further, 4 systems recorded an increase in the first period and a decrease in the second due to the urbanization of a part of the dune system, and the removal of small installations, and the opposite was true for 1 system due to coastal erosion problems since the shoreline retreatment forced the removal of human structures (Figure 7).
At places in System no. 2 Playa del Rinconcillo (in Cádiz province), the increase of dune surface and anthropic occupation was linked to the formation of a new beach at the northern side of the port of Algeciras (Figure 8). Summing up, the decrease of occupation was essentially due to the removal of buildings and was always very small.

4.3. Dune Fragmentation

Analysis of the dune toe fragmentation was carried out for such systems (37 out of 53) that were observed in all investigated periods and a general increase of fragmentation was evident (Figure 9), confirming the trend observed for the evolution of human occupation.
Considering the 1977–2016 timespan, 23 dune systems presented an increase of fragmentation, 3 systems recorded a decrease (they were located in erosive coastal sectors within natural protected areas) and 11 presented no variations. The two systems that recorded a major increment of fragmentation were Punta del Río (no. 41), in Almería province, and Playa de las Chapas (no. 20), in Málaga province, with an increase of +0.25 and +0.22, respectively. Conversely, the two systems that recorded the major decrease of fragmentation were Playa de Río Real (no. 16) and Playa de la Misericordia (no. 26) in Málaga province, with a decrease of −0.20 and −0.09, respectively. Comparing the evolution of fragmentation at each dune system in the 1977–2001 and 2001–2016 periods, it was observed that only 7 out of 23 presented an increase of the fragmentation at both periods, in general due to coastal zone urbanization (Figure 10A–C). Only 1 dune system showed a decrease of fragmentation (no. 16) (Figure 10D–F), and 8 presented no variation in both periods.
Other dune systems presented a different behavior at both periods: 4 systems recorded an increase in the first period and a decrease in the second and the opposite was true for 1 system (Figure 11). In general, the increase in fragmentation occurred along with the increase of urbanization and anthropic pressure, while the opposite was observed in natural protected areas. At places where systems were already fragmented, their erosion implied a reduction in their fragmentation since: (i) very fragmented sectors often disappeared and the remaining ones presented low fragmentation (Figure 10D–F and Figure 11A,B) and (ii) coastal erosion produced the loss of the most fragmented part of dune toe (Figure 11B,C). An increase of fragmentation in 7 dune systems was due to the increment of erosion processes and/or the formation of pedestrian pathways.

5. Discussion

5.1. Erosional Dune Systems

Erosion or complete disappearance of dune systems can be produced by human activities or natural processes [65,66,67]. Anthropic impacts were related to: (i) urban developments, mainly due to the coastal tourist demand, and the associated opening of pathways on dune ridges, which was especially evident in Málaga province (Figure 5) [41,46,48,55,68], (ii) dunes’ occupation due to the demand for agricultural uses, as observed at different locations in Andalusia, and reported by References [67,69,70,71,72,73] in other Mediterranean Spanish areas (in Catalonia, [56]) or on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco [74] and (iii) the decrease of sediments’ inputs to coastal environments due to the construction of ports and harbors, as observed along the study area by Malvárez et al. [46] and Manno et al. [48], and the reduction of the sedimentary load of rivers due to the construction of dams in river basins, especially in Málaga and Almería provinces [43,46,75], also observed in other Mediterranean rivers, e.g., for the Ebro [76] and the Arno [77] rivers.
Among natural processes, there are the impacts of chronic erosion processes and of extreme storms, the impacts of which are often enhanced by climatic change-related processes, e.g., an increase of storm intensity and frequency and Sea Level Rise [11,35,37,67,78,79,80,81,82,83]. Specifically, for the studied area, storm characterization was described by Guisado et al. [42] and Molina et al. [50]; meanwhile, it seems that Sea Level Rise is not relevant at the studied area [84,85,86].
Of the 53 dune systems studied, all but 4 recorded a reduction of their surface, or even disappeared, and this was especially evident where the systems were affected by hard human interventions [41,55,68,69,70,71,72,73] and, secondarily, by shoreline erosion [71,87,88]. The greatest loss of dune surface was recorded in the 1977–2001 period due to the massive urban occupation of coastal areas, although in the 2001–2016 period, a decrease in the loss of dunes’ surfaces was observed because the main causes of their destruction recorded in the previous period partially ceased. Cases of disappearance due to urban occupation were still observed, especially in Málaga province [41], but the anthropic pressure derived from the tourist use of beaches and the decrease in river contributions were not so evident as in the 1977–2001 period [46,68,69,70,71,72,73].
The loss of dune surface was at places and times linked to the progressive fragmentation of the dune toe (i.e., the increase of dune discontinuity), which is a factor that has to be considered in order to estimate coastal and dune vulnerability [40,57,58,59] since a fragmented dune system is more vulnerable to temporary flooding and hence, it is less effective against storm surges [35,40,58,59,89,90,91]. In this study, the most fragmented (and hence susceptible sectors) were observed at the west side of the Andarax river delta in Almería province (no. 41, Figure 1 and Figure 2), which was the most fragmented dune system located in a natural area (Appendix A Table A2) and the system at Las Chapas beach in Málaga province (no. 20, Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 10), located in a strongly developed urban area.
At almost all sectors, dunes‘ fragmentation was mainly due to the opening of pathways and to their progressive expansion due to marine- and wind-induced erosion processes, as also observed by Gracia et al. [40], Pintó et al. [56], Rangel-Buitrago and Anfuso [58] and Rizzo et al. [59]. Due to the accuracy of the orthophotos used in this study, dune discontinuities caused by overwash processes were only detected at few places (Figure 12). Such processes were distinguished from other types of fragmentation due to the absence of vegetation at the areas presenting the characteristic shape of a washover fan; meanwhile, pathways showed narrow rectilinear shapes.
Summing up, the majority of the dune systems that showed an aerial decrease were affected by anthropic factors, highlighting the importance of urban and agricultural occupations that were very relevant in Málaga and Almería administrative districts.

5.2. Accretional Dune Systems

Conditions for dune formation and development were discussed by a large number of authors who agree that the temporal variation of the sedimentary contribution and the wind regimes are the most important factors controlling the beach–dune system relationship [65,92,93,94,95].
The increase of systems located in the Bay of Algeciras (Figure 2A) was associated with the sedimentation processes recorded in such beaches [96] that receive the sediment supplies of the Palmones and Guadarranque rivers [73]. Such beaches are located next to two large coastal protection structures that promote sedimentation processes. In the case of the system observed at El Rinconcillo in 2001, it began to form after the expansion of the port of Algeciras (Figure 8). Instead, systems at Guadalquitón and Albufera de Adra (Figure 2) were located in areas that registered an important erosion [39,96] and a significant human occupation linked to urban development in the case of Guadalquitón and intense agricultural occupation in Albufera de Adra. The Guadalquitón dune system recorded the highest increase during the 1977–2001 period, and it was due to the degradation of the vegetation that facilitated the inland dune migration. The formation of large mobile dunes in this area was also due to strong east winds (Figure 1), especially on the east-facing beaches [73]. In the case of the Albufera de Adra system, an important loss of dune surface in the 1977–2001 period was caused by shoreline erosion and the significant anthropic pressure (intense agricultural activities) [39,43,96]; however, the sedimentation produced at the north side of the system [39,96] supported the development of mobile dunes.

5.3. Dune Types’ Evolution

Several dune systems studied in this paper were described by different authors [41,55,68,69,70,71,72,73,87,88], but none of them provided a description of all dune systems along the whole Mediterranean coast of Andalusia.
Unlike tidal-influenced coasts, in which the sedimentary contribution can be obtained through periodic exposure of the intertidal plain, on micro-tidal coasts such as the Mediterranean one, the beach itself is the main source of sedimentary contribution to the dune systems. In addition, when the beaches are composed of gravels, as is the case of many beaches of Málaga and Almería, it is more difficult to ascertain the source of sandy sediment necessary for the dune systems, so the rivers become the main sediment suppliers of the system [72]. As stated before, river systems at the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia are mostly short or seasonal streams and, in general, provide a coarse grain size on the beaches. Further, the accentuated relief observed nearby the coast and the presence of reflective beaches represent great limitations for the development of coastal dunes [72].
Further points to be taken into consideration are the intensity and direction of predominant winds that, to be effective in dune formation, should be shore normal. Due to their coastal orientation, which is normal to predominant winds, the provinces of Cadiz (especially) and Almeria constitute areas favorable for dune formation. According to Bardají et al. [72] and Gracia et al. [73], the central part of the Andalusia coastline is parallel to predominant winds that give rise to a relevant longshore transport that supplies different dune systems, e.g., at Artola-Cabopino [72,88].
Analyzing the evolution of each dune typology is of relevance since each typology represents a clear evolution state from Embryo and mobile dunes (Type I) to Stabilized dunes (Type III) [65,92]. The increment over the 1977–2016 period of the Stabilized dunes (Type III) (Figure 3) was due to the progressive evolution of Grass-fixed dunes (Type II), a natural process described by Hesp [65,92].
Surface variations of the different types of dunes’ systems were relatively homogeneous (Figure 4). With the exception of the province of Cádiz, the rest of the provinces showed a decrease of the three types of dunes in the first period and, in the second period, a decrease of types I and III and an increase of Type II in all provinces except Almería. The general decrease recorded in the period 1977–2001 was mainly due to urban occupation, intensive agricultural exploitation and the extraction of sand—such activities were not regulated until the approval of the Coastal Law in 1988 [41,46,47,55,68,69,70,71,72,73]. Dune destruction was especially evident in Málaga and Almería provinces, where entire dune systems disappeared: in Málaga province, a total surface of 1,766,711 m2 was lost, of which ca. 1 × 106 m2 were Type II dunes and ca. 600,000 m2 were Type III dunes, and in Almería, ca. 56,300,000 m2 of dune surface was lost, of which ca. 4,360,000 m2 were Type II dunes. Some examples of papers that quantified the loss of dune surfaces in specific areas were by Viciana Martínez-Lage [71], who quantified a loss of 262 ha of dunes in Punta Entinas–El Sabinar, in Almería province, due to sand extractions, or Gómez Zotano [41], who quantified a reduction of 44.5% of the dune surface in Saladillo area, in Málaga province, during the 1956–2007 period.
The increase, in the 2001–2016 period, of the Type II in Málaga province was linked to the degradation of Type III dunes, especially evident in an area west of Marbella (Figure 2B) that was greatly impacted by urban developments, a quite common trend in Málaga province [41,46,47]. The increase of Type III in Almería was due to the stabilization of Type II dunes, especially in the area from Albufera de Adra to Almerimar and at Cabo de Gata (Figure 2E,F), which are areas where the shoreline is stable [39]. Overall, in Cádiz province, a slight increase of Type III was observed, and the other dunes’ types recorded small variations (Figure 4). Such behavior was due to the low human pressure, the stable or even accreting conditions of the area [39,96] and the action of strong east winds (Figure 1) that favored dunes’ growth and mobility [73].

6. Conclusions

This study analyzed the evolution of the dune systems along the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia, focusing on their characterization, level of fragmentation and anthropic occupation, for the 1977–2001 and 2001–2016 periods. Within a GIS project, there were 53 dune systems mapped that summed a total length of ca. 106 km in 1977 and ca. 76 km in 2001 and 2016.
Of the 53 dune systems, all but 4 recorded a reduction of their surface, or even disappeared, and this was especially evident in 1977–2001 when dune systems were affected by hard human interventions, such as the emplacement of buildings and touristic constructions, especially at Málaga province, and agricultural expansion at Almería province, and secondarily, at places by shoreline erosion processes.
Dunes’ loss was at places and times linked to the progressive fragmentation of the dune toe, mainly due to the opening of pathways and to their progressive expansion due to marine- and wind-induced erosion processes. An increase of dunes’ surface was observed in both natural and anthropic areas in Cádiz and Almería provinces, in accreting and stable beaches, usually on the updrift side of ports or due to strong east winds on the east-facing beaches.
Concerning the evolution of the Embryo and mobile dunes (Type I), Grass-fixed dunes (Type II) and Stabilized dunes (Type III), most of the provinces showed a decrease of the three types of dunes in the 1977–2001 period and, in the 2001–2016 period, a decrease of types I and III and an increase of Type II in all provinces. The increase of Type II dunes was linked to the degradation of Type III, observed in the 2001–2016 period at very anthropized areas; meanwhile, an increase of Type III was observed in stable and accreting areas.
Results obtained could be used to enhance the general database on dune characteristics along the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia and the possibility of utilizing ecosystem-based solutions in coastal protection, along with, or instead of, measures based on traditional engineering approaches. The methodology used in this study could be applied in other locations with a similar database.

Author Contributions

Data curation, R.M., G.M. and C.L.R.; Formal analysis, R.M., G.M., C.L.R. and G.A.; Methodology, R.M., G.M., C.L.R. and G.A.; Software, R.M., C.L.R. and G.M.; Geological and geomorphological supervision, G.M.; Hydraulic analysis, C.L.R.; Supervision, G.A.; Writing—original draft preparation, R.M., G.M., C.L.R. and G.A.; Writing—review and editing, G.A. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Acknowledgments

This work is a contribution to the Andalusia Research Group PAI RNM-328 and to the PROPLAYAS network and has been partially developed at the Centro Andaluz de Ciencia y Tecnología Marinas (CACYTMAR), Puerto Real (Cádiz, Spain).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Appendix A

Table
Table A1. Name and protection typology of each dune system and balance for the entire studied period.
Table A1. Name and protection typology of each dune system and balance for the entire studied period.
System No.NameProtection1977–2016
Dune Surface (m2)Occupation (m2)Fragmentation
1Playa de GetaresEstrecho (1)−70,477.7041,768.390.16
2Playa del Rinconcillo 38,884.38732.26
3Marismas del Río PalmonesMarismas del Río Palmones (2)−47,670.513352.140.12
4Guadarranque W −59,167.5257,534.25
5Guadarranque E 19,262.802136.580.22
6La Línea de la Concepción −102,603.9030,682.410.04
7La Alcaidesa S −3796.383967.450.03
8La Alcaidesa N −14,072.9020.880.17
9Guadalquitón 260,531.70−376.210.09
10TorreguadiaroLaguna de Torreguadiaro (3)−145,337.3889,006.500.11
11Playa del Saladillo W −65,592.1825,389.600.15
12Playa del Saladillo E −52,295.0637,351.430.01
13Playa de San Pedro de Alcántara −97,452.2028,411.01
14Playa Nueva Andalucía −29,702.0826,131.94
15Playa del Pinillo −27,738.269490.440.06
16Playa de Río Real −16,322.023643.28−0.20
17Playa de los Monteros −373,156.19355,081.760.14
18Playa del Alcate −49,725.7232,996.160.16
19Playa Real de Zaragoza −200,549.5541,358.390.10
20Playa de las Chapas −171,835.74152,819.730.22
21Playa de ArtolaDunas de Artola (4)−21,575.895068.880.16
22Cabopino-Calahonda 0.000.00
23Torrenueva - Mijas −64,545.3664,344.35
24Playa de Canuela - Torremolinos −44,014.67970.12
25Playa de San Julián −412,157.552085.540.10
26Playa de la MisericordiaDesembocadura del Guadalhorce (2)−98,481.6984,116.14−0.09
27Arroyo de los Íberos −54,160.9490.78
28El Hornillo −19,501.792698.63
29Playa del Poniente - Motril −59,813.9615,990.880.05
30Carchuna −115,558.0638,433.860.00
31Albufera de AdraAlbufera de Adra (5)6708.500.00−0.01
32Playa de Balerma N −17,100.05994.820.01
33Playa de Balerma S −294,158.23260,649.680.10
34Ensenada de San Miguel −557,765.03259,966.940.06
35Punta Entinas-El SabinarPunta Entinas – El Sabinar (2,5)−4,166,157.86239,842.200.03
36Playa de Roquetas S −65,618.0132,255.48
37Playa de Roquetas N −36,963.4566.72
38Playa de los BajosArrecife Barrera de Posidonia (4)−18,995.79408.82−0.07
39Playa Urbanización de Aguadulce −14,309.265344.12
40Playa Ciudad Luminosa −11,118.953916.61
41Punta del Río W −2429.220.000.25
42Punta del Río E −8830.070.000.16
43Las Algaidas-Las Marinas −109,308.76−1102.880.01
44Cabo de GataCabo de Gata-Níjar (1)−395,189.20404,678.110.14
45Los GenovesesCabo de Gata-Níjar (1)−31,645.57−40.320.12
46Playa de Bolmayor −27,747.41−301.210.04
47Playa Venta del Bancal −11,300.773577.150.08
48Playa Cueva del Lobo −11,748.404166.26
49El Cantal −35,578.8815,662.300.02
50Playa del Descargador −15,373.753011.05
51Playa de Rumina −12,937.5141.41
52Playa Marina de la Torre −29,181.18365.400.00
53Vera −567,841.25233,429.880.10
Typologies of protection: (1) Natural Park, (2) Natural Site, (3) Special Plan for the Protection of the Physical Environment, (4) Natural Monument, (5) Natural Reserve. Fragmentation index was not calculated for periods where the dune system disappeared.
Table
Table A2. Results obtained at each dune system.
Table A2. Results obtained at each dune system.
System No.197720012016
Dune Surface (m2)Occupation (m2)FragmentationDune Surface (m2)Occupation (m2)FragmentationDune Surface (m2)Occupation (m2)Fragmentation
1144,188.379597.200.0377,746.6451,237.130.1873,710.6751,365.590.19
20.000.00 12,339.800.00 38,884.38732.26
3205,724.643178.450.23157,943.706516.260.31158,054.136530.600.36
459,167.521633.27 0.0059,167.52 0.0059,167.52
56316.761510.250.0022,658.143717.800.1325,579.563646.840.22
6684,586.982295.320.07719,675.843095.540.07581,983.0832,977.740.11
75370.580.000.002877.630.000.001574.203967.450.03
831,114.1270.970.0321,839.1758.060.0917,041.2291.850.20
9947,015.74807.870.061,167,066.53694.960.021,207,547.44431.650.15
10194,657.12504.840.0851,787.8989,372.030.0449,319.7389,511.340.19
1178,121.80273.300.0418,609.3525,662.890.0812,529.6225,662.890.18
1282,690.380.000.0440,109.1737,351.430.0530,395.3237,351.430.05
1397,452.206377.47 36,487.8922,027.47 0.0034,788.48
1429,702.080.00 0.0026,131.94 0.0026,131.94
1539,444.190.000.0421,835.125905.710.1711,705.939490.440.10
1619,307.500.000.202956.273643.280.152985.493643.280.00
17412,867.480.000.0338,602.94348,097.720.1239,711.29355,081.760.17
1867,942.450.000.036744.9032,996.160.0518,216.7332,996.160.19
19286,323.395333.480.1182,951.0146,657.530.1585,773.8446,691.870.21
20199,167.711830.110.0021,955.35154,649.830.1327,331.97154,649.830.22
21306,301.246506.440.00246,613.1311,448.040.22284,725.3511,575.320.16
220.000.00 4837.910.00 0.000.00
2364,545.36201.01 0.0064,545.36 0.0064,545.36
2444,014.672722.12 0.003692.24 0.003692.24
25430,219.96799.400.1033,563.96797.380.1618,062.412884.930.20
26153,324.540.000.1163,109.7784,116.140.0254,842.8684,116.140.02
2754,160.94635.79 0.00726.58 0.00726.58
2819,501.790.00 0.002698.63 0.002698.63
2968,178.561102.480.108705.3717,108.960.298364.6017,093.360.15
30165,721.54115.730.04142,747.5138,473.110.0150,163.4838,549.590.04
3121,286.910.000.048193.760.000.0527,995.400.000.03
3227,651.9039.110.059352.84826.330.0710,551.851033.930.05
33440,474.93701.170.01125,373.21257,051.800.09146,316.70261,350.840.11
34806,346.405696.200.03199,426.12264,867.830.09248,581.37265,663.150.10
359,389,288.69653,813.650.036,030,071.83895,307.460.035,223,130.83893,655.850.06
3665,618.010.00 0.0032,255.48 0.0032,255.48
3736,963.450.00 0.0066.72 0.0066.72
3836,092.39218.000.0830,662.57311.900.0517,096.59626.820.01
3914,309.260.00 4399.523429.40 0.005344.12
4011,118.951182.32 0.005098.93 0.005098.93
4117,274.330.000.089693.330.000.1014,845.110.000.08
4216,891.370.000.0313,529.190.000.088061.300.000.16
43582,481.3615,199.950.05477,646.6210,837.790.12473,172.6014,097.070.17
443,305,029.98118,675.340.032,950,549.49321,804.730.112,909,840.78523,353.440.07
45231,633.5995.610.05198,067.0855.290.12199,988.0355.290.17
4642,559.55561.690.0317,828.63444.560.1114,812.14260.480.07
4713,831.670.000.001729.153496.240.002530.903577.150.08
4811,748.400.00 6694.07697.64 0.004166.26
4945,547.324386.120.059285.6915,269.760.019968.4420,048.420.07
5015,373.75165.32 2855.831601.84 0.003176.38
5112,937.511214.63 4958.362923.88 0.001256.04
5229,896.870.000.0011,900.67365.400.06715.69365.400.00
53722,709.9021,902.890.03152,125.47240,022.680.06154,868.65255,332.760.13
Fragmentation index was not calculated for periods where the dune system disappeared.

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Figure 1. Location of the study area and average wind speed roses at 5 points of SIMAR (SImulación MARina), from the wave reanalysis model by Puertos del Estado (PdE).
Figure 1. Location of the study area and average wind speed roses at 5 points of SIMAR (SImulación MARina), from the wave reanalysis model by Puertos del Estado (PdE).
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Figure 2. Location of the studied dune systems. Natural protected areas are in green. The capital letters A–G in the main subplot refer to the zoomed areas in the other subplots.
Figure 2. Location of the studied dune systems. Natural protected areas are in green. The capital letters A–G in the main subplot refer to the zoomed areas in the other subplots.
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Figure 3. Yearly surface values of each dune typology, i.e., “Embryo and mobile dunes” (Type I), “Grass-fixed dunes” (Type II) and “Stabilized dunes” (Type III). Value on top represents the surface of all dune typologies and in brackets the surface that was lost with respect to the previous year is reported.
Figure 3. Yearly surface values of each dune typology, i.e., “Embryo and mobile dunes” (Type I), “Grass-fixed dunes” (Type II) and “Stabilized dunes” (Type III). Value on top represents the surface of all dune typologies and in brackets the surface that was lost with respect to the previous year is reported.
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Figure 4. Distribution of dune surface typologies, i.e., “Embryo and mobile dunes” (Type I), “Grass-fixed dunes” (Type II) and “Stabilized dunes” (Type III), by province during the studied periods. The value on top represents the sum of dune surfaces (in m2) and in brackets the value of lost dune surface with respect to the previous year is presented.
Figure 4. Distribution of dune surface typologies, i.e., “Embryo and mobile dunes” (Type I), “Grass-fixed dunes” (Type II) and “Stabilized dunes” (Type III), by province during the studied periods. The value on top represents the sum of dune surfaces (in m2) and in brackets the value of lost dune surface with respect to the previous year is presented.
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Figure 5. Dune systems urbanized in Málaga and Almería provinces. System no. 14 Playa Nueva Andalucía in 1977 (A) and 2016 (B), and System no. 36 Playa de Roquetas in 1977 (C) and 2016 (D).
Figure 5. Dune systems urbanized in Málaga and Almería provinces. System no. 14 Playa Nueva Andalucía in 1977 (A) and 2016 (B), and System no. 36 Playa de Roquetas in 1977 (C) and 2016 (D).
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Figure 6. Evolution of the surfaces occupied by anthropic interventions during the studied periods. The number on top of histograms represents the total value of surface occupied, and in brackets shows the increment recorded among successive periods.
Figure 6. Evolution of the surfaces occupied by anthropic interventions during the studied periods. The number on top of histograms represents the total value of surface occupied, and in brackets shows the increment recorded among successive periods.
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Figure 7. Removal of small constructions in Cádiz and croplands in Almería provinces. System no. 9 Guadalquitón 1977 (A), 2016 (B), with a decrease of the occupation area of 112.90 m2 in 1977–2001 and 263.31 m2 in 2001–2016. System no. 43 Las Algaidas-Las Marinas in 1977 (C) and 2016 (D), with a decrease of 117.14 m2 in 1977–2001 and 184.07 m2 in 2001–2016.
Figure 7. Removal of small constructions in Cádiz and croplands in Almería provinces. System no. 9 Guadalquitón 1977 (A), 2016 (B), with a decrease of the occupation area of 112.90 m2 in 1977–2001 and 263.31 m2 in 2001–2016. System no. 43 Las Algaidas-Las Marinas in 1977 (C) and 2016 (D), with a decrease of 117.14 m2 in 1977–2001 and 184.07 m2 in 2001–2016.
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Figure 8. System no. 2 Playa del Rinconcillo registered an increase of dune surface of 732.26 m2 in 2001–2016. (A) 1977, (B) 2001 and (C) 2016.
Figure 8. System no. 2 Playa del Rinconcillo registered an increase of dune surface of 732.26 m2 in 2001–2016. (A) 1977, (B) 2001 and (C) 2016.
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Figure 9. Fragmentation Index. The number on top of histograms represents the total value of fragmentation per year and in brackets is the increment recorded among successive periods.
Figure 9. Fragmentation Index. The number on top of histograms represents the total value of fragmentation per year and in brackets is the increment recorded among successive periods.
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Figure 10. System no. 20 Playa de las Chapas, in Málaga province, recorded an increase of fragmentation due to the increment of anthropic pressure, changing from (A) Class 1 (F = 0.003) in 1977 to (B) Class 2 (F = 0.12) in 2001 and to (C) Class 3 (F = 0.22) in 2016. System no. 16 Playa de Río Real, in Málaga province, where the modification of the coastal zone and the emplacement of a touristic urbanization produced the destruction of the already fragmented dune system. Remnant dune systems presented a lower Fragmentation Index, changing from (D) Class 3 (F = 0.20) in 1977 to (E) Class 2 (F = 0.15) in 2001 and to (F) Class 1 (F = 0.0) in 2016. Red line represents dune toe position.
Figure 10. System no. 20 Playa de las Chapas, in Málaga province, recorded an increase of fragmentation due to the increment of anthropic pressure, changing from (A) Class 1 (F = 0.003) in 1977 to (B) Class 2 (F = 0.12) in 2001 and to (C) Class 3 (F = 0.22) in 2016. System no. 16 Playa de Río Real, in Málaga province, where the modification of the coastal zone and the emplacement of a touristic urbanization produced the destruction of the already fragmented dune system. Remnant dune systems presented a lower Fragmentation Index, changing from (D) Class 3 (F = 0.20) in 1977 to (E) Class 2 (F = 0.15) in 2001 and to (F) Class 1 (F = 0.0) in 2016. Red line represents dune toe position.
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Figure 11. System no. 10 Torreguadiaro (in Cádiz province) recorded a slight decrease of fragmentation in the 1977–2001 period and an increase in the 2001–2016 period due to the reduction of a high fragmented dune sector that was replaced by the port structure. The dune system located in front of the natural protected Torreguadiaro Lagoon was not modified. In the 2001–2016 period, the growth of new dunes at the northern part of the system and the increase of pathways at both sides of it was observed. This resulted in a decrease of fragmentation that changed from (A) Class 1 (F = 0.08) in 1977 to (B) Class 2 (F = 0.03) in 2001 and an increase of fragmentation to (C) Class 3 (F = 0.20) in 2016. Red line represents dune toe position.
Figure 11. System no. 10 Torreguadiaro (in Cádiz province) recorded a slight decrease of fragmentation in the 1977–2001 period and an increase in the 2001–2016 period due to the reduction of a high fragmented dune sector that was replaced by the port structure. The dune system located in front of the natural protected Torreguadiaro Lagoon was not modified. In the 2001–2016 period, the growth of new dunes at the northern part of the system and the increase of pathways at both sides of it was observed. This resulted in a decrease of fragmentation that changed from (A) Class 1 (F = 0.08) in 1977 to (B) Class 2 (F = 0.03) in 2001 and an increase of fragmentation to (C) Class 3 (F = 0.20) in 2016. Red line represents dune toe position.
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Figure 12. Details of the central area of System no. 9 Guadalquitón (Cádiz province), where washover fans and pathways were observed. Red line represents dune toe position. (A) 1977, (B) 2001 and (C) 2016.
Figure 12. Details of the central area of System no. 9 Guadalquitón (Cádiz province), where washover fans and pathways were observed. Red line represents dune toe position. (A) 1977, (B) 2001 and (C) 2016.
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Table
Table 1. Aerial orthophotos used [52], 2001 and 2016 orthophotos are from Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA).
Table 1. Aerial orthophotos used [52], 2001 and 2016 orthophotos are from Plan Nacional de Ortofotografía Aérea (PNOA).
YearScaleSpatial Resolution(m)Flight
19771:50000.5Iryda flight 1977
20011:10,0000.5PNOA 2001
20161:50000.25PNOA 2016
Table
Table 2. Sites of Community Importance (SCI’s) described in the study area and their correspondence with the dune typologies mapped in this work [54].
Table 2. Sites of Community Importance (SCI’s) described in the study area and their correspondence with the dune typologies mapped in this work [54].
Sites of Community Importance (SCI’s)Classification
2110—Embryonic shifting dunes
2120—Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (“white dunes”)		I—Embryo and mobile dunes
2130—Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (“grey dunes”)
2150—Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes
2210—Crucianellion maritimae fixed beach dunes
2230—Malcolmietalia dune grasslands
2240—Brachyopodietalia dune grasslands with annuals		II—Grass-fixed dunes
2250—Coastal dunes with Juniperus spp.
2260—Cisto-Lavanduletalia dune sclerophyllous scrubs
2270—Wooded dunes with Pinus pinea and/or Pinus pinaster		III—Stabilized dunes

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Molina, R.; Manno, G.; Lo Re, C.; Anfuso, G. Dune Systems’ Characterization and Evolution in the Andalusia Mediterranean Coast (Spain). Water 2020, 12, 2094. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082094

AMA Style

Molina R, Manno G, Lo Re C, Anfuso G. Dune Systems’ Characterization and Evolution in the Andalusia Mediterranean Coast (Spain). Water. 2020; 12(8):2094. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082094

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Molina, Rosa, Giorgio Manno, Carlo Lo Re, and Giorgio Anfuso. 2020. "Dune Systems’ Characterization and Evolution in the Andalusia Mediterranean Coast (Spain)" Water 12, no. 8: 2094. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082094

APA Style

Molina, R., Manno, G., Lo Re, C., & Anfuso, G. (2020). Dune Systems’ Characterization and Evolution in the Andalusia Mediterranean Coast (Spain). Water, 12(8), 2094. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082094

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