PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF GEOMORPHOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION

BEIGT, D.; CUADRADO, D.G.; PICCOLO, M.C.

Bahía Blanca

Congreso; ECSA 44: SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT OF ESTUARIES AND COASTS: A TALE OF TWO HEMISPHERES; 2008

Estuarine Coastal Science Association-Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía

At the south of Buenos Aires Province (Argentina) there is a coastal feature named Bahía Anegada, a bay which comprises several islands and shoals and a smaller bay (San Blas). San Blas is characterized by a 3-km wide and a 27-m deep tidal channel, which is bounded by a steep gravel beach on one side and a sandy island on the other side. An island formed by gravel and coarse sand beach ridges which prograded to the coast during the Holocene is located at the coast of San Blas bay. A strong oyster aquaculture activity was developed in the area since some years ago. The area presents different coastal scenarios in nearly 20 km of coast. Thus, from South to North, coastal sand dunes, gravel beaches, salt marshes and wave cut platforms are present along the coast as a response to the coastal energy spatial variation, which diminishes towards the inner channel. A sand spit is present as a result of littoral drift towards the channel mouth. Accretional and erosional zones are distinguished in the studied area. The main processes that affect the area are caused by winds and waves. Therefore, meteorological data from a station located in the area and the results of a wave numerical model (wave height and direction) provided by the National Meteorological Service was analyzed during six month(s). A preliminary map showing the main features of the coastal geomorphology as well as preliminary results relating the littoral dynamics along the study area with its geomorphological features are presented.