Erosive processes on the sandy coast of Argentina

SCHNACK E ,J; POUSA, J; ISLA F

Vechtaer Studien zur Angenwandten Geographie und Regional

Vechtaer Druckerei und Verlag

Año: 1998 p. 133 - 136

The sandy environments extending for about 180 km on the eastern coastline of Buenos Aires province are undergoing severe erosion. Dune and beach erosion, as well as destruction of resort faciliries and housing result as a consequence of stormy events. Tide gauge records referring to sea level fluctuatiocs are not long enough in the area, and the information available does not pro- vide a definite trend. Storm surges are a common feature in the southwest Atlantic, particularly on the sandy shores of northern Argentina, and are known to be the main cause of coastal erosion. However, it must be noted that in areas which are not intervened by man, the dune-beach system tends to reestablish the profile after the storm. In urbanized areas, where dunes have been imper- meabilized and beach mining for building pur- pc?ses is a common practice, erosion in the hori- zontal component is progressive. Structural solu- tioris at the most populated localities are com- monplace, in the absence of an integrated frame- work for coastal protection and ..22:? a----d... . -:,-+ ir. volving soft, environmental procedures.