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Wind-wave climate change and increasing erosion in the outer Río de la Plata, Argentina

2012; Elsevier BV; Volume: 38; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.csr.2012.03.013

1873-6955

Jorge O. Codignotto, Walter Dragani, Paula Martín, Claudia G. Simionato, Rubén Alberto Medina, Guadalupe Alonso,

Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research

The coastal area of Samborombón Bay ends in a short cliff which, during the last decades, has been undergoing an increased retrogression of approximately 8.2 m decade−1. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether this accelerated erosion can be related to an apparent wind-wave climate change, which has been recently reported for the Río de la Plata region. A numerical study with SWAN wave model for the period 1971–2005 drives to positive trends in the frequency of occurrence and heights of waves propagating from the E and ESE. Particularly, the number of cases of high waves from those directions displays a significant increment. In addition, previous papers have reported an increment of the frequency, height and duration of the storm surges in the Río de la Plata, so as a rise of the mean sea level in the region. It is concluded that the combination of those three factors acting together constitutes a powerful and effective mechanism which is likely responsible for the observed increasing erosion in Samborombón Bay.