Sediment Thickness Model of Andalusia’s Nearshore and Coastal Inland Topography

• Published in: Journal of marine science and engineering Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 269
• Main Authors: Torrecillas, Cristina, Payo, Andres, Cobos, Manuel, Burke, Helen, Morgan, Dave, Smith, Helen, Jenkins, Gareth Owen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2024
• Subjects: Bathymetry; Bedforms; Coastal management; coastal modeling; Coastal zone; Coastal zone management; Coastal zones; Coasts; Datasets; Geological mapping; Geological maps; Geomorphology; Geospatial data; Grain size; Groundhog Desktop; Modelling; Morphology; Ocean floor; Provinces; River beds; Rivers; Sediment; Sediment transport; Sedimentary structures; Sediments; Sediments (Geology); Software; Soil erosion; Spatial distribution; subsurface sediments; Thickness; Three dimensional models; Topography; unconsolidated sediments; Workflow; United Kingdom; Spain; Strait of Gibraltar; United States > US; Mediterranean Sea; Atlantic Ocean
• ISSN: 2077-1312; 2077-1312
• DOI: 10.3390/jmse12020269

This study represents the first attempt to map the sediment thickness spatial distribution along the Andalusian coastal zone by integrating various publicly available datasets. While prior studies have presented bedform- and sediment-type syntheses, none have attempted to quantify sediment thickness at the scale and resolution performed in this study. The study area has been divided into 18 physiographic zones, and we have used BGS Groundhog Desktop v2.6 software for 3D modeling and sediment thickness model calculations. We present here the modeling workflow, model results, and the challenges that we have encountered, including discrepancies in geological maps, difficulty managing data input for grain size/consolidation, and the need for additional geological information. We have compared the modeled sediment fractions of the unconsolidated material with 4194 seabed samples distributed along the study area and found that the differences between the modeled versus the sampled emphasized the importance of incorporating river contributions, particularly from the Guadalquivir River, into the model for more accurate results. The model intermediate and final outputs and the software routines used to query the sediment thickness model are provided as publicly accessible datasets and tools. The modeled sediment thickness could contribute to making quantitative predictions of morphological change at a scale that is relevant to longer-term strategic coastal management in Andalusia. The methodology and tools used for this study are transferable to any study area.