Chapter 7 The rock coast of the Mediterranean and Black seas

Abstract

Rock coasts and shore platforms are conspicuous landforms along the Mediterranean and Black Sea (MBS) coasts. These coasts have been fashioned by changes in sea level because of vertical movements of the land and variations in eustatic and isostatic sea-level. For this reason, the Quaternary evolution of MBS coasts has been extensively studied, even starting from geomorphological markers, while very few researches have addressed the processes related to their origin and evolution. Despite most of the Mediterranean coast being rocky, studies about rocky shore processes are almost completely lacking, except for limited areas. Data on sea cliff retreats have mainly been collected to study the susceptibility of cliff failures or to prevent landslides, in particular along shores used for tourism. Data on erosion rates and processes on shore platforms are generally scarce and restricted to limestone bedrocks. In this paper, we summarize the results of studies of rates and processes of rocky coasts of the countries overlooking the Mediterranean and Black Seas and review the current knowledge concerning rock coasts in the MBS area.

The rocky coasts of the Mediterranean Sea: field studies

“…The Mediterranean Sea is bordered by about 23.000 km of rocky coasts (FURLANI et al, 2014a). Despite the high percentage of rocky coasts in the Mediterranean Sea (more than 50%), the literature is limited and it has received little attention in papers and textbooks.…”

“…FURLANI et al (2014a) provided an extensive review of these kinds of coasts that are affected by vertical tectonic movements and changes in relative sea level and are generally characterized by mid-to low-storm wave energy. The Quaternary evolution of Mediterranean coasts have been widely studied, starting from different sea level markers, while increasing researches are addressing the processes related to the origin and evolution of rocky coasts.…”

“…Within the frame of the Geoswim project, more than 500 km were surveyed from 2012, in particular the Central Mediterranean Sea. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of the results of geomorphological studies about rocky coasts in the Mediterranean area after FURLANI et al (2014a), following in particular the results of the Geoswim project. …”

Chapter 1 Introduction to the rock coasts of the world

“…The effect of these climatic gradients is expressed most obviously by the landforms created on carbonate lithologies. In the classic study of Guilcher (1953), he noted that cliffs in the tropics were characterized by deep notches and overhanging visors, while in the warm Mediterranean (Chapter 7 by Furlani et al 2014) the notches were less distinct. In temperate Britain (Chapters 3 by Lim 2014 and 4 by Moses 2014), profiles tend to lack notches and slope seaward rather than being vertical.…”

“…Wind -wave processes on the other hand greatly influence the rates of erosion that can occur through physical destruction of the rock. This is most often represented in the presence of boulder debris, which is more common in the high-latitude storm belts (see Chapters 3 by Lim 2014 and 7 by Furlani et al 2014).…”