Abstract

RUIZ-MARTINEZ, Gabriel; SILVA-CASARIN, Rodolfo  and  POSADA-VANEGAS, Gregorio. Morphodynamic comparison of the Northeast shoreline of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Tecnol. cienc. agua [online]. 2013, vol.4, n.3, pp.47-65. ISSN 2007-2422.

Over the last 40 years, infrastructure has been built in coastal regions in Mexico, contributing to the economic development of diverse regions in the country. Nevertheless, in many cases this infrastructure competes with natural process and these experiences have provided evidence of disasters that are called "natural," although the factors are anthropogenic. In the case of the beaches on the northeast coast of Quintana Roo, in particular in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, a gradual loss has occurred in the coast's natural balance. This has resulted in the in an undesirable response by the physical processes and phenomena related to beaches, involving a series of modifications that can be considered adverse both in environmental as well as social and economic terms. This work applies a methodology to determine the morphodynamic state of beaches with and without the protection of the Mesoamerican reef system. The analysis began with the study of the geology and geomorphology of the coast . The next phase involved an analysis of the physical characteristics of the sediments deposited on the beaches. Then, a numerical wave simulation was carried out for beaches without natural protection (Cancun) and those identified as having a reef system (Puerto Morelos). Lastly, the main morphodynamic parameters of the beaches were established. The results obtained show the importance of reef systems to the establishment of the behavior of beaches as well as to changes in vulnerability that can be caused by infrastructure.

Keywords : beaches; wave; geomorphology; sediments.