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The paper focuses on the mid-term shoreline evolution and recent short-term shoreline trends of five sandy beaches located along the southeastern coast of Gran Canaria. Using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS), shoreline changes during the period 1961–2016 and sub-periods 1961–1998, 1998–2010 and 2010–2016 were assessed. Major results highlight a mid-term shoreline retreat of the southern coast stretch (Maspalomas Beach) and shoreline advance/stability of the eastern coast stretch (El Inglés, El Veril, Las Burras and San Agustin beaches), conversely positive and negative shoreline trends of Maspalomas and the eastern beaches, respectively, during the short-term period 2010–2016. Shoreline data and wind/wave data covering the period 1958–2004 highlight for Maspalomas a probable relationship between its negative mid-term shoreline evolution and a relative major severity of wave climate along the southern coast stretch. Moreover, regarding the negative short-term shoreline trend assessed for eastern beaches, an increase of wave dynamics is hypothesized, to be investigated in the near future. For the possible influence of hard defence structures on shoreline changes, data suggest that the groins placed along El Inglés, Las Burras and El Veril beaches have positively influenced shoreline trends in a first period, but did not contribute to overall beach stabilization or progradation in later periods. Results and data acquired during this study, concerning not only shoreline changes and related rates, but also possible causal aspects, can validly support both future research on sandy beaches in southeastern Gran Canaria and management interventions aimed at the development of coastal sustainable tourism in the studied coastal area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study on the modern dynamics and shoreline changes from 1954 to 2014 of the Molise coast (central Adriatic Sea) has been carried out. Short to long-term shoreline changes and associated surface area variations have been assessed in GIS environment for the study coast, subdivided in nine coastal segments (S1-S9), by using 100-m regularly spaced transects. In addition, the possible influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, especially of climatic variability and engineered shoreline defense structures, has been investigated. The Molise coast has experienced notable long-term erosion (period 1054-2014) that caused an overall coastal land loss of approximately 940,000 m2. Erosion was, yet, limited to coastal segments S1 and S7, nearest to the mouths of major rivers, namely Trigno and Biferno, while the major part of the study coast has remained essentially stable or even advanced. Increased shoreline protection by defense structures has generally favoured shoreline stability and frequently generated shoreline advance, except for segments S1 and S7. Observed differences in shoreline change rates over time at the decadal to interannual scale, have not find a response in the analysis of available data on meteo-marine conditions of the Molise coast and climate variability indices, pointing out the need to improve knowledge on meteomarine conditions and on climatic variability forcing of the study area. From 2004 to 2014, the Molise shoreline remained essentially stable. Nonetheless, most recent shoreline changes (period 2011-2014) and modern shoreline dynamics indicate that erosion has become more widespread, involving at least part of segments S2-S3 and S8-S9, located south of the river mouth segments. The localized long-term shoreline retreat and most recent shoreline erosion appear to be primarily related to channel adjustments of the Biferno and Trigno rivers that occurred since the 1950s under the control of human interventions on the rivers, especially the construction respectively of a dam and a check dam along their lower courses, that trap of most of their solid load, affecting so adversely the sediment budget of the river mouths areas and adjacent beaches. Overall data acquired on the recent shoreline evolution and modern shoreline dynamics of the Molise coast and on related causal factors provide a good basic knowledge for regional coastal management purposes, and for further scientific purposes. Particularly, they suggest the opportunity to deepen a number of aspects such as the relationship between the coast and river catchments feeding it, the possible influences on the Molise shoreline dynamics of the neighbouring coasts, the efficiency/obsolescence of defense structures and the present-day vulnerability to coastal erosion of the Molise coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]