Evaluation of Coastal Protection Strategies at Costa da Caparica (Portugal): Nourishments and Structural Interventions

Costa da Caparica beach, in Portugal, has suffered from chronic erosion for the last 50 years, a phenomenon that been countered by various management interventions. This study aims at comparing sixteen possible interventions, thus identifying most effective one(s) terms of reducing beach or even promoting accretion. exercise is achieved using one-line shoreline evolution model, calibrated with situ field data, forced local wave conditions. The target period 25 years. In calibration phase, it found annual mean alongshore net sediment transport along 24 km sandy coast variable direction and magnitude, but mostly smaller than ±50 × 103 m3/year. results imbalance northward/southward-directed bulk transports circa tenfold-larger magnitudes. affects overall balance urban beaches, as well effectiveness intervention strategies. show present strategy holding position, although deploying same nourishment volume over shorter area could lead to better results. best solutions, which are capable accretion, implicate lengthening terminal groin northern extremity beach. this can support decision makers appropriate action, not just locally also other coastal regions where similar problems persist methodology be applied.