Large-scale coastal features generated by atmospheric pulses and associated edge waves

This article presents a hydrodynamic model that predicts the generation of horns and coves on the inner continental shelf, resulting from turbulent wind vortices blowing over the sea surface on the lee side of geographic obstacles (e.g. capes, islands, skyscrapers etc.). Such vortices generate edge waves whose net bedload sediment transport leads to the formation of such features. The resulting morphology reinforces the standing edge wave pattern, produces positive feedback, and exhibits self-forcing behavior. This model is applied to the horns and embayments found at Carchuna Beach (Spain), and offers a plausible explanation of how they have been generated. The results show that the presence of geographic obstacles or human constructions close to a beach may cause the formation of large-scale features on its coastline, significantly altering the beach width.