Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Wind wave climate change: Impacts on the littoral processes at the Northern Buenos Aires Province Coast, Argentina

Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Several works reported wind-wave climate changes at Buenos Aires Province continental shelf. The aim of this work is to investigate the impact of these changes in the coastal processes of the region. This study is carried out by means of visual wave parameters gathered at the surf zone of Pinamar and by a conveniently implemented and validated numerical wave model (SWAN). Numerical results corresponding to a grid point located 30 km off Pinamar show a significant increase of wave heights from the S and SSE directions and in the frequency of occurrence of waves coming from the S, SSE and E. It is shown that these slight offshore appreciated trends would not have significant effects on the breaker heights observed at the surf zone at Pinamar. On the contrary, the slight positive trend observed offshore in the frequency of occurrence could be affecting the incidence of waves onshore, producing an increase in the number of cases of normal incidence at the surf zone and, consequently, a significant decrease in the alongshore wave energy flux assessed at Pinamar. This reduction in the alongshore wave energy flux could be responsible for some coastal changes detected in the region as, for instance, the remarkable shortening of Punta Rasa spit located 70 km northward Pinamar.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price includes VAT (Finland)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

References

  • Barros V, Castañeda ME, Doyle M (2000) Recent precipitation trends in Southern South America to the East of the Andes: an indication of a mode of climatic variability. In: Smolka P, Wolkheimer W (eds) Southern Hemisphere Paleo and Neoclimates Concepts, Methods, Problems. Springer, Berlin, pp 187–206

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bertin X, Prouteau E, Letetrel C (2013) A significant increase in wave height in the North Atlantic Ocean over the 20th century. Glob Planet Chang 106:77–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booij N, Ris RC, Holthuijsen LH (1999) A third-generation wave model for coastal regions. 1. Model description and validation. J Geophys Res 104(C4):7649–7666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caviglia F, Pousa J, Lanfredi W (1991) A determination of the energy flux constrant from the dredge records. J Coast Res 7(2):543–549

    Google Scholar 

  • CERC (1984) Littoral Processes. In Shore Protection Manual, Ch. 4, vol. 1. US Government Printing Office, Washington, pp 1–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Codignotto J, Dragani WC, Martin PB, Simionato CG, Medina RA, Alonso G (2012) Wind-wave climate change and increasing erosion observed in the outer Río de la Plata, Argentina. Cont Shelf Res 38:110–116. doi:10.1016/j.csr.2012.03.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox A, Swail V (2001) A global wave hindcast over the period 1958–1997: validation and climate assessment. J Geophys Res 106(C2):2313–2329

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dean, R. and Dalrymple, R., 2004. Coastal Processes with Engineering Applications, Cambridge University Press.

  • D’Onofrio E, Fiore M, Pousa JL (2008) Changes in the regime of storm surges at Buenos Aires, Argentina. J Coast Res 24:260–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dragani W, Garavento E, Simionato C, Nuñez M, Martín P, Campos MI (2008) Wave simulation in the outer Río de la Plata estuary: an evaluation of SWAN model. J Waterw Port Coast Ocean Eng 134(5):299–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dragani WC, Martín P, Campos MI, Simionato C (2010) Are wind wave heights increasing in South-eastern South American continental shelf between 32S and 40S? Cont Shelf Res. doi:10.1016/j.csr.2010.01.002

    Google Scholar 

  • Dragani, W. C., Codignotto, J.O., Martin, P. B., Campos, M. I., Alonso, G., Simionato, C. G. and Medina, R., 2012. Some coastal impacts related to wind wave changes in south-eastern South American continental shelf. Editors: B. Veress and J. Szigethy, in “Horizons in Earth Science Research”, Nova Science Publishers, 6, 161–177.

  • Escobar G, Vargas W, Bischoff S (2004) Wind tides in the Río de la Plata estuary: meteorological conditions. Int J Climatol 24:1159–1169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiore M, D’Onofrio E, Pousa JL, Schnack E, Bértola G (2009) Storm surges and coastal impacts at Mar del Plata, Argentina. Cont Shelf Res 29(14):1643–1649. doi:10.1016/j.csr.2009.05.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GEBCO, 2003. User guide to the centenary edition of the GEBCO Digital Atlas and its data sets. Ed. Jones MT, Natural Environment Research Council.

  • Gregg, W.W. and Conkright, M.E, 2002. Decadal changes in global ocean chlorophyll. Geophys Res Lett 29(15):doi:10.1029/2002GL014689

  • Hemer M, Church J, Hunter J (2010) Variability and trends in the directional wave climate the Southern Hemisphere. Int J Climatol 30:475–491

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemer M, Fan Y, Mori N, Semedo A, Wang X (2013) Projected Changes in wave climate from a multi-model ensemble. Nat Clim Chang. doi:10.1038/nclimate1791

    Google Scholar 

  • Izaguirre C, Méndez FJ, Espejo A, Losada IJ, Reguero BG (2013) Extreme wave climate changes in Central-South America. Clim Chang. doi:10.1007/s10584-013-0712-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Kokot RR (1997) Littoral drift evolution and management in Punta Médanos, Argentina. J Coast Res 13(1):192–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Kokot RR (2010) Espigas indicadoras de proveniencia de olas en la costa Argentina. Rev Asoc Geol Argent 67(1):19–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanfredi N, Pousa J, D’Onofrio E (1998) Sea level rise and related potential hazards on the Argentine coast. J Coast Res 14(1):47–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Losada I, Reguero B, Méndez F, Castanedo S, Abascal A, Mínguez R (2013) Long-term changes in sea-level components in Latin America and the Caribbean. Glob Planet Chang 104:34–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pousa JL, D’Onofrio E, Fiore M, Kruse E (2012) Environmental impacts and simultaneity of positive and negative storm surges on the coast of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Environ Earth Sci 24(1A):260–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Reguero B, Méndez F, Losada I (2013) Variability of multivariate wave climate in Latin America and the Caribbean. Glob Planet Chang 100:70–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ris RC, Holthuijsen LH, Booij N (1999) A third-generation wave model for coastal regions. 2. Verification. J Geophys Res 104(C4):7667–7681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, C., 1981. The littoral environment observation (LEO) data collection program. Coastal Engineering Technical Aid 81–5. Coastal Engineering Research Center, US Army, Corps of Engineers, Virginia, 23 p.

  • SHN (2013) Tablas de Marea. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval. Ministerio de Defensa, Buenos Aires

    Google Scholar 

  • Simionato, C., Vera, C. and Siegismund, F., 2005. Surface wind variability on seasonal and interannual scales over Río de la Plata. J. Coast. Res (21):770-783

  • Simmonds, I., Keay, K., 2000. Mean Southern Hemisphere extratropical cyclone behavior in the 40-year NCEP-NCAR reanalysis. J. Climate (13):873–885

  • SMN, 1992. Estadisticas Climatológicas 1981–1990. Serie B - N° 37. Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Comando de Regiones Aéreas, Servicio Metorológico Nacional. 710 p.

  • SMN, 2009 Estadisticas Climatológicas 1991–2000. Fuerza Aérea Argentina, Servicio Metorológico Nacional. CD-rom.

  • Young IR, Zieger S, Babanin AB (2011) Global Trends in Wind Speed and Wave Height. Science 332:451–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young IR, Vinoth J, Zieger S, Babanin AV (2012) Investigation of trends in extreme value wave height and wind speed. J Geophys Res 117:C00J06

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zenkovich VP (1967) Processes of coastal development. Steers Oliver and Boyd, Londres, 738 pp

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This paper is a contribution to the CONICET PIP 112-200801-02599 and 112-201101-00176 projects.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval y ESCM-INUN, Av. Montes de Oca 2124 (C1270ABV), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Walter C. Dragani, Paula B. Martin, Guadalupe Alonso & Bárbara E. Prario

  2. CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Av. Rivadavia 1917. (C1033AAJ), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Walter C. Dragani, Paula B. Martin, Guadalupe Alonso, Jorge O. Codignotto & Guido Bacino

  3. Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océanos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, UBA, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, 2do. Piso. (C1428EGA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Walter C. Dragani, Paula B. Martin & Guadalupe Alonso

  4. Instituto Franco - Argentino para el Estudio del Clima y sus Impactos (UMI IFAECI/CNRS - CONICET-UBA), Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, 2do. Piso. (C1428EGA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Walter C. Dragani

  5. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino (SEGEMAR), Av. Julio A. Roca 651 10º P (C1067ABB), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Jorge O. Codignotto & Guido Bacino

Authors
  1. Walter C. Dragani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paula B. Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guadalupe Alonso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jorge O. Codignotto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bárbara E. Prario
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Guido Bacino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Walter C. Dragani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dragani, W.C., Martin, P.B., Alonso, G. et al. Wind wave climate change: Impacts on the littoral processes at the Northern Buenos Aires Province Coast, Argentina. Climatic Change 121, 649–660 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0928-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0928-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation