GEOMORPHOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF ACCELERATED SEA LEVEL RISE ON DIFFERENTIAL COASTAL TYPOLOGY: A CASE STUDY IN ATALANTI, GREECE

Former shorelines have been associated with different geologic identifiers depending upon differences in coastal geologies and morphologies. The identification of these former shorelines can provide vital information on the response of different coastal typologies and geomorphologies to sea level rise. Though the EEA (European Environmental Agency) has previously provided a general classification for this coastline, and several scholars have assessed specific aspects of both modern and submerged coastlines, no comprehensive study has been attempted in relation to the dynamic geomorphology of coastlines in Central Greece.

Along the Euboean coast in Greece, the tectonically active Atalanti fault system provides an ideal setting for assessment of coastal change in response to sea-level rise. By assessing the coastline from Arkitsa to Theologos along the Atalanti fault in Central Greece with a variety of established coastal classification systems, it is possible to see the reaction of each typology of coastline to accelerated sea level rise and therefore assess the associated hazards of different coastlines in the study area.

Using a personalized though widely inclusive ArcGIS database via the ArcCollector app, this study recorded a large suite of parameters ranging from grain size to inland character to Australian beach classifications (Short, 2011) in order to characterize different coastlines and assess hazard risk in each area. With this database, the coastline was assessed in sections of 10-100m, using both aerial photographs and on-site inspection. The comparison of the resulting map of coastal typologies with the preexisting EEA map reveals many inconsistencies, with the EEA map lacking accuracy on a large percentage of coasts. Using several parameters such as geologic makeup, slope and former shoreline identifiers like tidal notches and beach rock, it is possible to identify areas of uplift and accelerated submergence, and therefore provide models for areas at risks of inundation due to accelerated sea level rise. By studying the impacts of former tectonic events along the coast in Kolpos (Gulf) Atalantis, this study provides insights on identifying coastal change along differential coastal typology and may be used as a reference in identifying global regions at risk from accelerated sea level rise.