Publication Date:
2024-07-09
Description:
Recent works (Evelpidou et al., 2012) suggest that the modern tidal notch is disappearing worldwide due
sea level rise over the last century. In order to assess this hypothesis, we measured modern tidal notches
in several of sites along the Mediterranean coasts. We report observations on tidal notches cut along
carbonate coasts from 73 sites from Italy, France, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Malta and Spain, plus
additional observations carried outside the Mediterranean. At each site, we measured notch width and
depth, and we described the characteristics of the biological rim at the base of the notch. We correlated
these parameters with wave energy, tide gauge datasets and rock lithology.
Our results suggest that, considering ‘the development of tidal notches the consequence of midlittoral
bioerosion’ (as done in Evelpidou et al., 2012) is a simplification that can lead to misleading results, such
as stating that notches are disappearing. Important roles in notch formation can be also played by wave
action, rate of karst dissolution, salt weathering and wetting and drying cycles. Of course notch formation
can be augmented and favoured also by bioerosion which can, in particular cases, be the main
process of notch formation and development.
Our dataset shows that notches are carved by an ensemble rather than by a single process, both today
and in the past, and that it is difficult, if not impossible, to disentangle them and establish which one is
prevailing. We therefore show that tidal notches are still forming, challenging the hypothesis that sea
level rise has drowned them.
Description:
Published
Description:
66-84
Description:
6A. Monitoraggio ambientale, sicurezza e territorio
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
restricted
Keywords:
Tidal notches, tides, sea level
;
04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.04. Marine geology
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
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