Crescentic bars: studying its formation in Castelldefels

Abstract

Crescentic bars are alongshore rhythmic undulations of sand ridges. Data of a five-camera set up in Castelldefels Beach, bathymetric surveys and wave data from a buoy was used to run and validate the morphodynamic model MORFO62. Wave data sensitivity analysis showed that growth rate decreases as the angle of incidence increases, and that larger wave height and period reduce the probability of appearance of crescentic bars. Modelled results also showed the disappearance of crescentic events when the bar is further from the shoreline. The model was found to overestimate migration velocities, and numerical sensitivity analysis would be necessary to further investigate other beach conditions