​The sand supply has expanded Mamaia Beach by 200 meters, but has angered administrators and tourists who complain that the beach is full of shells and that they have to walk too far to the water. Article InfoClima.ro shows the pros and cons of artificially nourished beaches and explains why we continue to treat the effects rather than the cause of the “disease”.

More than a third of eroding beaches in the Black Sea are in Romania. Future global shoreline dynamics are dominated by the response of sandy beaches to sea-level rise, and modest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could prevent 40% of shoreline retreat.

Popular resorts of the southern coast of Romania, such as Mamaia, Eforie, Costinesti, Neptune, Venus, are located directly on the barrier islands or have access to their beaches. These are coastal sandbars created by waves that respond dynamically to changing environmental conditions, such as sea storms or rising sea levels.

In response to the slight erosion tendency and to increase the usable surface of the beach, the authorities through the Dobrudja Water Basin Administration – Coast decided in 2021 to massively replenish the beaches with sand and expand the system of protective dykes in the Romanian territory. coast, and all this at a huge cost of about 800 million euros, European funding.

Among the goals of the megaproject is adaptation to climate change and reduction of the consequences caused by natural phenomena, mainly floods and coastal erosion.

How good are artificially fed beaches?

Advantages:

– Wider beaches mean better protection from coastal storms, as well as protection in the distant future from the effects of sea level rise.

– Mega-food projects like the one in Mamaia have been proven to be more effective in long-term sand conservation and to cope with climate change, as well as being more cost-effective.

– Artificially nourished beaches are often designed to increase recreational space for people, as they can accommodate more visitors and activities on the sand, and are therefore often preferred over narrow beaches.

Disadvantages:

– However, according to studies conducted in the USA and Australia, too wide beaches are known to be unattractive to visitors.

– Probably, the choice of coarser material was made due to the lack of other sediments in the sea, but this led to a decrease in the quality of the sand, finer ones are more valued.

– Artificial beaches, especially with coarse-grained sand, have a steeper slope at the entrance to the water. In the US, after such interventions, the number of drownings and accidents increased by up to 300%. Future reconstruction is expected, but the beach will still remain steeper due to the grain size used.

– Impacts are significant on ecosystems both on beaches and in the sediment extraction area, often for invertebrates that are buried in the sand, as well as for birds and fish that lose their food sources.

– When dams are also used, the impact on the landscape is severe and creates a less desirable environment.

Read the full article at InfoClima.ro