Abstract
Long-term datasets documenting the evolution of coastal forms and processes, through the provision of recurring beach as well as shoreface morphological observations and accompanying time-series of environmental controls, remain difficult to collect and are rarely made available. However, they are increasingly needed to further our understanding of coastal change and to improve the models that will help planning what our future coast will be. This data descriptor presents the results of topographic and bathymetric surveys at Porsmilin, a macrotidal embayed beach situated in Brittany, northwest France. The Porsmilin beach survey program was launched in January 2003 by the Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer (IUEM/Univ. Brest) and is continuing today in the framework of the French coastal observation service SNO-DYNALIT. The dataset contains over 16 years of monthly beach profile surveys and a large collection of repeated high-resolution subtidal and subaerial digital elevation models (DEMs). The dataset is accompanied by time-series of inshore waves and water levels, and enriched metadata, that will facilitate its future reuse in coastal research.
Highlights
Background & SummaryMonitoring coastal morphodynamics at representative sites over time scales that span several years or even decades is necessary to further our understanding of natural[1–5] and human causes[6–9] of coastal change, to develop beach evolution models[10–14] that will prove reliable with regards to observations, and to help adapting coastal planning strategies to future changes[15–18]
Long-term datasets documenting the evolution of coastal forms and processes, through the provision of recurring beach as well as shoreface morphological observations and accompanying time-series of environmental controls, remain difficult to collect and are rarely made available
The Porsmilin beach survey program was launched in January 2003 by the Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer
Summary
Monitoring coastal morphodynamics at representative sites over time scales that span several years or even decades is necessary to further our understanding of natural[1–5] and human causes[6–9] of coastal change, to develop beach evolution models[10–14] that will prove reliable with regards to observations, and to help adapting coastal planning strategies to future changes[15–18] Achieving all these objectives is generally impeded as long-term datasets documenting the evolution of coastal forms and processes, for instance through providing repeated beach and shoreface morphological observations and accompanying time-series of environmental forcing conditions, remain difficult to collect and are rarely made available. Field data collected at Porsmilin have been used to investigate the morphodynamic response of macrotidal embayed beaches[31,35], equilibrium modelling of the beach profile[36], and the conditions controlling beach cusps development[37] They contributed to a regional assessment of the shoreline dynamics of the Brittany coast[38], and erosion and recovery following extreme storm activity during the 2013–2014 winter at both local[39] and European scales[33,34]. Accompanying the results of our field surveys, we provide hourly wave hindcasts and tidal levels, obtained with the help of external organisations, for the period 2000–2019
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
