Long-Term Shoreline Evolution and Anthropogenic Impact: Evidence from 76 Years of Coastal Change in Mazagón, Spain

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2026

Abstract

The Mazagón coast (Huelva, southwestern Spain) illustrates the strong imprint of anthropogenic interventions on shoreline dynamics. This study evaluates its evolution between 1946 and 2022 by digitizing historical shorelines from aerial photographs and quantifying changes through three complementary indicators: Net Shoreline Movement (NSM), End Point Rate (EPR), and Linear Regression Rate (LRR). Statistical analyses (ANOVA and Tukey’s test) were performed to assess differences between pre- and post-construction phases of the Juan Carlos I breakwater. The results indicate a prevailing erosive trend, with mean retreat rates of − 1.4 m/yr and localized shoreline losses exceeding 100 m. Prior to the breakwater, variability was moderate, but after its construction, the shoreline displayed marked spatial asymmetries: the northern sector continued to recede, while the southern sector exhibited stability and even localized accretion, with NSM values surpassing + 80 m in some transects. These patterns reflect the disruption of littoral drift and sediment compartmentalization induced by the harbor structures. The findings highlight how rigid engineering solutions redistribute, rather than resolve erosion problems and demonstrate the dual influence of storm events and human interventions on shoreline trajectories. From a management perspective, this case study emphasizes the need for integrated and adaptive strategies, including process-based and nature-based approaches, to address erosion in sediment-limited coasts.

Publication Title

Earth Systems and Environment

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