Beach Nourishment Alternatives for Mitigating Erosion of Ancient Coastal Sites on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel

Since 2011, beach nourishment has become the preferred solution for mitigating coastal erosion along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, as it is considered “soft” and environmentally friendly. However, using fine sand for nourishment in Israel without supporting measures is problematic due to the hi...

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Main Authors: Menashe Bitan, Ehud Galili, Ehud Spanier, Dov Zviely
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-07-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/7/509
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author Menashe Bitan
Ehud Galili
Ehud Spanier
Dov Zviely
author_facet Menashe Bitan
Ehud Galili
Ehud Spanier
Dov Zviely
author_sort Menashe Bitan
collection DOAJ
description Since 2011, beach nourishment has become the preferred solution for mitigating coastal erosion along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, as it is considered “soft” and environmentally friendly. However, using fine sand for nourishment in Israel without supporting measures is problematic due to the high wave energy and strong longshore currents in the littoral zone that tend to drift the sand away. This would require ongoing, multiyear, costly, and never-ending maintenance. In the present study, we analyzed sand and pebble alternatives for nourishment of the eroded beach in front of Tel Ashkelon, an important coastal archaeological site in southern Israel that suffers from severe erosion. Based on Pranzini et al. (2018), we analyzed the alternatives, evaluated their cost and efficiency, and assessed their potential environmental impacts. The study concluded that for protecting the southern part of Tel Ashkelon beach, pebble nourishment is the optimal solution, mainly regarding durability and cost. Using this material for nourishment will better absorb the storm wave impact and protect the foot of the archaeological Tel from erosion, and require lower maintenance cost than using finer sand nourishment.
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spelling doaj.art-cdfa16427a114089b823e9111d5f22282023-11-20T06:32:57ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122020-07-018750910.3390/jmse8070509Beach Nourishment Alternatives for Mitigating Erosion of Ancient Coastal Sites on the Mediterranean Coast of IsraelMenashe Bitan0Ehud Galili1Ehud Spanier2Dov Zviely3Department of Maritime Civilizations, The Leon H. Charney School for Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Aba-Khoushi Avenue, Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, IsraelDepartment of Maritime Civilizations, The Leon H. Charney School for Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Aba-Khoushi Avenue, Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, IsraelDepartment of Maritime Civilizations, The Leon H. Charney School for Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Aba-Khoushi Avenue, Mount Carmel, Haifa 3498838, IsraelFaculty of Marine Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek-Hefer 40250, IsraelSince 2011, beach nourishment has become the preferred solution for mitigating coastal erosion along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, as it is considered “soft” and environmentally friendly. However, using fine sand for nourishment in Israel without supporting measures is problematic due to the high wave energy and strong longshore currents in the littoral zone that tend to drift the sand away. This would require ongoing, multiyear, costly, and never-ending maintenance. In the present study, we analyzed sand and pebble alternatives for nourishment of the eroded beach in front of Tel Ashkelon, an important coastal archaeological site in southern Israel that suffers from severe erosion. Based on Pranzini et al. (2018), we analyzed the alternatives, evaluated their cost and efficiency, and assessed their potential environmental impacts. The study concluded that for protecting the southern part of Tel Ashkelon beach, pebble nourishment is the optimal solution, mainly regarding durability and cost. Using this material for nourishment will better absorb the storm wave impact and protect the foot of the archaeological Tel from erosion, and require lower maintenance cost than using finer sand nourishment.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/7/509coastal processesdredgingnourishment durabilityunit sand volumepebblesLevant
spellingShingle Menashe Bitan
Ehud Galili
Ehud Spanier
Dov Zviely
Beach Nourishment Alternatives for Mitigating Erosion of Ancient Coastal Sites on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
coastal processes
dredging
nourishment durability
unit sand volume
pebbles
Levant
title Beach Nourishment Alternatives for Mitigating Erosion of Ancient Coastal Sites on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel
title_full Beach Nourishment Alternatives for Mitigating Erosion of Ancient Coastal Sites on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel
title_fullStr Beach Nourishment Alternatives for Mitigating Erosion of Ancient Coastal Sites on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel
title_full_unstemmed Beach Nourishment Alternatives for Mitigating Erosion of Ancient Coastal Sites on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel
title_short Beach Nourishment Alternatives for Mitigating Erosion of Ancient Coastal Sites on the Mediterranean Coast of Israel
title_sort beach nourishment alternatives for mitigating erosion of ancient coastal sites on the mediterranean coast of israel
topic coastal processes
dredging
nourishment durability
unit sand volume
pebbles
Levant
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/7/509
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AT ehudspanier beachnourishmentalternativesformitigatingerosionofancientcoastalsitesonthemediterraneancoastofisrael
AT dovzviely beachnourishmentalternativesformitigatingerosionofancientcoastalsitesonthemediterraneancoastofisrael