Tidal notches in Mediterranean Sea: a comprehensive analysis

@article{Antonioli2015,
  Title = {Tidal notches in Mediterranean Sea: a comprehensive analysis},
  Author = {Antonioli, Fabrizio and Lo Presti, Valeria and Rovere, Alessio and Ferranti, Luigi and Anzidei, Marco and Furlani, Stefano and Mastronuzzi, Giuseppe and Orru, Paolo E. and Scicchitano, Giovanni and Sannino, Gianmaria and Spampinato, Cecilia R. and Pagliarulo, Rossella and Deiana, Giacomo and de Sabata, Eleonora and Sansò, Paolo and Vacchi, Matteo and Vecchio, Antonio},
  Editor = {},
  Year = {2015},
  Pages = {66-84},
  Volume = {119},
  Doi = {10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.03.016},
  Abstract = {Recent works (Evelpidou et al., 2012) suggest that the modern tidal notch is disappearing worldwide due sea level rise over the last century. In order to assess this hypothesis, we measured modern tidal notches in several of sites along the Mediterranean coasts. We report observations on tidal notches cut along carbonate coasts from 73 sites from Italy, France, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Malta and Spain, plus additional observations carried outside the Mediterranean. At each site, we measured notch width and depth, and we described the characteristics of the biological rim at the base of the notch. We correlated these parameters with wave energy, tide gauge datasets and rock lithology.

Our results suggest that, considering ‘the development of tidal notches the consequence of midlittoral bioerosion’ (as done in Evelpidou et al., 2012) is a simplification that can lead to misleading results, such as stating that notches are disappearing. Important roles in notch formation can be also played by wave action, rate of karst dissolution, salt weathering and wetting and drying cycles. Of course notch formation can be augmented and favoured also by bioerosion which can, in particular cases, be the main process of notch formation and development.

Our dataset shows that notches are carved by an ensemble rather than by a single process, both today and in the past, and that it is difficult, if not impossible, to disentangle them and establish which one is prevailing. We therefore show that tidal notches are still forming, challenging the hypothesis that sea level rise has drowned them.},
}

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Antonioli, Fabrizio
AU  - Lo Presti, Valeria
AU  - Rovere, Alessio
AU  - Ferranti, Luigi
AU  - Anzidei, Marco
AU  - Furlani, Stefano
AU  - Mastronuzzi, Giuseppe
AU  - Orru, Paolo E.
AU  - Scicchitano, Giovanni
AU  - Sannino, Gianmaria
AU  - Spampinato, Cecilia R.
AU  - Pagliarulo, Rossella
AU  - Deiana, Giacomo
AU  - de Sabata, Eleonora
AU  - Sansò, Paolo
AU  - Vacchi, Matteo
AU  - Vecchio, Antonio
TI  - Tidal notches in Mediterranean Sea: a comprehensive analysis
PY  - 2015
SP  - 66-84
VL  - 119
DO  - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.03.016
AB  - Recent works (Evelpidou et al., 2012) suggest that the modern tidal notch is disappearing worldwide due sea level rise over the last century. In order to assess this hypothesis, we measured modern tidal notches in several of sites along the Mediterranean coasts. We report observations on tidal notches cut along carbonate coasts from 73 sites from Italy, France, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Malta and Spain, plus additional observations carried outside the Mediterranean. At each site, we measured notch width and depth, and we described the characteristics of the biological rim at the base of the notch. We correlated these parameters with wave energy, tide gauge datasets and rock lithology.

Our results suggest that, considering ‘the development of tidal notches the consequence of midlittoral bioerosion’ (as done in Evelpidou et al., 2012) is a simplification that can lead to misleading results, such as stating that notches are disappearing. Important roles in notch formation can be also played by wave action, rate of karst dissolution, salt weathering and wetting and drying cycles. Of course notch formation can be augmented and favoured also by bioerosion which can, in particular cases, be the main process of notch formation and development.

Our dataset shows that notches are carved by an ensemble rather than by a single process, both today and in the past, and that it is difficult, if not impossible, to disentangle them and establish which one is prevailing. We therefore show that tidal notches are still forming, challenging the hypothesis that sea level rise has drowned them.
ER  -