COASTAL PROCESSES ON THE BLACK SEA ROMANIAN CLIFF SHORE

11th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM2011, www.sgem.org, SGEM2011 Conference Proceedings/ ISSN 1314-2704, June 20-25, 2011, Vol. 1, 27-34 pp

ABSTRACT

The Romanian coasts can be divided in two categories: erosion coasts (cliff shores) and
accumulative coasts (barrier beaches). The active behavior of the cliffs is due to the
action of marine abrasion and slope processes, landslides and gravitational collapses.
Cliff shores between Cape Midia and Vama Veche has a complex lithological profile.
Silt and clay particles are carried seaward by the rip currents system, while sand and
gravel particles are conveyed along the coast. Textural and mineralogical study of these
deposits provides relevant information on the source of beach detritic components.
Presence of groundwater promotes the release of gravitational landslides.

Keywords: cliff shores, coastal erosion, and dynamics