Abstract:
Evolution of Nazaré beach after the construction of the fishing harbour • The evolution of Nazaré beach
from the establishment of the fishing harbour in the early 1980s to the present is examined based on aerial images
and topo-bathymetric data. After the construction of the harbour, a trend of shoreline advance is observed. On
average, the rate of change is estimated at 2.5 m/year. The result seems consistent with the increase of the crosssectional
area at the north jetty (estimated at an average of 20 m2/year). The accretional trend, resulting from the
retention effect of the north jetty, is likely to involve sand coming from the north that is not captured by the Nazaré
canyon. It is estimated that the Nazaré beach accretion rate represents around or less than 5% of the longshore
sediment transport to the north of the Nazaré headland
