Cyprus Beaches in the Context of Parabolic Bay Shaped Beach Model

Abstract

The importance of shoreline protection has attracted researchers in terms of finding new and applicable methods. The equilibrium planform concept is being widely used and modified over more than two decades. Cyprus has relatively high economical dependency on its sandy shorelines, which are mostly natural headland bays. The fact that most of the rivers located in the island are dried out, duo to careless dam construction over the years; seems to have compromised the main sediment inflow resource for the coastal regions. Hence the existing compulsion for more forecasting and planning, concerning shoreline protection is very clear. Application of parabolic bay shape approach to coastal environments of east of Cyprus have been carried out, using parabolic bay shape approach and two different modifications of the approach. Concerning the shoreline equilibrium, the tested coastlines are in general following a static conditions. However, due to unreliable diffraction points associated with headland bays, in some cases, the coastline is not in a desirable stable situation. Accordingly various suggestions for headland extension are presented at various regions.