Physical characteristics of sandy beaches along the coast of Marsaxlokk bay

Abstract

The coast is simply the meeting place between the land and the sea. However in the real world, this statement is not so straightforward because it is difficult to define exactly where the land finishes and where the sea begins. It is more useful therefore to talk of the coastal zone. This area of transition is constantly being influenced by terrestrial and marine characteristics and thus it is an area of dynamic activity. Processes of marine erosion and deposition shape the coastline and establish a balance between wave energy and the configuration of the shore, creating beaches. The beach is an area of sediment accumulations of different nature and characteristics. Sand, which is unconsolidated material does not resist the action of waves but deals harmoniously with it, altering the shape of the profile. Sandy beaches in Malta only constitute a mere 2.5% of the coastline and are continuously under the pressure from anthropogenic influences. The aim of this dissertation was to examine the physical nature of small sandy beaches. Four beaches along Marsaxlokk Bay (St George's Bay, Qajjenza and Wied il-Buni, Birzebbugia) at southern Malta were investigated for their morphology and sediments. Beach profiling and sand sampling were the main tests incorporated within this study. The results were statistically assessed to determine the composition of each bay and understand the depositional processes. Analysis was done to compare the four beaches all lying within different marine scenarios. Cartography and photography were also research tools to highlight differences and similarities of the bays within different years.