High-resolution morphometric analysis of the rocky coast of the Prebetic System (western Mediterranean)

[EN] The rocky coast of the Prebetic System (southeast Iberian Peninsula) presents a marked tecto-structural control and by subaerial processes. The objective of this study is the morphometric characterization of this rocky coast. The analysis of the digital elevation model (2x2 m grid resolution) obtained from LIDAR, combined with the geological map, field work and review of previous studies, allows the identification and morphometric characterization of 271 geomorphological units, which mainly include stretches of high or medium cliffs, intercepted by numerous gullies (some of them hanging), stretches of low rocky coastline associated in many cases with Upper Pleistocene (5e) coastal deposits, and coastal plains of fluvial valleys, as well as some coastal lagoon, tombolo, islands, alluvial fan and a arheic basin. The high and medium cliffs show a smoothed profile in their upper section, evidencing the action of fluvial runoff and karstic erosion. The erosive action of waves is evidenced mainly in the formation of shore platforms, mapped and their minimum area determined from satellite images.