Cliff dynamics in western Crimea

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Abstract

The paper considers the long-term dynamics of clayey cliffs of the Western Crimea in view of the problem of further recreational development of the Crimean Peninsula. Open-source satellite imagery and long-term (over 40 years) cliff section measurements were analyzed. The paper provides data on the geomorphology of individual coastal sites. It is shown that landslides are the main mechanism causing the cliff retreat on the larger part of the coastline. Slumps are typical for the southern part of the region and their movement episodes are relatively rare. Landslides become more active during the winter — spring period, when the moisture content of clayey cliff rocks increases substantially and the abrasion intensifies. Landslides can also be triggered by short-term heavy precipitation, which is usually observed in the summer. There is no definite relationship between the amount of annual precipitation, storm activity and landslide activity, either synchronous or with a time lag. No regularity in landslide dynamics was identified. It was found that the average long-term rates of cliff edge retreat are 0.1–1.2 m/year. In the northern part of the coast, the rates are the highest, decreasing towards the southern part of the region. The obtained average annual rates of cliff edge retreat are significantly less than those previously reported in the literature. There is a decrease in the beach-forming sediment supply due to a reduction in the stretch of the cliffs. Out of 50 km coastline with cliffs, only 39 km are left in the study area due to being covered by various structures and terracing. The paper also discusses anthropogenic activity, which leads to the formation and movement of man-made landslides and an increase in natural landslide activity. It is shown that the construction of transverse beach-retaining structures leads to blocking of littoral sediment transport, and to increase in the cliff retreat rate outside the protected reach.

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About the authors

Yu. N. Goryachkin

Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS

Author for correspondence.
Email: yngor@mhi-ras.ru
Russian Federation, Sevastopol

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Schematic map of Western Crimea (а), the numerals indicate site numbers and typical long-term average annuals of the cliff retreat rate, m/year (б), index A indicates coastal sites with terraced cliffs.

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3. Fig. 2. Cliff edge dynamics at Section 17 at the site between Kyzyl-Yar Lake and Bogaily Lake.

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4. Fig. 3. Coast in the Krasnaya Gorka Upland area: on the beach, the casing of a well can be seen, which was drilled in 1977 on the plateau 27 meters from the cliff edge (Photo by Yu.N. Goryachkin, 2019).

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5. Fig. 4. Satellite imagery of the seafront area in the village of Beregovoe: (а) — October 2004, (б) — May 2021.

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6. Fig. 5. Interannual variability of the cliff edge retreat rate at Site 5.

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7. Fig. 6. Location of landslides at Sites 9 and 10. The numerals are for the landslide cadastral number. The red lines show the landslide outlines.

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8. Fig. 7. Interannual variability of precipitation rate (mm) according to hydrometeorological station Sevastopol (1), smoothing with a moving average for 4 years (2) and periods of landslide activation (3).

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