Shortage of Sediments in the Maspalomas Dune Field (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands) Deduced from Analysis of Aerial Photographs, Foraminiferal Content, and Sediment Transport Trends
Abstract The Maspalomas dune field and adjacent beaches are the most extensive coastal sedimentary environment on the island of Gran Canaria. This area is very important from both a natural and an economic perspective. The analysis of aerial photographs and satellite images from recent decades does not show important shoreline changes for the El Ingles and Maspalomas beaches, which can be considered, consequently, in a state of equilibrium. However, the Maspalomas dune field presents several modifications, such as aeolian corridors associated with beach kiosks, a significant reduction in thickness of the aeolian deposits, and an increase of deflation areas in the underlying substratum. All …
Source area determination of aeolian sediments at Jandia Isthmus (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands)
Abstract The Jandia Isthmus (Fuerteventura, Canary Islands) is a complex aeolian system composed of Pliocene and Pleistocene marine deposits, which are partially covered of carbonate crusts, palaeosols and sand sheets. The area has been greatly influenced by climate changes during the Quaternary. Nowadays this area presents an arid landscape dominated by the aeolian processes. Grain size, mineralogical and micropalaeontological analyses have been carried out to identify the source area of these wind-blown materials, considering five possible sources: windward beaches, Pliocene dune cliffs, Upper Pleistocene aeolian deposits, carbonate crusts and basaltic outcrops. Each one of these analyses…