Natural versus anthropogenic factors in Cancun barrier erosion

Abstract

During the first half of 2006 important sand nourishment was done along the barrier shore face of Cancun Nizuc (Quintana Roo, Mexico). It was quickly decided and constructed after that the hurricane Wilma swept the barrier and under the recent general impression of the devastating Katrina effects on New Orleans region. That decision interrupted a long time of discussions about the better Project to recover the great erosion of the barrier beach. This paper discuss the role of the different natural agents on the coastal erosion in this Cancun barrier under strictly natural conditions, trying to discern the relative importance of the common maritime weather versus the hurricanes; and the role of the different anthropogenic agents of development in both the generation of new erosive coastal processes (strictly anthropogenics) and the strengthening of the previous and natural processes (partially anthropogenics). The later being more significant, the paper looks at the different importance of their synergies with the, respectively, common weather versus hurricanes effects on the barrier erosion.