The erosion of beaches stopped being a scientific warning to become a visible reality on the Buenos Aires Atlantic Coast.
Where there used to be wide strips of sand, today there is water, tents are at the edge of the waves, and the public space is drastically reduced.
Moreover, in recent months, two strong consecutive southeasterly winds worsened an already fragile situation.
At the time, videos went viral showing entire beaches being reached by the waves, when previously they did not reach there.
This increasingly common pattern accelerated an erosion process that has been advancing for decades and affects tourism activity.
The causes of beach erosion in Argentina
Federico Iñaki Isla, a geologist and researcher at the CONICET specializing in coasts, explained in an interview with Infobae that beach erosion exposes a structural vulnerability.
The problem has two sides: the retreat of the coastline and the loss of sand on the beaches.
The phenomenon has multiple overlapping causes. On one hand, the sea naturally advances over the coast, intensified by the rise in sea level associated with climate change.
On the other hand, human action alters the dynamics of the sand. It interrupts its circulation and deepens an imbalance that leaves beaches unable to recover after each storm.
The problem of coastal works without regional planning
The Buenos Aires coast functions as a dynamic system in which the sand constantly moves.
The so-called Littoral Drift Current transports sediments from south to north and naturally nourishes the beaches.
In this sense, one of the factors that most influences beach erosion is the construction of coastal works without regional planning.
Breakwaters, jetties, and groynes generate sand accumulation at a specific point but cause a chain effect.
“To the south of the structure, beach is gained, while to the north it begins to lack,” Isla explained. The result is the transfer of beach erosion from one resort to another.
For example, according to studies conducted in the region, the entire coastal strip between Mar del Plata and Pehuen Có retreats on average half a meter per year.
Meanwhile, in the eastern barrier, which includes Villa Gesell, Pinamar, and the Partido de la Costa, the problem of beach erosion is even more severe.
Disorganized policy and lack of studies
Andrés Folguera, a geologist from the UBA and principal researcher at CONICET, pointed out that “today, the action of the sea and the wind exceeds the volume of the existing deposit on some northern coastal beaches”.
“It may be because the natural dynamics of the sea change. Or also because someone is taking the sand, through the construction of unauthorized jetties,” the expert stated.
“There are no major studies and everyone does what they want nowadays. The dynamics of the beaches is very independent of the voluntarism of the municipalities. An organized public policy is needed,” Folguera emphasized.
The impact of climate change on beach erosion and future perspectives
Climate change adds pressure to the system. The sea level rises and tends to accelerate.
According to scientific estimates, by the end of the century, it could rise around 40 centimeters, and even reach 80 if emissions are not reduced.
Stopping beach erosion is impossible, but mitigating its effects is an option.
Experts insist on the need to rethink the use of the beaches and point out an excessive occupation of tents.
The main factors contributing to beach erosion:
- Construction of breakwaters and jetties without integrated planning
- Upstream dams that reduce sediment supply
- Sea level rise due to climate change
- More frequent storms and southeasterly winds
Erosion is also linked to environmental quality. Some beaches have already disappeared, and others have become unusable due to water pollution and waste accumulation.
Therefore, caring for the sand without ensuring water quality is insufficient.
