Impact of climate change in the coast, primarily beaches, deltas and estuaries, is related mainly to sea level variation which originates redistributions of the coastal environments and depositional architectural changes. It is also closely related to wave climate and storm surge variations that may, jointly or independently from sea level change, be one of the main reasons for coastal erosion or flooding. Independent quantification of all processes at different temporal scales (seasonal, inter-annual and geological) is needed for the characterization of the specific climate effects. Wave storminess (extreme waves) and storm surge (extreme levels) variation will be analyzed at seasonal and inter-annual time scale based on the application of statistical models (Mendez et al., 2006a,b) to numerical and instrumental data sets. This goal will be undertaken using a wide array of techniques that provide independent information of all factors and their interactions.

More specific tasks will involve: a) preparation of maps of coastal sedimentary environments and detailed physiographic and tectonic aspects using digital land models, LIDAR bases and digital photogrametry, b) quantification of the input rates and sediment fluxes to the coastal zone, volumetric calculations of sediments accumulated in the coast and measurements of the present fluvial systems, c) determination of the basement depth and geometry and 3D architecture of the coastal deposits using geophysical techniques and probe sampling and d) integration of the data and elaboration of geometrical and evolutionary models for the study areas that may be related to climatic and eustathic changes and terrigenous inputs. The study of marine terraces recording ancient sea level rises in coastal areas from the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands will allow to analyzing the evolution of coastal dynamics during times of ice-sheet melting in response to natural climate change. In particular previous studies in estuaries, such as the Ria de Vigo, Doñana, bahia de Alcudia (Mallorca), etc allowed to reconstructing with great detail the evolution of coastal morphology over the last 10,000 thousand years as the sea level was rising. Gradual and abrupt coastal zone changes will be studied in estuaries, beaches and deltas. The dynamics and evolution of highly sensitive sedimentary material on the Spanish Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts will be analyzed on different time scales (seasonal, inter-annual and geological) taking into account both natural and anthropogenic determinants.