Effect of Tropical Cyclones on Short-Term Evolution of Carbonate Sandy Beaches on Reunion Island, Indian Ocean

ABSTRACT Mahabot, M.-M.; Pennober, G.; Suanez, S.; Troadec, R., and Delacourt, C., 2017. Effect of tropical cyclones on short-term evolution of carbonate sandy beaches on Reunion Island, Indian Ocean. Carbonate sandy beaches in Reunion Island show various forms of evidence of erosion. Extreme waves associated with tropical cyclones (TCs) play a major role in beach dynamics. The present study analyzes and quantifies back-reef beach response and recovery from forcing generated by TCs Dumile, Felleng, and Bejisa, which occurred in 2013 and 2014. The study focuses on carbonate beaches of Reunion Island from Cap Champagne to the Passe de Trois-Bassins. Morphological and volumetric changes on beaches were analyzed by comparing 19 beach profiles. The results show that TCs are able to cause significant morphosedimentary change on the back-reef beaches of Reunion Island. These changes affect beach topography and involve longshore and cross-shore sediment transport. An alongshore variation in beach response is obse...