Η σπουδαιότητα των κύριων μεταβλητών που ελέγχουν το σχηματισμό και την εξέλιξη των παραλιακών ζωνών της Ελλάδος

This study aims to investigate the significance of 14 principal variables (sedimentological, oceanographical and morphodynamic) that control the formation and evolution of the Hellenic beach zones. Thus, data from sixteen beach zones, characterized by different geomorphological settings, were collected and inserted to a properly organized database that allowed the application of factor analysis. The results of the statistical analysis showed that the wave characteristics appear to have a leading role in the evolution of the beach zone, followed by the sea level rise rate and the granulometry of the surf zone. In particular, for pocket beaches, the profile length and the riverine sediment influx are the most significant variables, whilst for the other beach zones that host active river systems, the dominant factor, apart from riverine sediment flux, is wave characteristics.