Terefenko, P., Terefenko, O., 2014. Determining the role of exposure, wave force, and rock chemical resistance in marine notch development. In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 706-711, ISSN 0749-0208.

In order to assess the role of coastal exposure, wave force, and rock chemical resistance in marine notch development a study was undertaken along 28km of the Algarve region in southern Portugal between Gale and Portimao. Notches were identified in the field, and exposure to wave force was calculated on the basis of wave refraction estimates. Almost 100 samples were collected and analyzed to assess calcium carbonate content of the coastal lithology. Finally with the use of GIS geostatistical methods, values of chemical resistance were calculated. Statistical correlation analysis enabled the definition of the importance of each investigated factor in the process of the formation of marine notches and the resulting shape. Since shape is a quantitative factor, several additional statistical calculations such as the Kruskal-Wallis test and analysis with tree classification methods were performed. The final results show that the importance of each factor controlling coastal morphology is changeable and depends generally on coastal exposure. Bigger wave force is assisted with lower diversity of coastal forms. The shape of the coastal notches depends on the notch exposure and wave force. The bigger the wave force the higher the probability that V-shape notches occur. The effect of the chemical resistance factor was less prominent though it does influence notch shape at specific levels of wave force.