Evolución reciente de geoformas erosivas inducidas por impacto urbanoturístico en el interior de un sistema de dunas transgresivo árido: Maspalomas, Islas Canarias

Urban-tourist developments at beach-dune systems often induce environmental changes. This is the case of Maspalomas dunefield (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands) with one of the largest tourist resorts in Spain. The building of an artificial high terrace (El Inglés) from 1960s had a strong impact on local winds and sediment transport patterns. Buildings on the terrace deflect winds to the south and accelerate the rate of sediment transport as a result in the southern section of the dune field. Leeward of the terrace wind speed and aeolian transport decrease and vegetation cover and density increase. However, a series of erosive landforms can be identified in the terrace leeside, including blowouts and large areas with the exhumation of plant roots (mainly Cyperus capitatus). In this paper we analyze the evolution of these erosive landforms in the last decades using historical aerial photographs, orthophotos and digital elevation models obtained by digital photogrammetry and LiDAR. Changes in two environmental variables (sediment volume and vegetation density) are calculated. Results indicate a deficit in sediment supply and increase in vegetation density in the active residual zone. We discuss eco-anthropic factors that have produced these environmental changes and the characteristics of the Maspalomas erosive landforms compared to other climatic regions.