Man,runoff and the erosion of the coastal slopes of Ashkelon,Israel

In Ashkelon two different man-environment interactions have stimulated coastal slope erosion by enhancing runoff volumes. The first type of interaction is recreation and the second is the result of Bedouin pastoral nomadism. The impact of recreation creates impervious surfaces such as walkways, parking lots, and stairways, in addition to storm sewer outlets that concentrate and enlarge runoff volumes. The impact of pastoral nomadism is limited to the crumbling of the slope surfaces by animal grazing. This creates favorable environments for rapid runoff and erosion. The results of these interactions are a coastal slope surface inundated by dense gulley networks. Large alluvial fans are also built-up at the slope base. The fans limit wave attack and re-enforce the importance of runoff as an agent of coastal slope erosion.Dr. Alan L. Marcus is Lecturer of Geomorphology