Assessing Grain-Size and Sedimentological Variations in Human-Modified Beaches: Insights from the Northern Adriatic Coast (Italy)

Human interventions have profoundly altered the depositional settings and morphodynamic evolution of beaches. Such environmental alterations also affect the execution of scientific studies because natural sedimentary and morphological signals are often masked by anthropogenic signatures. This paper focuses on two beaches in Northern Italy that are heavily impacted by human activities. Through seasonal field observations and standardized sediment sampling combined with grain-size sediment analyses, this work aims to: (i) identify the sub-environments that are least affected by human disturbances and thus most suitable for geological monitoring and (ii) assess how different beach zones are influenced by seasonal variability and the presence of shore-parallel defense structures. The results indicate that the fair-weather berm is the most suitable area to record natural processes and seasonal changes, while step deposits reveal differences between protected and partially protected environments. These findings support standardized and reliable monitoring of human-modified beaches, providing practical guidance on where and how to conduct sediment sampling.