Investigation of the main drivers influencing sediment property change and coastal erosion in Central Vietnam

Abstract Coastal zones worldwide are densely populated and, as a result, among the areas most affected by urbanization. However, coastlines are very dynamic and always changing due to a variety of human and natural factors. One of today’s most concerning coastal risks is erosion, which can seriously harm buildings and infrastructure along the coast. The Cua Dai estuary in Vietnam, which serves as an outlet of the Thu Bon River, has been experiencing coastal erosion in recent decades. Following human activity in the upstream region, the erosion got severe, such as dam development and sand mining activity. As a result, a comprehensive evaluation of hydro-morphodynamics, sediment transport, and coastal interventions is necessary. We conduct campaigns to understand better the grain-size distribution along the cross-shore profile and the variation of median grain-size diameter (d50), which will help define a representative d50 to characterize the beaches. In addition, images from satellite observations depict coastal erosion patterns. The findings can improve our understanding of the budget from the mountain to the sea. They can be used to recommend specific measures for mitigating or intervening in hotspot areas.