The Seaflower Biosphere Reserve: Research advances on ocean and coastal processes and related hazards for the regional management

Abstract

The Seaflower Biosphere Reserve (SBR) stands as an exceptional marine region located in the western Caribbean Sea; this reserve comprises numerous volcanic islands such as the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina (ASAPSC), islets, cays, atolls, and coral reefs and encompasses a territorial jurisdiction shared among Colombia, Nicaragua, and Jamaica. It was designated as a UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve, given its remarkable biodiversity and endemism. Because of its location in the Caribbean Sea, the reserve is subject to complex regional and local climate patterns including the crossing of Atlantic tropical storms that have impacted the ASAPSC with substantial effects. The socioeconomic development of the inhabitants of this archipelago is intrinsically related to the marine environment. Therefore, studying ocean and coastal processes such as waves climate, oceanic circulation, sea level variability, extreme events intensity and frequency, and their effects on sediment transport, morphological dynamics, and coastal evolution are essential for preserving this valuable oceanic region. Despite its significance, the study of coastal and ocean processes in the SBR is still reduced. Thus, a review and synthesis of peer-reviewed studies is presented here aiming to highlight the advances in coastal processes and related hazards research in the SBR to set up the current knowledge baseline and recognize existing research gaps that might demand further investigation in the near future for the effective coastal management and social development in the SBR.