Fractal Analysis, Morpho‐Sedimentary Aspects and Coastal Vulnerability in Mediterranean Islands: A Novel Approach

Mediterranean islands are increasingly threatened by climate change and growing tourism pressure, making the understanding of their coastal dynamics essential for sustainable management. This study investigated modern coastal dynamics and vulnerability on the islands of Procida (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) and Mykonos (Cyclades, Greece) through an integrated approach combining (1) two-dimensional fractal analysis, (2) granulometric and morphoscopic analyses of beach sediments and (3) coastal exposure assessment using geographical and effective fetch analyses. The methodological resources applied were (1) 2D-fractal analysis, (2) granulometric analysis of beach sediments, morphoscopy of quartz and silicate grains, (3) meteomarine climate and geographical fetch analysis. After performing physiographic subdivisions of the coastal perimeter of the studied islands, it was possible to compare and quantify their fragility. Our results indicated that the Mykonos shoreline has higher geometric complexity, as indicated by both the box-counting fractal dimension (Db = 1.15) and the correlation fractal dimension (Dc = 1.17), than Procida (Db = 1.09; Dc = 1.12), with Procida being more susceptible to uniform wave impact and possible extreme events. The greater vulnerability of Procida Island was also corroborated by the sedimentological analysis, which indicated a homogeneous classification of slightly gravelly sand in a highly energetic, constantly changing environment. The integrated methodological framework proved effective for assessing coastal vulnerability and morphodynamic behaviour in Mediterranean island environments and may support future coastal monitoring and management strategies.