The “90 Segundos Ciência” programme highlighted the work of Paulo Baganha Baptista, a researcher at CESAM/DGEO, dedicated to monitoring the impacts of storms and other extreme events on coastal erosion.
In the episode, the researcher explains that, throughout the last maritime winter, the succession of storms created a growing need to collect more consistent data on the evolution of the coastline. To address this challenge, the University of Aveiro has been developing coastal monitoring techniques, combining well-established methods with more recent tools, such as satellite images, video stations and other indirect observation methods.
These technologies make it possible to monitor, almost in real time, the behaviour of critical erosion areas. One of the examples presented in the programme is the case of Mira, where a video-monitoring station made it possible to observe the evolution of the beach next to the Bairro dos Pescadores. According to Paulo Baganha Baptista, between September 2025 and early February, a retreat of around three metres was recorded; after another storm, which occurred just one week later, the retreat increased to more than seven metres.
The researcher emphasises that the occurrence of successive storms, separated by short intervals, prevents the beach from recovering naturally. As a result, each new event can significantly worsen the effects of the previous one, increasing the vulnerability of coastal areas.
The episode reinforces the importance of science and continuous monitoring to better understand coastal erosion processes and support land management decisions. “90 Segundos Ciência” is a joint programme by Antena 1 and NOVA FCSH, with the support of the Foundation for Science and Technology.
Full programme available here.