Tomographic analysis identifies optimal areas for implementing nature-based solutions to climate change
Brussels, 4 July 2025. As part of the European project LIFE COSTAdapta, a 2D marine electrical tomography geophysical survey was carried out in May along the coast of San Felipe, in the municipality of Guía (Gran Canaria). This study allowed for the characterization of the marine subsoil down to a depth of 15 metres, identifying layers with loose materials and high porosity, which may be suitable for the future implementation of the progressive reef–tidal pool system, the central focus of the project.
The method used, non-intrusive and based on resistivity models, enabled the inference of the presence of gravels, sands, and cobbles with a high concentration of interstitial water, as well as areas with more compact rocky substrate. This information is essential for planning interventions that help adapt the coastline to rising sea levels through nature-based solutions, without altering local coastal uses or its touristic value.
The technical report includes six tomographic profiles and a georeferenced 3D model of the underwater terrain. The results have been integrated into the planning of the coastal adaptation system, which aims to reduce erosion, preserve coastal habitats, and improve climate resilience along the northern coast of Gran Canaria.
With a total budget of €3,409,864 and a duration of 84 months, LIFE COSTAdapta is co-funded at 60% by the European Union’s LIFE Programme. The project is coordinated by the Island Energy Council of Gran Canaria (CIEGC), with the participation of Finnova Foundation, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), the University of Cantabria (UC), ECOncrete, INGECID, Raley Estudios Costeros, and the Canary Islands Foundation for Recycling and Sustainable Development.
LIFE COSTAdapta is part of the European Union’s broader commitment to promoting sustainable, replicable and socially responsible adaptation solutions for the most climate-vulnerable coastal areas.
More information
Project website: https://costadapta.energiagrancanaria.com