## 1 Introduction
Spatial and temporal fine-scale coastal sedimentary morphodynamics studies showed that the trends observed in large-scale studies may be the opposite of those observed in certain beach segments [23]. The consideration of local specificities, such as coastline orientation, exposure and natural or man-made structures, is thus crucial for the assessment of coastal risk and decision-making regarding protective measures for coastal populations and infrastructures. Analogously, the characteristics of forcing variables, such as the prevailing wave and wind directions and intensities, have to be considered, as these are likely to influence the local impacts [24; 25]. The importance of wave direction for the variability of coastal morphodynamics has been widely studied and acknowledged, with wave direction affecting sediment transport, beach rotation and morphology [26]. While, on open-coast, non-embayed beaches, morphology is considered to be primarily controlled by wave di rection and energy, sediment transport will vary locally along a non-straight coastline due to uneven wave attenuation [27]. [PERSON] and [PERSON] [22], who studied the impact of storm erosion on beach morphology, furthermore concluded that due to the propensity for beach conditions to change over short spatial scales, it is important to assess impacts on a local scale. Another important parameter that affects beach morphology is the wind. Winds affect wave formation, as well as sediment transport on land, with this being particularly important for dune formation, as well as erosion. The aeolian sediment transport, which can be considered as the primary driver of the sediment flux not influenced by oceanic transport, is dependent on the wind velocity [28]. Wind speed needs to exceed a certain threshold value to start the sediment particle movement [29]. However, the wind direction and the angle of wind approach are also important for the transport of sediments, particularly regarding dune formation or erosion. Other parameters that control sediment transport are the moisture content because moisture increases the inter-particle cohesion and, consequently, reduces the overall rate of transport [30]; vegetation, which helps to fix the sediments; and the availability of sediments for dune formation, which is also dependent on the sediment supply from waves, coastal drifts and rivers [29]. For sound coastal erosion management and mitigation, an analysis of the relationship between local conditions and forcing variables, as well as local morphodynamics, is thus needed to quantify and, ultimately, model these effects, allowing for much-needed prediction of future erosion trends and likely changes, for instance, following anthropogenic interventions (e.g., implementation of coastal defence structures such as breakwaters and groynes, or structures, such as promenades and buildings) or as a result of the predicted climate change impacts. This can only be achieved through monitoring at temporal and spatial scales that are adequate to capture relevant variabilities and trends. However, high-temporal- and high-spatial-resolution studies of coastal morphology are rare, particularly in countries with a lower budget available for regular monitoring, although technological developments in remote sensing systems and methodologies nowadays allow for regular surveys at adequate spatial resolutions and affordable costs [31]. The present work aimed to show how a combination of digital elevation models, extracted from aerial photography, and in situ data of beach characteristics could provide the necessary information to characterize beach-dune morphodynamics at a local scale. This constituted a novel, local and comprehensive approach to the study of coastal sedimentary morphodynamics. A case study is presented, where the morpho-sedimentary dynamics of a coastal stretch were analysed both temporally and locally and related to local features, as well as to the regional meteo-ocean conditions.