Poor Coastal Development
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Developed coasts change natural beach processes. Even a single building alters natural movement of wind which can disrupt sand transport, movement of rainwater runoff, and negatively impact plants and animals. Aesthetically, development reduces the quality of visits by tourists and once development begins, more follows. The long history of beach development in Europe and the northeastern United States has resulted in heavy modification of, and in some cases total destruction of, natural beaches.
Development on coasts is in grave danger in the coming decades from the combination of sea level rise and storms. When coastal development is built too close to the shore, the results can be devastating as evidenced by recent hurricanes Ike and Katrina in the United States. Two simple concepts must be followed:
- Do not build a house that will be underwater in the next 50 years and
- Do not build a house that will be knocked down by a storm.
These two basic principles are seldom followed today and when they are not, the costs can be human lives and billions of dollars.
After a large storm strikes, rebuilding is often financed with public money. Once a coastal community has been developed, rebuilding efforts often focus on putting things back the way they were rather than making objective decisions about changes that need to be made based on the rising sea. Developed coastlines need to retreat from the coast to allow the beach to move. Coastlines are dynamic, but buildings are not. More information on this topic can be found at the website of The Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, USA.
Australian Gold Coast
Map of North and South America shows increasing populations in coastal areas, which will expose 2.75 billion people worldwide to the effects of sea level rise and other coastal threats posed by global warming.
Map of Africa, Europe, and Asia shows projected population change for 2025. This map was developed by the Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR) of the Earth Institute at Columbia University shows the human migration to the coast. Credit: Stuart Gaffin, Lee Hachadoorian, and Robert Engelman.
This map was developed by the Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR) of the Earth Institute at Columbia University shows the human migration to the coast. Credit: Stuart Gaffin, Lee Hachadoorian, and Robert Engelman.
Surfing in / Poor Coastal Development
Kingscliff Battles Beach Erosion, Australia
Coastal residents fear their idyllic seaside town may never be restored to its former glory after the besieged coastline just copped further battering.
Jamaica’s Beaches in peril
Several beaches on the western end of Jamaica could be totally wiped out in the next 5 to 10 years if local authorities and residents do not act now.
The battle for the beaches of Cancun
The science of why the beaches have eroded is not nearly as complex as the politics attached to their recovery.
A 500 million euros Plan to strengthen levees in France
Four and a half months after the disaster caused by storm Xynthia, the french “Plan Digues” is presented.
THESEUS:Innovative technologies for safer European coasts in a changing climate
THESEUS is the largest Integrated Project funded by the European Commission (6,530,000 €) and consists of 31 partner institutes. The project will develop during the next four years a systematic approach to deliver both a low-risk coast for human use and healthy coastal habitats for evolving coastal zones subjected to multiple factors.
La Faute-sur-Mer and l’Aiguillon-sur-Mer beaches, Vendée, France
The main attractions of the coastal towns besides the beaches are the Nature Reserve, and the off shore mussel farms. Not anymore.
Chile Was Prepared for the Quake but Not the Tsunami
Jane Lubchenco says that precisely because the communities were so close to the epicenter, tsunami waves arrived “almost instantaneously.”
Rebuilding Communities in Flood Prone Coastal Zones
Hurricane Katrina destroyed communities in Louisiana. Ike leveled the Port Bolivar peninsula and parts of Galveston.
