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Sandy coastlines under threat of erosion

Author

Listed:
  • Michalis I. Vousdoukas

    (Joint Research Centre (JRC))

  • Roshanka Ranasinghe

    (IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
    University of Twente
    Harbour, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Deltares)

  • Lorenzo Mentaschi

    (Joint Research Centre (JRC))

  • Theocharis A. Plomaritis

    (University of Cadiz
    University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas)

  • Panagiotis Athanasiou

    (University of Twente
    Harbour, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Deltares)

  • Arjen Luijendijk

    (Harbour, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Deltares
    Delft University of Technology)

  • Luc Feyen

    (Joint Research Centre (JRC))

Abstract

Sandy beaches occupy more than one-third of the global coastline1 and have high socioeconomic value related to recreation, tourism and ecosystem services2. Beaches are the interface between land and ocean, providing coastal protection from marine storms and cyclones3. However the presence of sandy beaches cannot be taken for granted, as they are under constant change, driven by meteorological4,5, geological6 and anthropogenic factors1,7. A substantial proportion of the world’s sandy coastline is already eroding1,7, a situation that could be exacerbated by climate change8,9. Here, we show that ambient trends in shoreline dynamics, combined with coastal recession driven by sea level rise, could result in the near extinction of almost half of the world’s sandy beaches by the end of the century. Moderate GHG emission mitigation could prevent 40% of shoreline retreat. Projected shoreline dynamics are dominated by sea level rise for the majority of sandy beaches, but in certain regions the erosive trend is counteracted by accretive ambient shoreline changes; for example, in the Amazon, East and Southeast Asia and the north tropical Pacific. A substantial proportion of the threatened sandy shorelines are in densely populated areas, underlining the need for the design and implementation of effective adaptive measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Michalis I. Vousdoukas & Roshanka Ranasinghe & Lorenzo Mentaschi & Theocharis A. Plomaritis & Panagiotis Athanasiou & Arjen Luijendijk & Luc Feyen, 2020. "Sandy coastlines under threat of erosion," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(3), pages 260-263, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0697-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0697-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexandra Toimil & Iñigo J. Losada & Moisés Álvarez-Cuesta & Gonéri Cozannet, 2023. "Demonstrating the value of beaches for adaptation to future coastal flood risk," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Nagisa Shiiba & Priyatma Singh & Dhrishna Charan & Kushaal Raj & Jack Stuart & Arpana Pratap & Miko Maekawa, 2023. "Climate change and coastal resiliency of Suva, Fiji: a holistic approach for measuring climate risk using the climate and ocean risk vulnerability index (CORVI)," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 1-31, February.
    3. Rafael Almar & Julien Boucharel & Marcan Graffin & Gregoire Ondoa Abessolo & Gregoire Thoumyre & Fabrice Papa & Roshanka Ranasinghe & Jennifer Montano & Erwin W. J. Bergsma & Mohamed Wassim Baba & Fei, 2023. "Influence of El Niño on the variability of global shoreline position," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Francesca Ribas & Laura Portos-Amill & Albert Falqués & Jaime Arriaga & Marta Marcos & Gerben Ruessink, 2023. "Impact of mean sea-level rise on the long-term evolution of a mega-nourishment," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 176(5), pages 1-26, May.
    5. Vicent Esteban Chapapría & José Serra Peris & José A. González-Escrivá, 2022. "Coastal Monitoring Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the Management of the Spanish Mediterranean Coast: The Case of Almenara-Sagunto," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, April.
    6. Patricio Winckler & Roberto Agredano Martín & César Esparza & Oscar Melo & María Isabel Sactic & Carolina Martínez, 2023. "Projections of Beach Erosion and Associated Costs in Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, March.
    7. Cor A. Schipper & Gerben G.J. Dekker & Beer de Visser & Bas Bolman & Quirijn Lodder, 2021. "Characterization of SDGs towards Coastal Management: Sustainability Performance and Cross-Linking Consequences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-33, February.
    8. Jennifer R. Shadrick & Dylan H. Rood & Martin D. Hurst & Matthew D. Piggott & Bethany G. Hebditch & Alexander J. Seal & Klaus M. Wilcken, 2022. "Sea-level rise will likely accelerate rock coast cliff retreat rates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    9. Rosa Molina & Giorgio Anfuso & Belén González-Aguilar & Giorgio Manno & J. Andrew G. Cooper, 2024. "Evolution of the Beach–Dune Systems in Mediterranean Andalusia (Spain) Using Two Different Proxies," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, August.
    10. Nabanita Sarkar & Angela Rizzo & Vittoria Vandelli & Mauro Soldati, 2022. "A Literature Review of Climate-Related Coastal Risks in the Mediterranean, a Climate Change Hotspot," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, November.
    11. Magalhães Filho, L.N.L. & Roebeling, P.C. & Costa, L.F.C. & de Lima, L.T., 2022. "Ecosystem services values at risk in the Atlantic coastal zone due to sea-level rise and socioeconomic development," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    12. Nguyen, Manh-Hung & Nguyen, Thi Lan Anh & Nguyen, Tuan & Reynaud, Arnaud & Simioni, Michel & Hoang, Viet-Ngu, 2021. "Economic analysis of choices among differing measures to manage coastal erosion in Hoi An (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 529-543.
    13. Rodolfo Silva & María Luisa Martínez & Brigitta I. van Tussenbroek & Laura Odette Guzmán-Rodríguez & Edgar Mendoza & Jorge López-Portillo, 2020. "A Framework to Manage Coastal Squeeze," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-20, December.
    14. Carmen E. Elrick-Barr & Timothy F. Smith, 2022. "Current Information Provision Rarely Helps Coastal Households Adapt to Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, March.
    15. Richard Howitt, 2020. "Decolonizing People, Place and Country: Nurturing Resilience across Time and Space," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-16, July.
    16. Eva M. Lansu & Valérie C. Reijers & Solveig Höfer & Arjen Luijendijk & Max Rietkerk & Martin J. Wassen & Evert Jan Lammerts & Tjisse Heide, 2024. "A global analysis of how human infrastructure squeezes sandy coasts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-7, December.
    17. Wayde C. Morse & Cody Cox & Christopher J. Anderson, 2020. "Using Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) to Identify Valued Landscapes Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-34, August.
    18. Xiaowei Wu & Chongqing Zhong & Han Chen & Xinqing Zou, 2024. "Assessment on the Environmental Concern Level and Driving Mechanism of Beach Recreationists Based on the New Ecological Paradigm Scale," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-17, April.

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