Journal of Coastal Zone Management

The Impacts of Coastal Erosion Sedimentation: Potential Adaptation and its Mitigation Measures

Wu Xee^* Department of Coastal Irrigation Techniques, University of California, California, United States of America
^*Correspondence: Wu Xee, Department of Coastal Irrigation Techniques, University of California, California, United States of America, Email:

Received: 03-Apr-2023, Manuscript No. JCZM-23-21088; Editor assigned: 05-Apr-2023, Pre QC No. JCZM-23-21088 (PQ); Reviewed: 25-Apr-2023, QC No. JCZM-23-21088; Revised: 02-May-2023, Manuscript No. JCZM-23-21088 (R); Published: 09-May-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2473-3350.23.26.562

Description

Coastal erosion and sedimentation are natural processes that shape the coastline over time. However, human activities and climate change can alter these processes and cause significant impacts on coastal ecosystems and communities. In this content, we will explore the main drivers and impacts of coastal erosion and sedimentation in different coastal zones, and what are the potential adaptation and mitigation measures to cope with them.

Coastal erosion and sedimentation

Coastal erosion and sedimentation are influenced by a variety of factors, such as wave action, currents, tides, storms, sea level rise, land use, sediment supply, and human interventions. Some of these factors are natural and vary over time and space, while others are anthropogenic and can exacerbate or reduce the effects of natural factors.

Wave action is the primary driver of coastal erosion and sedimentation, as it transports sediments along the shoreline and across the continental shelf. The intensity and direction of wave action depend on wind speed, fetch, bathymetry, and shoreline orientation. Wave action can erode sediments from cliffs, dunes, beaches, and offshore bars, and deposit them in other locations along the coast or offshore. Wave action can also create longshore currents that move sediments parallel to the shore, resulting in net sediment transport in one direction.

Currents are another driver of coastal erosion and sedimentation, as they move water and sediments along or across the coast. Currents can be driven by tides, density differences, wind stress, or Coriolis force. Currents can erode or deposit sediments depending on their direction, speed, and depth. Currents can also interact with waves and create complex patterns of sediment transport.

Tides are periodic changes in water level caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon and the sun. Tides affect coastal erosion and sedimentation by influencing wave action, currents, water depth, salinity, and inundation frequency. Tides can create tidal currents that move sediments along or across the coast. Tides can also expose or submerge different parts of the coast during high or low tide, affecting their susceptibility to erosion or deposition.

Storms are extreme weather events that can generate strong winds, waves, currents, storm surges, and precipitation. Storms can cause severe coastal erosion and sedimentation by eroding large amounts of sediments from the shore or offshore areas, and depositing them in other locations along the coast or inland. Storms can also damage coastal infrastructure and vegetation that protect the coast from erosion.

Sea level rise is a long-term change in the average height of the sea surface caused by thermal expansion of seawater, melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and land subsidence or uplift. Sea level rise can increase coastal erosion and sedimentation by enhancing wave action, storm surges, tidal inundation, saltwater intrusion, and coastal flooding. Sea level rise can also reduce the availability of sediments for coastal accretion by drowning river deltas or offshore sources.

Land use is a human activity that affects coastal erosion and sedimentation by altering the natural vegetation cover, soil properties, hydrology, and sediment supply of the coastal zone. Land use can increase coastal erosion by removing vegetation that stabilizes the soil, increasing runoff that carries sediments to the coast or reducing sediment delivery from rivers by damming or diverting them. Land use can also decrease coastal erosion by planting vegetation that reduces wind erosion, or increasing sediment delivery from rivers by enhancing soil conservation practices.

Sediment supply is a key factor that determines the balance between coastal erosion and accretion. Sediment supply depends on the sources (rivers, cliffs, dunes, offshore bars) and sinks (estuaries, lagoons, submarine canyons) of sediments in the coastal zone, as well as their connectivity and transport rates.

Sediment supply can be affected by natural factors (climate variability, sea level change, and tectonics) or human factors (land use, coastal engineering, and mining).

Human interventions are deliberate actions that modify the natural processes of coastal erosion and sedimentation for various purposes (protection, recreation, navigation). Human interventions can include hard structures (seawalls, groynes, breakwaters) or soft measures (beach nourishment, dune restoration, managed retreat).