|  | Public Health Safety | Environmental Health

Coastal Erosion Issues

Erosion is a natural process that occurs as a result of ocean-beach interaction. It is made worse by such things as global warming, hurricanes and human activity. The building of dams and seawalls has resulted in more erosion, flooding and the killing of vital vegetation. Global warming has caused sea levels to rise, and this in turn causes flooding and the loss of land. Weather, such as hurricanes, is episodic and sporadic and can cause long-term or short-term damage, such as the destruction of coastal homes, parks and beaches.

  1. Sea Level Rise

    • Sea levels in the mid-Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico are rising more than the global average due to coastal lands subsiding. The rise in climate temperature has increased ocean temperatures, resulting in the melting of glaciers and ice caps, further increasing sea levels. This causes beaches to erode, more flooding in more places and saltwater intrusion. The result is property damage, smaller beach areas for families and tourists, and higher flood insurance premiums.

    Storm Erosion

    • Weather events affect coastal erosion. Some erosion is episodic, occurring over a number of hours such as during a hurricane -- or over a season such as during an El Nino event. This can lead to extensive damage. Hurricanes such as Andrew, Katrina and Ivan have caused the most erosion. Other erosion is sporadic, occurring at different rates in different places. Mississippi and Louisiana are eroding at alarming rates while the rocky West Coast regions are eroding much more slowly.

    Man-made Structures

    • Seawalls are used to keep water out, but they also trap the sediments that are needed to nourish and replenish the beaches. These structures that are meant to stop erosion in some areas are actually making it worse. When waves hit the seawall, they cause turbulence. This undercuts the wall, leading to more erosion. Walls also channel water in new directions, causing new erosion and flooding.

    Global Warming

    • Global warming is mainly caused by carbon dioxide emitted from cars and factories. Such gases tend to trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to higher temperatures. Rising temperatures lead to stronger storms, rising sea levels and seasonal fluctuations that cause more erosion and devastation. In the long term, erosion will cause loss of land, flooding, destruction of coral reefs and vegetation such as mangroves, and loss and damage to coastal roads, homes and parks.

Environmental Health - Related Articles