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Can We Stop Coastal Erosion?

EcologyLife and earth sciences

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Stephanie Safdie

updated Dec 2, 2024

US Copywriter at Greenly

Everyone loves a summer home off of the coast somewhere in the southeast of the United States or in a foreign country, but coastal erosion may threaten the future of our beloved vacation homes and beach activities.

Coastal erosion can slowly wear down our coast lines, compromising the once stunning beach or ocean views while also putting coastal homes at risk.

In this article, we’ll explain what coastal erosion is, why it’s a problem, and if coastal erosion can be prevented.

What is coastal erosion?

Coastal erosion refers to how coastlines are worn down as a result of increasing winds, tides, waves, and currents – all of which contribute to the deterioration of rocks, soil, and sand along a beach’s coastline.

💡Over a period of time, coastal erosion can change the shape of coastal landscapes – which could deter tourists, alter biodiversity, and put the value of beach homes at risk.

“ Human activities and climate change are the main culprits behind coastal erosion, as increased emissions and warming oceanic temperatures have a profound effect on coastal behaviors – such as currents and rising sea levels. ”

Here are some of the main causes of coastal erosion:

Sporadic Waves – Whenever there is an exceptionally intense wave crashing onto the shore, it dislodges sand and sediment, which can alter the current shoreline.
Rising Sea Levels – One of the hallmark effects of climate change, rising sea levels, contribute to coastal erosion – as they can put beaches underwater and have an impact on wave activity.
Tides & Currents – Increased tidal and current activity can accelerate the movement of various sediment across the coastline, which can result in uneven erosion – think of one side of your body getting burnt in the sun and other staying the same. If the burn turns into a tan, it can be challenging to even out – the same way it could prove difficult to make an entire coastline the same after uneven erosion.
Increased Winds & Various Storms – Intense winds and natural disasters such as hurricanes can erode coastlines at a rapid pace. This is because intense winds and storms can transport rocks, sand, and sediment at an intense and unnatural speed.
Human Activity – The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has previously stated that the main culprit behind skyrocketing greenhouse gas emissions is the increase in human activities – such as growing consumerism from the industrial revolution or travel. Continued efforts to expand society such as construction and sand mining can disrupt natural sediment flows and make shorelines more vulnerable to coastal erosion.

What are the 4 types of coastal erosion?

There are four main steps to the process of coastal erosion:

Corrosion – This refers to when waves begin to get more intense on the beach and start to move various sediment, such as pebbles, closer to a cliff on the beach. This could form a wave-cut notch, which could then cause gigantic rocks to become unstable and collapse into the ocean entirely.
Abrasion – The second step to coastal erosion occurs when breaking waves continue to wear away at a cliff or another part of a coastline. Known as the sandpaper effect, this is when pebbles will grind alongside a rock platform to make the surface smoother over time.
Hydraulic Action – As waves crash against a cliff, the surrounding air will become trapped in the rocks and allow them to break into smaller pieces. Often an effect of weathering, these rocks and even cliffs can sometimes fall into the ocean in massive chunks.
Attrition – This part of coastal erosion refers to when rocks being carried by the surrounding body of water bump into one another. These rocks then break into small pieces, becoming rounder and lighter.

👉 Although coastal erosion is a natural process, stronger winds, waves, and floods have accelerated coastal erosion – to the extent that our coastlines and habitats cannot keep up with the current speed of coastal erosion.

Why is coastal erosion a problem?

Coastal erosion is a serious issue as it can impact habitats, wildlife, and even economic circumstances in terms of fishing and the future value of coastal homes.

💡 Those who live in smaller coastal areas, villages, and homes will be forced to move further away from the coastline – which can stress the already-existing sustainability challenges with people moving to urban areas.

“ Additional negative impacts caused by coastal erosion include increased risk of flooding, threats to both our ecosystems and economies, and various social or cultural impacts – as some people may lose their homes and heritage as a result of coastal erosion. ”

Here are some of the ways the coastal erosion can have a profound effect on our lives:

Habitat Destruction – Dunes, mangroves, and marshes can all be eroded at an unnatural pace due to exacerbated coastal erosion – which can impact surrounding wildlife and affect biodiversity.
Economic Impact – Especially in lower income countries, some beaches may rely on tourism and fishing to help their struggling economies – but coastal erosion could impact the amount of fish, existing infrastructure, and beautiful beach views that would normally help to cope with financial issues.
Loss of Land & Property Value – Homes in popular coastal cities such as Miami are bound to experience a drop in price-value, meaning that people could stop purchasing homes in coastal areas as they think about the profitability of their investment in the future. In addition to this, surrounding land can easily be lost with coastal erosion – as smaller amounts of available sediment material can allow the area to be swallowed by nearby bodies of water.
Cultural Impact – As coastal erosion can cause people and families to leave their homes and even indigenous areas, some cultural traditions may be lost as a result of relocating to an inland area.
Increased Risk of Flooding – Coastal erosion makes surrounding areas more vulnerable in the midst of intense floods or storm surges, which could put coastal residents and properties at greater risk.

👉 Coastal erosion is a serious issue, seeing as 28% of land in the United Kingdom is affected by coastal erosion and that almost 10 million Americans live in coastal areas – costing the United States up to $500 million USD in coastal erosion property damages each year.

The table below will provide more examples on how countries around the world are affected by coastal erosion:

Country/Region	Impact of Coastal Erosion	Key Locations Affected
United States	Coastal erosion affects 40% of U.S. coasts, threatening 13 million Americans living in low-lying coastal areas. Sea-level rise contributes significantly to property loss and infrastructure damage.	Louisiana (Gulf Coast), Miami (Florida), Outer Banks (North Carolina), New Jersey.
United Kingdom	28% of England's coastline is at risk of erosion. Scotland has a higher rate of erosion on soft shorelines (46%), endangering historical sites like Skara Brae.	Norfolk, Suffolk, Mullion Cove (Cornwall), Skara Brae (Scotland), and South Downs.
Italy	Rising sea levels and subsidence are accelerating erosion in Venice, with frequent flooding threatening historical structures and tourism.	Venice (Adriatic Coast), Sardinia, and Tuscany.
Bangladesh	As one of the most vulnerable countries, severe erosion displaces thousands annually. Rivers and coasts are retreating due to sea-level rise and storms.	Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta, Cox’s Bazar, Sundarbans.
Netherlands	Extensive coastal protection infrastructure exists, but rising seas pose increasing challenges to dikes and dunes, crucial for flood prevention.	Rotterdam, Hague, Zeeland, and Amsterdam (vulnerable low-lying areas).

Is coastal erosion getting worse?

Coastal erosion is absolutely getting worse, as rising global temperatures continue to aggravate rising sea levels, tidal patterns, and increase oceanic temperatures.

💡 Climate change is the main reason for the acceleration of coastal erosion, as warmer temperatures and increased storm intensity contribute to the various factors which make coastal erosion more damaging in the long-run.

“ Across the United States alone, coastlines are estimated to rise a full 12 inches by 2050 – a number which is bound to increase as global warming and sporadic natural disasters get worse alongside skyrocketing temperatures. ”

Here are some of the reasons why coastal erosion is getting worse alongside climate change:

Short-term Erosion – This type of coastal erosion occurs in a matter of days as opposed to the natural cycle of coastal erosion which could take several years. Often, short-term coastal erosion is a result of extreme natural disasters – and can drastically change the landscape of a beach in a short amount of time. This type of erosion, seen in beaches in the state of Oregon, is a direct consequence of worsening climate exchange.
Rising Sea Levels – Caused by thermal expansion and melting ice, rising sea levels make it easier for coastal damage and land loss to occur.
Increased Human Activity – Every time we hop on a short-haul flight, forget to recycle a piece of plastic, or buy a piece of fast fashion to be worn once at a concert and never again – we are contributing to excess greenhouse gas emissions, which can make coastal erosion worse.

Places currently affected by coastal erosion

Many well-known areas across the world are already affected by coastal erosion, such as the coast alongside the Gulf of Mexico and the popular tourist destination of Venice in Italy.

Here are how some of these places are impacted by coastal erosion:

U.S. Gulf of Mexico Coastline – Southeastern states in the U.S., including Florida’s islands such as Sanibel and Captiva, have been hit by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton – causing unforeseen erosion to these touristic places for the state. This could have an impact on the economy and tourism for the foreseeable future.
Venice – Currently being swallowed alive by rising sea levels, Venice is profoundly affected by coastal erosion as several iconic landmarks begin to sink underwater and affect tourism.
The Maldives – Unpredictable weather, flooding, and sea level rise are all having an immense impact on these Southeast Asian islands – especially as coastal erosion continues to deteriorate its stunning beaches, which attracted over 1.7 million tourists in 2019 alone.

👉 Although it could prove challenging, it is indeed possible to stop or at least halt the current severity of coastal erosion – such as with new engineering tactics, technologies, or even basic strategies to tackle the root cause of coastal erosion: climate change.

How can we prevent coastal erosion?

We can prevent coastal erosion by implementing stricter climate legislation and environmental regulations, employing hard engineering strategies, and facilitating natural processes to help make coastlines more resilient to coastal erosion.

💡 It is important to note that we cannot stop coastal erosion entirely, as it is a necessary and natural process – but we can work to curb the effects of prolonged coastal erosion that impacts our environment, economy, and society.

Evidently, it would be better to work against the root cause of coastal erosion – which is climate change, as rising sea levels and drastic natural disasters both lead to worsened coastal erosion.

“ However, as coastal erosion is getting to the point of no return – it is becoming increasingly important to not only mitigate rising global temperatures, but to develop specific strategies to avoid coastal erosion itself. ”

Here are some ways we can work to prevent coastal erosion:

Hard Engineering – Developing man-made ways to reduce the negative effects of coastal erosion such as by building seawalls or breakwaters to prevent beach erosion.
Beach Nourishment – In a similar vein to climate smart farming, soft engineering tactics would involve supplementing the already existing natural properties and processes to help avoid coastal erosion – such as by adding sand to beaches, planting new vegetation, or supporting the surrounding biodiversity.
Strategically Build New Infrastructure – Instead of building new condos or other beach properties directly alongside a vulnerable coastline, building project managers should try to leave areas subject to coastline erosion alone and opt to build inland.
Improved Environmental Policies – Perhaps one of the most valuable strategies to mitigate coastal erosion, implementing new regulations to ensure natural buffers are still used to prevent coastal erosion is imperative to not only disrupt the intuitive process – but to help ensure coastal erosion doesn’t get further out hand.

👉 Ultimately, we can’t stop coastal erosion entirely – but the rate at which coast erosion is taking place continue to present significant challenges for our environment, ecosystems, economy, and even local communities – especially coastline areas that are prone to rising sea levels such as Venice, Miami, and New York City.

Luckily, we can work together to reduce not only the effects of coastal erosion – but climate change as a whole.

What About Greenly?

If reading this article about coastal erosion has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!

It can be overwhelming to figure out how to effectively reduce your environmental impact in the midst of coastal erosion, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help. Click here to schedule a demo to see how Greenly can help you find ways to ensure your company is complying with all current and future environmental regulations.

Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.