Coastal Erosion

1151 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Human influence coastal erosion

Costal erosion, especially on barrier islands, is a major concern throughout the world. The issue represents a serious concern for many vulnerable coastlines throughout the coastal regions of the world. This issue must be studied for root causes so it can, if at all possible, be brought under some semblance of control before it is too late. The cost of ignoring this issue would be catastrophic to both communities on the beach and the marine life that depend on the coastal areas for their very survival.

Coastal erosion is a diverse issue with many different causes. However, it is basically defined as a situation that for some reason or another causes the amount of coastline in a given area to decrease. The causes behind coastal erosion are varied. They are often the result of manmade problems, such as pollution (Williams). However, the erosion of some coastlines is a natural process that occurs without human interaction (Internet Geography).

Just as important as understanding the definition of coastal erosion, is appreciating where the phenomenon it is happening. It is important to recognize that coastal erosion does not affect every beach and coastal area in the world. In fact, there are many areas of the world’s coasts that are actually growing from sediment deposits. Whether a particular costal area is growing or eroding is the result of complex natural (and sometime unnatural) process (Williams). Furthermore, the ability of scientists to find out exactly if a coast is eroding (and if it is, by how much) is critical for science to better understand the issue of coastal erosion. Scientists are able to look at geological data and take specific measurements of coastlines at different times of day and at different tida...

... middle of paper ...

...he line like so many other pressing environmental concerns of our day.

Works Cited

"Coastal Processes." Internet Geography. Learn on the Internet, 2009. Web. 19 Mar 2012.

List, Dr. Jeffrey. "Louisiana's Barrier Islands: A Vanishing Resource." U.S. Geological Survey Marine and

Coastal Geology Program. U.S. Geological Survey, 03 Nov 1995. Web. 21 Mar 2012.

Malory, Jonathan. "Coastal Accretion." Earth Facts. N.p., 2012. Web. 19 Mar 2012.

.

Stewart, Robert. "Coastal Erosion." Oceanography in the 21st Century. N.p., 05 Sept 2011. Web. 19 Mar

2012.

Williams, S. Jeffress. "Coasts in Crisis." U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1075. U.S. Geological Survey, 13

Nov 1997. Web. 19 Mar 2012. .

Show More
Related

  • Investigation on Coastal Erosion In Porlock Bay

    3494 Words  | 7 Pages

    Investigation on Coastal Erosion In Porlock Bay Aims ---- Aim 1: To find out if beach material is moved across Porlock Bay by longshore drift. Aim 2: To find out which type of sea defense is best for Porlock bay. If L.S.D. (long shore drift) were taking place I would expect to find: a) Deposition at one end of the bay and against any abstractions such as groynes. b)

    Read More

  • Investigating the Geographical Processes that are Affecting the Physical and Built Coastal Environment

    485 Words  | 1 Pages

    Investigating the Geographical Processes that are Affecting the Physical and Built Coastal Environment There are three geographical processes that are affecting the physical and built coastal environment, they are; erosion, deposition, and transportation. Erosion is the group of natural processes, including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and transportation, by which material is worn away from the earth’s surface, this is mainly caused by wind, running water, and waves breaking on the coast. Deposition is the depositing something or the laying down of matter by a natural process. Transportation is when sand is moved along the coast by long shore drift. At North Cronulla beach erosion is evident.

    Read More

  • Semaphore Beach Case Study

    1388 Words  | 3 Pages

    Semaphore Beach is affected by many factors such as natural processes and human impacts including marine litter and the discharge of stormwater. Therefore, several plans have been employed to ensure that the coast is supported through the method of counteracting erosion. However in the future, many management strategies have been put into consideration as well as the environmental, economic and social impacts as well as the predicted consequences. These impacts include traffic related incidents, noises and air pollution and the disruption of wildlife and the erosion of dunes. A method that should be considered for future management of the beach is the use of a concave sea wall, although efficient, this structure would be quite costly. Without the use of coastal management, Semaphore Beach would be unsupported, therefore negatively being affected by a variety of

    Read More

  • Long Point Fault

    1954 Words  | 4 Pages

    Bonnett, Gabrysch R.K. and C.W. "Land Surface Subsidence at Seabrook, TX ." US Geological Survey. Seabrook TX: Water Resources INV, 1975.

    Read More

  • Barrier Beaches of Long Island, NY

    1256 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many different types of coasts that exist throughout the United States. The south shore of Long Island has a unique types of coast known as a barrier beach. Barrier beaches are long narrow land forms that are composed of sand and other lose sediments. These sediments are brought together by the actions of waves, currents and storm surges. Barrier beaches are subject to constant changes by the same forces. Sand is constantly eroded in one area an deposited in another. Barrier coasts are important for a number of reasons; they protect the mainland of Long Island from the open ocean and flooding during storms, for recreational use and the unique ecosystems which exist on barrier beaches.

    Read More

  • The Franciscan Complex

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    The coastal belt of the Franciscan Complex is composed of the youngest and least deformed units and makes up the western quarter of all Franciscan rocks. The rocks of the coastal belt are composed of arkosic sandstones, andesitic graywackes, and quartzofeldspathic graywackes interbedded with radiolarian chert (turbidite deposits) (Blake and Jones, 1981). These sedimentary rocks suggest a depositional environment of deep-sea fan systems with both oceanic and continental provenance. Parts of the belt show evidence of later metamorphism, principally due to subduction. Low-grade blueschist mineral facies are indicated by the presence of minerals such as laumonite and prehnite-pumpellyite (Blake and Jones, 1981). All rock units show evidence of thrust (imbricate) faulting due to the compressional forces of subduction. Ages of the coastal belt run from as little as 40 Ma (Eocene) to as old as 100 Ma (middle Cretaceous).

    Read More

  • Abiotic Factors Of The Louisiana Coastline

    1666 Words  | 4 Pages

    Over the past 100 years the Louisiana coastline has suffered greatly from biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic factors. The abiotic factors include things such as hurricanes or overnutrition that influence the surrounding biota. The biotic factors that contribute to coastal erosion are things like the immigration invasive species and the emigration or extinction of local flora and fauna that help preserve the wetlands. Additionally, there are anthropogenic factors such as pollution that can have strong negative influences on the abiotic and biotic factors of the wetlands. Each one of these factors cause ecological disturbances to the wetlands at a frequency and intensity that is unmanageable for the local flora and fauna. There are currently certain measures that are being taken into consideration to slow or stop the erosion of the Louisiana coastline.

    Read More

  • Longshore Drift And Groynes

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    Longshore drift is a process by which sediments are transported from one place to another. When this process occurs, beaches, spits and sandbars are accreted over time. If the process of longshore drift is altered by factors such as stronger winds and stronger currents, beach erosion begins at a faster rate and this may result in many serious problems. The main stakeholders of longshore drift are resort owners. They rely on people to visit their resorts and enjoy the beach. However, if longshore drift erodes t...

    Read More

  • Coastal Restoration in Louisiana

    2322 Words  | 5 Pages

    Geologically speaking, Louisiana is a very young state. Environmentally speaking, Louisiana is a very fragile state. Louisiana has always been dependent upon the nutrient rich deposits from the Mississippi River to build up the land. Centuries ago the Mississippi River periodically changed its course, building up Louisiana one delta at a time. The erosional forces of the Gulf of Mexico and annual hurricanes depleted Louisiana’s coastline, but the mighty Mississippi River would replenish the land losses. Such is the relationship that forces of nature have with one another. Place mankind in the mix, and the relationship becomes stressed and dysfunctional. The present day Louisiana coastline is a mere shadow of its former self. Let’s look at how Louisiana came to its current demise and what is being done to rectify the situation.

    Read More

  • The Cascadia Earthquake: A Disaster that Could Happen

    2015 Words  | 5 Pages

    Predicted By Probability Distribution Tendency." Journal Of Coastal Research 28.5 (2012): 1020-1031. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • The Impact of Structure and Lithology on Coastal Landforms

    475 Words  | 1 Pages

    hard rock is eroded, it can cause an island of hard rock left of the

    Read More

  • Pollution Problems Concerning the Long Island Sound

    2479 Words  | 5 Pages

    Joe, Brancatelli. " What Is Polluting Our Beaches?" Popular Science 1 Mar. 2003. Database. 23 Oct. 2005.

    Read More

  • Coastal Erosion In Louisiana

    684 Words  | 2 Pages

    Coastal erosion is a growing problem along the Gulf Coast. Louisiana is one of the coastal states most affected by coastal erosion. Ninety percent of wetland loss in the nation occurs in Louisiana, losing 25-35 square miles per year. At that rate, Louisiana will lose 640,000 more acres by 2050. Many factors contribute to this land loss, such as rising sea levels, subsidence, hurricane storm surge, cold fronts, and human interference. Cold fronts and hurricanes can both have detrimental consequences on the coast of Louisiana (Zhang 2004) (Restore or Retreat 2012). This research shows whether cold fronts or hurricanes have a larger effect on coastal erosion. The researcher will describe how historical and current satellite imagery help in determining the changes in the Louisiana coast. Based on previous research, the researcher believes that hurricanes have more of an effect on coastal erosion than cold fronts due to the high winds and storm surge.

    Read More

  • The Loss of Coastal Wetlands

    588 Words  | 2 Pages

    This paper introduces the environmental concerns of the loss of coastal wetlands. The paper will discuss the significance of wetlands and the devastation that is occurring because of human activity. Wetlands are an essential element of our environment both ecological and societal; conservation will be essential for the preservation of these precious ecosystems.

    Read More

  • Contaminated Beaches and Pollution

    1234 Words  | 3 Pages

    People from all over the world go to beautiful beaches that are filled with water as clear as ice or as beautiful as diamonds. But, what will happen if we do not conserve the appealing sites that draw attraction to the public? Contaminated beaches has become a controversial issue to the public because of the causal problem, the harm to the people and marine animals, the government agencies supporting or opposing pollution, and the industries involved in creating such unlawful decisions. To create and find a solution, we must first find the core to the problem.

    Read More

More about Coastal Erosion

Open Document