Protecting Europe's coastline
The global climate has fluctuated greatly during the history of the Earth, including several periods where the planet was covered in ice. Man's impact on the climate has only recently been investigated. A variety of factors are expected to raise the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere over the next several decades. This will likely be accompanied by a subsequent rise in the mean sea level. The estimated rise in sea level, which could reach as much as half a meter or more in some regions, could have drastic consequences. Millions of people across the globe would be dislocated from their homes. Rich coastal farmland would be lost. The shipping industry would suffer as ports are rendered ineffective. National economies would surely incur great losses. European research is focused on learning how to protect Europe's coastline from this potential threat. Coastal changes occur over many different timescales. The project examined both the mesoscale (1-100 years) and the macroscale (100-1000 years). Factors such as storm frequency and magnitude, changes in sea level, subsidence and uplift of tectonic plates and extreme events (e.g. tsunamis) were explored. It was found that the availability of sediment is crucial to sustaining a healthy coastline. Storm strength was another important factor that must be taken into account. In addition to influencing the global climate, man also has a direct impact on the coastline. Filling of wetlands, construction of new homes along the coast and other disturbances all accelerate coastal erosion. The results of this research, funded in part by the ENV 1C Programme, can help improve Coastal Zone Management (CZM) of Europe's coasts. Europe has extensive coastline, bordering several different bodies of water. Europe's coasts also represent an important economic resource, in particular for the shipping and tourism industries. The new knowledge developed can help Europeans protect this important natural resource.
