Sea-level rise and coastal biodiversity in West Africa: a case study from Ghana

Armah, A. K.; Wiafe, George; Kpelle, David G.

doi:10.1017/cbo9780511535864.029

Cited by 20 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…The sea level in Ghana is rising at a rate of about 2 mm/yr (Appeaning Addo 2009; Ibe & Quelennec 1989), which is in conformity with the global estimate (Armah et al 2005). Relative sea-level rise is confirmed by filtered tide measurements from the Takoradi Tide Gauge Station and analysed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 1995) (Figure 4).…”

Section: The Study Areasupporting

confidence: 62%

Assessing the impact of sea-level rise on a vulnerable coastal community in Accra, Ghana

Addo

Adeyemi

2013

Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies

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Climate change and its associated sea-level rise are expected to significantly affect vulnerable coastal communities. Although the extent of the impact will be localised, its assessment will adopt a monitoring approach that applies globally. The topography of the beach, the type of geological material and the level of human intervention will determine the extent of the area to be flooded and the rate at which the shoreline will move inland. Gleefe, a coastal community in Ghana, has experienced frequent flooding in recent times due to the increasing occurrence of storm surge and sea-level rise. This study used available geospatial data and field measurements to determine how the beach topography has contributed to the incidence of flooding at Gleefe. The topography is generally low-lying. Sections of the beach have elevations of around 1 m, which allows seawater to move inland during very high tide. Accelerated sea-level rise as predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will destroy homes of the inhabitants and inundate the Densu wetlands behind the beach. Destruction of infrastructure will render the inhabitants homeless, whilst flooding of the wetlands will destroy the habitats of migratory birds and some endangered wildlife species such as marine turtle. Effective adaptation measures should be adopted to protect this very important coastal environment, the ecology of the wetlands and the livelihoods of the community dwellers.

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Section: The Study Areasupporting

confidence: 62%

Assessing the impact of sea-level rise on a vulnerable coastal community in Accra, Ghana

Addo

Adeyemi

2013

Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies

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“…Sea level rise due to climate change is expected to increase coastal erosion and thus result in rapid changes in shoreline positions. Historic rate of sea level rise in Accra coast is about 2 mm/yr (Ibe & Quelennec, 1989) which is predicted to reach approximately 6 mm/yr in the next century since it conforms to the global change (Armah et al, 2005). This will result in flooding of vulnerable areas and enable waves to break closer inland.…”

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confidence: 99%

Changing morphology of Ghana’s Accra coast

Addo

2010

J Coast Conserv

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Coastal features in Ghana's Accra coast reflect both past and present processes that have been undergoing changes. These changes are influenced by a range of morphogenic factors such as geology and climatic conditions. These regimes have shaped the coastal geomorphic features through weathering processes that decompose and disintegrate the coastal rock. Sea level rise due to climate change is expected to increase coastal erosion and thus result in rapid changes in shoreline positions. Historic rate of sea level rise in Accra coast is about 2 mm/yr (Ibe & Quelennec, 1989) which is predicted to reach approximately 6 mm/yr in the next century since it conforms to the global change (Armah et al., 2005). This will result in flooding of vulnerable areas and enable waves to break closer inland. The effectiveness of the erosion process is aided considerably by the type of geology. Accra coastal zone has three types of rock in three identified geomorphic regions. They include unconsolidated and poorly consolidated rock along the western region, the Accraian series occupying the central region and the Dahomeyan series in the eastern region. The geology has thus influenced the extent to which the coastal features have changed and the type of cliff that is formed as a result of erosion within the regions. Generally, soft rock coastal features decay more rapidly than those of hard rock and tend to act as sediment sources. Human activities such as dam construction over the Densu River, engineering interventions to check the spread of erosion and sand mining has created sediment deficit which has exacerbated coastal erosion in Accra. Anthropogenic factors are estimated to account for 70-90% of coastal erosion problems in Accra.

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“…Observed and locally affecting drinking water and farm irrigation, but limited regional understanding Armah, Wiafe, and Kpelle (2005) Population Growing rapidly, following national trends northern fringes of the basin (Kumapley, 1989). Geological investigations around Keta, which involved sinking of five boreholes to depths of about 20 m, revealed that the fine sand layer was only 7 m thick and is underlain to a depth of 20 m by clay and weathered shale (Kumapley, 1989).…”

Section: Groundwater Saltwater Intrusionmentioning

confidence: 99%