Shoreline Dynamics and Beach Erosion

Abstract

Coasts are highly dynamic and geomorphologic complex systems that evolve under the increasing pressure of climate change and anthropogenic activities, having direct or indirect impacts on the coastal environment. Among the major adverse effects, coastal erosion represents one of the most pressing global issues, especially in flat and low-lying coastal areas that appear to be particularly susceptible to beach erosion and related shoreline retreat. This Special Issue collects a set of twelve papers on “Shoreline Dynamics and Beach Erosion”. Of course, this collection of papers does not cover all the broad number of topics concerning the dynamics and spatial-temporal evolution of shorelines and beach systems, but, in our opinion, they contribute to the growing body of knowledge. Coastal systems of variable complexity located in different geographic and climatic contexts are investigated from various points of view by using multi- and interdisciplinary approaches, as well as new experimental ones. The major topics covered concern the morphodynamics and hydrodynamics of coastal systems, the driving factors of coastal erosion, and the use of models/indexes to study coastal vulnerability and the mitigation of human/natural pressures affecting coastal ecosystems.

Ecosystem and Vulnerabilities to Fisher’s Community: Tampara Wetland, South Odisha Coast, India

“…Globally, Coastal aggradation and degradation have been a cyclic or continuous process. The shoreline elongation or squeeze and mouthing shifts are shared results of the natural processes, sun-earth geometry, climate vagaries, Sea Level Rise (SLR), anthropogenic activities along the coast and inland riverine system, affecting individual and community safety and prosperity, [10][11][12]. About 18 worst-affected cyclonic storms have ransacked our globe causing about 1% of all deaths and approximately more than $800 billion in economic damages, since 1998, in the hydrographic cruise, North Indian Ocean [13], https://ourworldin data.org/natural-disasters).…”

Climate change - induced hazards on touristic island beaches: Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean

“…Ciavola et al, 2018). At the same time, many beaches are under retreat/erosion (Wong et al, 2014), manifested as: (i) shoreline retreat due to relative mean sea level rise (RSLR) and negative sedimentary budgets (Nicholls and Cazenave, 2010); and/or (ii) short-term retreat caused by storm events, which although might not result in permanent erosion, it could be, nevertheless, devastating (Di Paola et al, 2023). Shoreline retreat in beaches backed by natural and/or artificial features, such as coastal cliffs and infrastructure/ assets could result in beach 'drowning'.…”