Storm impacts on a coupled human-natural coastal system: Resilience of developed coasts

Málvarez, Gonzalo; Ferreira, Óscar; Navas, Fátima; Cooper, June; Gracia-Prieto, F.J.; Talavera, Lara

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.144987

Cited by 25 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…tidal range, wave climate, and sediment availability) were considered to be stationary. It is also important to highlight that the beach width mapping was performed on images from the end of the spring season, suggesting that the berm could already have reached its maximum robustness, given the fact that beach recovery is very fast in the study area (Kombiadou et al, 2021; Malvarez et al, 2021). Thus, berm robustness or backshore volume was computed as the product of the backshore width (measured from the satellite images as the distance between the wet/dry and the vegetation lines) and the berm height (constant within each sector).…”

Section: Methods and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was formed SW of the Iberian Peninsula and travelled northwestward. The storm did not make landfall in the Peninsula, but its effects were largely felt in the Gulf of Cadiz (Malvarez et al, 2021). The maximum recorded significant wave height ( Hs ) at Faro buoy (Figure 1) was 6.55 m, with wave peak period ( Tp ) and direction of 13 s and 240°N, respectively (Figure 3).…”

Section: Methods and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biotic and abiotic factors governing dune response to storm events

Garzon

Ferreira

2021

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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The alongshore response of dunes to storm events can be extremely variable and, consequently, their capacity to maintain their services, including the protection of hinterland communities. In this study, the role of biotic and abiotic factors determining the magnitude of dune retreat driven by a severe storm along a 60 km barrier island system was investigated. Data from high-resolution satellite imagery, digital terrain models, and wave propagation models were used in this assessment. The assessed abiotic factors included the backshore volume, dune height, downdrift inlet distance, and incident wave power. The evaluated biotic factor was the vegetation cover, characterized by a vegetation index retrieved from the multispectral imagery.The results revealed large alongshore variability on dune retreat, ranging from negligible impact to ca. 40 m of retreat. All combined factors allowed us to explain up to 70% of the dune retreat variability through a multi-regression analysis. Among all investigated factors, the major contributor controlling the magnitude of dune retreat was the backshore volume (more robust berms reduced the retreat) followed by the wave power (normal and longitudinal components). Moreover, the removal of local salient features in the dune line caused the straightening of the coastline, highly contributing to the development of dune retreat hotspots. The other evaluated factors had a smaller influence on reducing coastal retreat, including the vegetation, whose contribution to dune protection was around one order of magnitude lower than that provided by the backshore volume. The results highlight the importance of regional assessments to understand the causes behind the large alongshore variability of storm impacts at dunes. They also state the relatively low influence of the vegetation from this climatic region to enhance dune resistance to storms.

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Section: Methods and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methods and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Biotic and abiotic factors governing dune response to storm events

Garzon

Ferreira

2021

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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“…In such instances, the presence of adjacent intensive beachfront development limits the options for future adaptation and usually results in an expansion in shoreline stabilisation whether by hard armouring or beach replenishment (Pilkey and Cooper 2014). This, in turn, leads to a progressive transformation of the shoreline from an original natural state into a coupled human-natural system in which continued human intervention is required to maintain a human-specified state (Malvarez et al 2021). It is sometimes possible in such situations to accommodate climaterelated shoreline change (flooding and shoreline variability) through modifications to buildings.…”

Section: • Coastal Advance Through Reclamationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small islands and climate change: analysis of adaptation policy in the Cayman Islands

Johnston

Cooper

2022

Reg Environ Change

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Small, low-lying islands are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and development of effective adaptation strategies is regarded as an urgent need. Through an analysis of existing and emerging climate adaptation policies, this paper assesses the climate adaptation response in the Cayman Islands. Despite its strong economic status and several developments in the areas of Planning, Environment and Tourism, alongside a draft Climate Change Policy, the study reveals a focus on symbolic policies and a lack of adopted “concrete” climate change adaptation policies. Although the draft National Climate Change Policy (2011) contains a comprehensive range of substantial policies, none has been formally adopted by the Cayman Islands Government. The practical implications of this situation in the face of climate change-related hazards are assessed in the context of Seven Mile Beach, the most heavily developed stretch of the Cayman Islands coast. Here, the prevailing response to shoreline change is stabilisation and, despite several opportunities to change the situation, recent policy developments have not stimulated changes in practice.

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“…Artificial beaches are those that were created or are maintained entirely through ongoing human intervention (Malvárez et al, 2021). They can arise through progressive human alteration of natural beaches to the point that the natural aspects are lost.…”

Section: Paper Accepted Preprint Versionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The critical issue is that on shorelines adjacent to fixed human infrastructure and property, landward migration of the shoreline is generally perceived primarily as a threat, rather than a natural process. Consequently, the landward migration in response to sea-level rise characteristic of natural beaches, is likely to be resisted (Malvárez et al, 2021). One manifestation of this situation is the presence of seawalls on the landward side of many beaches.…”

Section: Human-modified Sandy Beaches and Sea-level Risementioning

confidence: 99%

Response of natural, modified and artificial sandy beaches to sea-level rise

Cooper

2022

CIG

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Sandy beaches occur in a wide variety of environmental settings and as components of a diverse range of coastal system types. These variations among beaches lead to significant differences in their mesoscale (multi-decadal, km length scale) behaviour, including their response to sea-level rise. In addition to this natural variability, the degree to which the sandy beach system has been or will be modified by humans is a major influence on how it responds to sea-level change. From a spectrum of beach types based on the degree of human modification, three situations (Natural, Modified and Artificial beaches) are considered in order to demonstrate the role of humans as geomorphic agents as sandy beaches respond to rising sea level. The potential trajectories of change are assessed, and future scenarios are presented and discussed. Natural beaches are most likely to survive sea-level rise, while the fate of artificial beaches depends almost entirely on the politics and economics of what lies immediately landward. In all categories of beach, human decision-making is the most important determinant of sandy beach response to sea-level rise.

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Storm impacts on a coupled human-natural coastal system: Resilience of developed coasts

Cited by 25 publications

References 63 publications

Biotic and abiotic factors governing dune response to storm events

Biotic and abiotic factors governing dune response to storm events

Small islands and climate change: analysis of adaptation policy in the Cayman Islands

Response of natural, modified and artificial sandy beaches to sea-level rise

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