The Azores archipelago, Portugal: improved understanding of small island coastal hazards and mitigation measures

Abstract

Coastal zones are vital to small islands due to limited land availability and ocean exposure. Their significance and resident dependence result in a need to address unique small island coastal zone concerns. Recent population concentrations and increased economic activity along with accompanying lucrative coastal development are posing significant threats to human and natural system well-being. Potential environmental hazards therefore play an important role in coastal vulnerability and risk assessment, and it is only by understanding causes and consequences that policy makers, along with scientists and the public, can establish appropriate mitigation measures. This paper addresses the lack of specific small island studies, including their unique circumstances. Coastal hazards are assessed and effective mitigation strategies suggested. A case study of the Azores archipelago highlights specific coastal hazards and demonstrates the importance of public participation when implementing mitigation measures. Furthermore, the inclusion of an external neutral and unbiased coastal management expert within the public participation process facilitated successful development of Azorean Coastal Zone Management Plans.

Urban modelling for seismic prone areas: the case study of Vila Franca do Campo (Azores Archipelago, Portugal)

“…We conclude that the planning process and land-use plan (MMP) were not structured towards seismic risk mitigation. These findings support the conclusions of the works from Calado et al (2011) where it is stated that understanding the unique characteristics (e.g., population density; socioeconomic activities; natural hazardousness) of the Azores small islands is critical to establish the most appropriate land-use management policies, measures and actions.…”

Assessing the vulnerability of beach tourism and non-beach tourism to climate change: a case study from Jamaica

“…Seaports and airports lie along the coastline, there are major hotel developments and the majority of the population lives there, and will continue to move there. As such, there is need for specific mitigation measures to address climate change (Calado, Borges, Phillips, Ng, & Alves, 2011), which do not exist at the moment.…”

“…Governments can adopt this strategy, but critical to this process is input from the stakeholder's concerned, i.e. public participation (Calado et al, 2011).…”

Linking GMES Space Component to the development of land policies in Outermost Regions—the Azores (Portugal) case-study

“…They emerge from the Azores plateau, a triangular-shaped zone of anomalous and irregular shallow topography and tectonically located near the triple junction of the American (west), Eurasian (northeast) and African (south) plates. The insignificant variation in the seasonal temperature and the high humidity and precipitation that characterize the archipelago's climate are mostly due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, which transports warm waters and humid air masses and is responsible for the high-pressure systems over the Azores [Borges et al, 2009;Calado et al, 2011]. …”