1. BACKGROUND Over the last 15 years, the UK has evolved a sophisticated approach to coastal mana... more 1. BACKGROUND Over the last 15 years, the UK has evolved a sophisticated approach to coastal management in order to deal with management issues on a coastline that is some 12,400 kilometres long and varies in terms of: • It’s geology, erodability and sediment supply; • The driving hydrodynamic variables (e.g. wave and tidal energies); • The rates of sea level rise/fall; and, • It’s commercial, residential, agricultural and recreational usage (Figure 1). Figure 1: The UK’s varied coastline The strategic framework that has been developed provides management solutions that avoid disruption to natural processes and which are sustainable in the long term. The key tenets of this approach (MAFF, 2001) are that it: • Takes a long-term view; • Is forward looking when identifying future problems; • Seeks to develop innovative, but appropriate, solutions; • Has a comprehensive regard to impacts; • Provides for the thorough assessment and reduction of risks; and • Shows balanced decision making...
Climate change, or more accurately climate destabilisation, is a real and growing threat to the e... more Climate change, or more accurately climate destabilisation, is a real and growing threat to the environment and our own quality of life. The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (Stern, 2007) suggested that climate change threatens to be the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen. The effects of climate destabilisation are particulary evidence around the worlds coasts where likely effects include: • More extreme weather conditions everywhere, including more devastating hurricanes and floods; and, • Rising sea levels leading to more frequent flooding in low lying countries, mainly in the developing world where large populations are vulnerable. Some of these potential impacts are already taking place around the world require for the development of long term strategic plans for the management the risks posed by flood and coastal erosion. Achieving shoreline management solutions that are sustainable in the long term and which requires that we: • Take a long-term...
1. Background The world’s coastlines are subject to an increasing number of physical, environment... more 1. Background The world’s coastlines are subject to an increasing number of physical, environmental, socio-economic pressures. Balancing these pressures to manage coastal erosion and flooding risks at the coast requires the development of sustainable long term and large scale strategic approaches. This can be particularly important in countries with fast developing economies where demand for use of the coastal zone is rapidly increasing and decisions on new development need to be taken. Experience gained where such approaches have been adopted previously can be invaluable. The lessons learned elsewhere can help to inform development and implementation of strategic planning. Such experience exists within the UK where a strategic framework and a range of tools have been developed over the last two decades. These approaches have vastly improved our understanding of coastal issues and transformed thinking about coastal defence both now and for the future. The paper will illustrate that ...
The paper reports on research funded by SCOPAC into preparing for the impacts of climate change. ... more The paper reports on research funded by SCOPAC into preparing for the impacts of climate change. Operating Authorities need to make adequate allowances for potential impacts of climate change in future planning of land uses and defences. Whilst there has been considerable research into global climate change, there is presently little practical guidance for Authorities on accounting for the impacts in defence planning, other than for relative rise in mean sea level. For the SCOPAC region on the central south coast of England, this paper reviews historical data and presents an updated analysis of sea levels, wave climates and storm events. New work to hindcast wave conditions using future scenario wind data is presented. Future ‘coastal climate change scenarios’ are developed, comprising the likely range of sea-levels, extreme water levels, wave climates, temperature and effective rainfall that can be expected over the next 100 years. The potential effects of these scenarios on coasta...
1. BACKGROUND Over the last 15 years, the UK has evolved a sophisticated approach to coastal mana... more 1. BACKGROUND Over the last 15 years, the UK has evolved a sophisticated approach to coastal management in order to deal with management issues on a coastline that is some 12,400 kilometres long and varies in terms of: • It’s geology, erodability and sediment supply; • The driving hydrodynamic variables (e.g. wave and tidal energies); • The rates of sea level rise/fall; and, • It’s commercial, residential, agricultural and recreational usage (Figure 1). Figure 1: The UK’s varied coastline The strategic framework that has been developed provides management solutions that avoid disruption to natural processes and which are sustainable in the long term. The key tenets of this approach (MAFF, 2001) are that it: • Takes a long-term view; • Is forward looking when identifying future problems; • Seeks to develop innovative, but appropriate, solutions; • Has a comprehensive regard to impacts; • Provides for the thorough assessment and reduction of risks; and • Shows balanced decision making...
Climate change, or more accurately climate destabilisation, is a real and growing threat to the e... more Climate change, or more accurately climate destabilisation, is a real and growing threat to the environment and our own quality of life. The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (Stern, 2007) suggested that climate change threatens to be the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen. The effects of climate destabilisation are particulary evidence around the worlds coasts where likely effects include: • More extreme weather conditions everywhere, including more devastating hurricanes and floods; and, • Rising sea levels leading to more frequent flooding in low lying countries, mainly in the developing world where large populations are vulnerable. Some of these potential impacts are already taking place around the world require for the development of long term strategic plans for the management the risks posed by flood and coastal erosion. Achieving shoreline management solutions that are sustainable in the long term and which requires that we: • Take a long-term...
1. Background The world’s coastlines are subject to an increasing number of physical, environment... more 1. Background The world’s coastlines are subject to an increasing number of physical, environmental, socio-economic pressures. Balancing these pressures to manage coastal erosion and flooding risks at the coast requires the development of sustainable long term and large scale strategic approaches. This can be particularly important in countries with fast developing economies where demand for use of the coastal zone is rapidly increasing and decisions on new development need to be taken. Experience gained where such approaches have been adopted previously can be invaluable. The lessons learned elsewhere can help to inform development and implementation of strategic planning. Such experience exists within the UK where a strategic framework and a range of tools have been developed over the last two decades. These approaches have vastly improved our understanding of coastal issues and transformed thinking about coastal defence both now and for the future. The paper will illustrate that ...
The paper reports on research funded by SCOPAC into preparing for the impacts of climate change. ... more The paper reports on research funded by SCOPAC into preparing for the impacts of climate change. Operating Authorities need to make adequate allowances for potential impacts of climate change in future planning of land uses and defences. Whilst there has been considerable research into global climate change, there is presently little practical guidance for Authorities on accounting for the impacts in defence planning, other than for relative rise in mean sea level. For the SCOPAC region on the central south coast of England, this paper reviews historical data and presents an updated analysis of sea levels, wave climates and storm events. New work to hindcast wave conditions using future scenario wind data is presented. Future ‘coastal climate change scenarios’ are developed, comprising the likely range of sea-levels, extreme water levels, wave climates, temperature and effective rainfall that can be expected over the next 100 years. The potential effects of these scenarios on coasta...
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