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Coastal defence techniques and climate change: a review

  • Coastal Protection
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Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Coastal areas are characterized by a high level of risk because of its intrinsic vulnerability to the sea action and the high number of socio-economic activities as well as of marine habitats. Traditional methodologies for the design of coastal defences cannot be applied straightforward in the presence of the effects of climate change because of the need to take into account the non-stationarity of natural processes. A novel approach based on an integrated coastal zone management is required to counteract the main consequences of global warming effects in coastal areas (i.e. sea level rise and the increase in frequency and magnitude of extreme events). In particular, besides institutional measures and preparedness and prevention actions, also structural intervention should be implemented. First of all, the upgrade of existing coastal defence structures should be considered, where this strategy is technically and economically feasible. In addition, it is suggested the realisation of Nature-Based Solutions, which consist on using natural processes to create a resilient system. Finally, the integration of traditional and innovative techniques for the design of coastal defences to realise resilient or, even better, antifragile systems is the most preferable approach. Indeed, perfect knowledge of future conditions is not needed for the design of antifragile systems, since this kind of structures are able to improve themselves when hit by unexpected events.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been partly supported by the EU funded project HYDRALAB PLUS (proposal number 654110), by the project “NEWS - Nearshore hazard monitoring and Early Warning System” (code C1-3.2-60) in the framework of the EU programme INTERREG V-A Italia Malta 2014–2020, and by the University of Catania (Italy) funded project “Interazione onde correnti nella regione costiera (INOCS)”.

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia, 64, 95125, Catania, Italy

    Enrico Foti, Rosaria Ester Musumeci & Martina Stagnitti

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  1. Enrico Foti
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  2. Rosaria Ester Musumeci
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Correspondence to Enrico Foti.

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Foti, E., Musumeci, R.E. & Stagnitti, M. Coastal defence techniques and climate change: a review. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 31, 123–138 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-020-00877-y

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