Skip to main content

Coastal Erosion and Rising Sea-Level

  • Chapter
Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Subsidence

Part of the book series: Coastal Systems and Continental Margins ((CSCM,volume 2))

Abstract

Coastal erosion is facilitated by rising sea level, but it can also occur on coastlines where the sea level is stable or even falling. The modern prevalence of beach erosion on the world’s coastlines is not, therefore, an indication of global sea-level rise. However, if such a sea-level rise develops, perhaps as a consequence of the greenhouse effect, there will be an acceleration of existing beach erosion, and erosion will begin on many beaches that are now stable or growing. Accelerated erosion also will be seen on cliffs, deltas, coastal swamps, and developed coastlines. The changes predicted globally are already in evidence on sectors of the world’s coastline where land subsidence has produced a relative sea-level rise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Barnett, T.P.,1984. The estimation of “global” sea level changes, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 7980–7988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth, M.G. and Titus, J.G.,1984. Greenhouse Effect and Sea Level Rise. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird, E.C.F., 1984. Coasts. Blackwell, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird, E.C.F., 1985. Coastline Changes. Wiley Interscience, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird, E.C.F., 1987. The world’s disappearing beaches. in Science and the Future Handbook, Encyclopaedia Britannica, p. 115–127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird, E.C.F., 1993. Submerging Coasts: The Effects of a Rising Sea Level on Coastal Environments. Wiley, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird, E.C.F. and Ongkosongo, O.S.R., 1980. Environmental changes on the coasts of Indonesia. United Nations University, Tokyo, Japan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bird, E.C.F. and Rosengren, N.J., 1984. The changing coastline of the Krakatau Islands, Indonesia. Z Geomorph., 28, 346–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunsden, D. and Jones, D.K.C., 1980. Relative time scales and formative events in coastal landslide systems. Z Geomorph., Supp. 34, 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruun, P., 1962. Sea level rise as a cause of shore erosion. J. Waterways and Harbors Div., Proc. Amer. Soc. Civil Engnrs., 88, 117–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, R.W.G., 1991. Near-future sea level impacts on coastal dune landscapes, Landscape Ecology, 6, 9–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Jiyu, Liu Cangzi, and Yu Zhiying, 1985. China. In: E.C.F. Bird and M.L. Schwartz (eds.), The World’s Coastline. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 813–822

    Google Scholar 

  • Cocks, K.D., Gilmour, A.J. and Wood, N.H., 1988. Regional impacts of rising sea levels in coastal Australia. In: G.I. Pearman (ed.), Greenhouse: Planning for Climatic Change, C.S.I.R.O. Division of Atmospheric Research, 105–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Darmody, R.G. and Foss, J.E., 1979. Soil-landscape relationships of the tidal marshlands of Maryland. Soil. Sci. Soc. Amer. Journ., 43, 534–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Day, J.W. and Templet, P.H., 1990. Consequences of sea level rise: implications for the Mississippi delta. Developments in Hydrobiolgy, 57, 155–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellison, J.C. and Stoddart, D.R., 1991. Mangrove ecosystem collapse during predicted sea level rise: Holocene analogues and implications. J. Coastal Res. 7, 151–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery, K.O. and Aubrey, D.G., 1991. Sea Levels, Land Levels, and Tide Guages. Springer Verlag. New York.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, J.J., 1980. Shoreline erosion, Rhode Island and North Carolina coasts. In: M.L. Schwartz and J.J. Fisher (eds.), Proceedings of the Per Bruun Symposium, University of Rhode Island, 32–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibb, J.G. and Aburn, J.H.. 1986. Shoreline fluctuations and an assessment of a coastal hazard zone along Pauanui Beach, Eastern Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand. National Water and Soil Conservation Authority, Wellington, Technical Publication 27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gornitz, V. and Lebedeff, S., 1987. Global sea level changes during the past century. In: D. Nummedal, O.H. Pilkey and J.D. Howard (eds.), Sea Level Change and Coastal Evolution. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication 41, 3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guilcher, A., 1981. Shoreline changes in salt marshes and mangrove swamps (mangals) within the past century. In: E.C.F. Bird and K. Koike (eds.), Coastal Dynamics and Scientific Sites, 31–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopley, D. and Kinsey, D.W., 1988. The effects of rapid short-term sea level rise on the Great Barrier Reef. In: G.I Pearman (ed.), Greenhouse Planning for Climate Change, C.S.I.R.O. Division of Atmospheric Research, 189–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghton, J.T., Jenkins, G.J., and Ephraums, J.J. (eds.), 1990. Scientific Assessment of Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, J.N., 1976. Coastal landslides in cliffs of Pleistocene deposits between Cromer and Overstrand, Norfolk. Laurits Bjerrum, Memorial Volume, University of Oslo, 155–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hulsbergen, C.H. and Schr?der, P., 1989. Republic of Maldives implications of sea level rise. Ministry of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kearney, M.S., and Stevenson, J.C., 1991. Island land loss and marsh vertical accretion rate evidence for historical sea level changes in Chesapeake Bay. J. Coastal Res., 7, 403–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knighton, A.D., Mills, K., and Woodroffe, C.D, 1991. Tidal-creek extension and saltwater intrusion in northern Australia. Geology, 19, 831–834.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, C.R. and Van Lopik, J.R., 1966. Depositional environments of the Mississippi deltaic plain. In: M.L. Shirley (ed.), Deltas in Their Geologic Framework, Houston Geol. Soc., Texas, 18–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leatherman, S.P., 1990. Modeling shore response to sea level rise on sedimentary coasts. Progr. Phys. Geogr., 14, 447–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leontiev, O.K. and Veliev, K.A., 1990. Transgressive Coasts. [Caspian Sea]. International Symposium, Baku, USSR, 15–21 September 1990, 1–71

    Google Scholar 

  • May, V.J. and Heeps, C., 1985. The nature and rates of change on chalk coastlines, Z Geomorph., Supp. 57, 81–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakano, T. and Takehisa, Y., 1983. Ground subsidence in the Niigata plain. International Symposium on Coastal Evolution in the Holocene, Niigata, 1983, 25–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann, A.C. and Macintyre, I.G., 1985. Reef response to a sea level rise: keep-up, catch-up or give-up. Proc. 5th Internat. Coral Reef Congress, 3, 105–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orlova, G. and Zenkovich, V.P., 1974. Erosion on the shores of the Nile delta, Geoforum, 18, 68–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paskoff, R., 1981. L’Erosion des C?tes. Presses Universitaires de France, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pernetta, J.C. and Sestini, G., 1989. The Maldives and the impact of expected climatic changes. UNEP Regional Seas Reports and Studies, 104 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pethick, J.S., 1981. Long-term accretion rates on tidal salt marshes. J. Sedim. Petrol., 51, 571–577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, J.D., 1986. Coastal submergence and marsh fringe erosion, J. Coastal Res., 2, 426–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirazzoli, P.A., 1986. Secular trends of relative sea level changes indicated by tide-gauge records. J. Coastal Res., Special Issue 1, 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirazzoli, P.A., 1987. Recent sea level changes and related engineering problems in the lagoon of Venice. Prog. Oceanogr., 18, 223–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pirazzoli, P.A., 1991. World Atlas of Holocene Sea level Changes. Elsevier Oceanography Series, 58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pringle, A., 1981. Beach development and coastal erosion in Holderness. In: J. Neale and J. Flenley (eds.) The Ouaternary in Britain, 194–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Psuty, N. P., 1986. Impacts of impending sea level rise scenarios: the New Jersey barrier island responses. Bull. New Jersey Acad. Sci., 31, 29–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pugh, D.T., 1987. The Global Sea Level Observing System. Hydrographic J., 45, 5–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranwell, D.S., 1974. The salt marsh to tidal woodland transition. Hydrobiol. Bull., 8, 139–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redfield, A.C., 1972. Development of a New England salt marsh. Ecol. Monogr., 42, 201–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, D.J., 1990. The impact of sea level rise on coastal salt marshes. Progr. Phys. Geogr., 14, 465–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, A.F., 1960. Rates of marine erosion of tephra and lava at Isla San Benedicto, Mexico. Int. Geol. Congr., 21, 58–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • S.C.O.R. Working Group 89., 1991. The response of beaches to sea level changes: a review of predictive models. J. Coastal Res., 7, 895–921.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark, K.P., 1988. Designing for coastal structures in a greenhouse age. In: G.I. Pearman (ed.), Greenhouse: Planning for Climatic Change, C.S.I.R.O. Division of Atmospheric Research, 161–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson, J.C., Ward, L.G. and Kearney, M.S., 1986. Vertical accretion in marshes with varying rates of sea level rise. In: M.S. Kearney (ed.), Estuarine Variability, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunamura, T., 1992. Geomorphology of Rocky Coasts. Wiley, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teh Tiong Sa, 1993. Potential impacts of sea level rise on the permatang coasts of Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysian J. Tropical Geogr., 24, 41–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teh Tiong Sa and Lim Chow Hock, 1993. Impacts of sea level rise on the mangroves of Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysian J.Tropical Geogr., 24, 13–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Titus, J.G., 1986. The causes and effects of sea level rise. In: J.G. Titus (ed.), Effects of Changes in Stratospheric Ozone and Global Climate, Vol. 1–Overview, 219–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderzee, M.P., 1988. Changes in saltmarsh vegetation as an early indicator of sea level rise. In: G.I. Pearman (ed.), Greenhouse: Planning for Climatic Change, C.S.I.R.O. Division of Atmospheric Research, 147–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verstappen, H.T., 1966. The use of aerial photographs in delta studies. In: Scientific Problems in Humid Tropical Zone Deltas, UNESCO, 373–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wadsworth, A.H., 1966. Historical deltation of the Colorado River, Texas. In: M.L. Shirley (ed.), Deltas in Their Geologic Framework, Houston Geological Society, 99–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, H.J., 1988. Artificial Structures and Shorelines. Kluwer Academic Publ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodroffe, C.D., 1990. The impact of sea level rise on mangrove shorelines, Progr. Phys. Geogr., 14, 483–520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodroffe, C.D., Thom, B.C. and Chappell, J., 1985. Development of widespread man- grove swamps in mid-Holocene times in northern Australia. Nature, 317, 711–713.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodworth, P.L., 1991. The Permanent Service for mean sea level and the Global Sea Level Observing System. J. Coastal Res., 7, 699–719.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zenkovich, V.P., 1967. Processes of Coastal Development (trans: O.G. Fry, ed. J.A Steers ), Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zunica, M., 1990. Beach behaviour and defences along the Lido di Jesolo, Gulf of Venice, Italy. J. Coastal Res., 6, 709–719.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bird, E.C.F. (1996). Coastal Erosion and Rising Sea-Level. In: Milliman, J.D., Haq, B.U. (eds) Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Subsidence. Coastal Systems and Continental Margins, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8719-8_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8719-8_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4672-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-8719-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics