Environmental Impacts—Coastal Erosion and Coastline Changes

Abstract

Climate change is having an undeniable influence on coastal areas. This chapter describes the growing threat of climate change on the Baltic Sea coastline, with an emphasis on field research focused on storm surges and coastal retreat. The main climatic factors driving change in the Baltic Sea coastal zone are wind, waves, storm surges, ice jams and flooding. The cumulative effects of these drivers are also important. For example, a costly coastal protection scheme in one area may result in coastal erosion in another. Natural and man-made coastal features are experiencing unprecedented change; important natural habitats, coastal settlements and local economies are all being affected. The extent of storm surge impacts depends on the exposure of a shoreline to a surge event. The submergent and soft coastal relief of the southern Baltic Sea area is under most threat; the rate of retreat depending on the frequency and strength of the storm surges. The rate of coastal retreat has also increased in recent years due to sea-level rise and loss of beaches.