SEA LEVEL RISE POSE CHALLENGES TO FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION IN COASTAL REGIONS

Abstract

Research has shown that climate change has a major effect on rise of sea levels. The warming of the planet is the principal reason that is directly causing a rise in global mean sea level (GMSL). GMSL since 1880 has risen approximately 210–240 mm. This is about a third that is recorded in just the last two and a half decades. The current rate of rise is approximately 3 mm per year. Red Sea located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia can be termed as a minor ocean basin that has several distinctive characteristics. It does not have any river-inflow from outside. A study has recorded that from 1993 through 2000, the sea level rise in the Red Sea has been following a rate of 3.88 mm/year. This rate follows the pattern of the global rate of 3.3 ± 0.5 mm/year. Nevertheless, as per study from 2000 until present time, an increased rate of 6.40 mm/year has been recorded in the “sea-level” of Red Sea. On the other hand, the conditions of the east coast of Saudi Arabia along Arabian Gulf shows a 1 m sea level rise affects approximately 650 km2 of the land area. This research paper per se has examined the possibility that these sea level rise in both the east and the west coasts of Saudi Arabia are expected to affect a significant rise in the ground water table and hence pose challenges in foundation construction.