Titre :	Impact of climate-induced sea level rise on coastal areas
Type de document :	texte imprimé
Auteurs :	Stephen P. Leatherman, Auteur
Editeur :	Chapman and Hall
Année de publication :	1991
Importance :	p 170-179
Langues :	Anglais (eng)
Catégories :	SCIENCES DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT
Mots-clés :	ÉLÉVATION DU NIVEAU DE LA MER INDUITE PAR LE CLIMAT  CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE  ZONE HUMIDE
Résumé :	The general response of low-lying lands to sea-level rise is retreat via beach erosion and wetland loss. Already extensive coastal marshes are being lost in Louisiana and in the Chesapeake Bay, because the marshes are not able to keep pace with relative sea-level rise and are presently being drowned in place. The prospect for coastal wetlands is bleak in light of existing conditions and projected changes in climate. It is likely that there will be substantial losses of coastal marshes in the future. 90% of the nation’s sandy beaches are experiencing erosion. Historical shoreline studies indicate a wide range in erosion rates. The Atlantic coast average is between 0.6 and 1m of beach erosion per year. The Gulf coast exceeds 1.6m per year due to local subsidence. The Pacific coast is stable on average due to local tectonic uplift and these spatial variations in erosion rates are due to site-specific conditions such as energy conditions, sediment types, tectonic activity and rates of relative sea-level rise. Three general categories of human responses to shoreline recession are to retreat from the shore, armor the coast or nourish the beach. The proper response is site-specific depending on a number of socioeconomic and environmental factors. Costs and benefits of stabilization or retreat must be carefully considered because the cost in either case is likely to be quite high. The apparent national desire to live in the coastal zone has long-term and expensive consequences. The federally insured flood program is already burdened with billions of dollars of insured properties close to the water’s edge. Accelerated sea-level rise due to the Greenhouse effect will further jeopardize these vulnerable properties, eventually resulting in massive destruction (without ameliorating action) during major storms at great expense to the American taxpayer.
Numéro du document :	A/MAC
Niveau Bibliographique :	2
Bull1 (Theme principale) :	METEOROLOGIE ,ATMOSPHERE,CLIMATOLOGIE
Bull2 (Theme secondaire) :	ATMOSPHERE,CLIMATOLOGIE-CONSIDERATION GENERALE

Impact of climate-induced sea level rise on coastal areas [texte imprimé] / Stephen P. Leatherman, Auteur . - Chapman and Hall, 1991 . - p 170-179.
Langues : Anglais (eng)

Catégories :	SCIENCES DE L'ENVIRONNEMENT
Mots-clés :	ÉLÉVATION DU NIVEAU DE LA MER INDUITE PAR LE CLIMAT  CHANGEMENT CLIMATIQUE  ZONE HUMIDE
Résumé :	The general response of low-lying lands to sea-level rise is retreat via beach erosion and wetland loss. Already extensive coastal marshes are being lost in Louisiana and in the Chesapeake Bay, because the marshes are not able to keep pace with relative sea-level rise and are presently being drowned in place. The prospect for coastal wetlands is bleak in light of existing conditions and projected changes in climate. It is likely that there will be substantial losses of coastal marshes in the future. 90% of the nation’s sandy beaches are experiencing erosion. Historical shoreline studies indicate a wide range in erosion rates. The Atlantic coast average is between 0.6 and 1m of beach erosion per year. The Gulf coast exceeds 1.6m per year due to local subsidence. The Pacific coast is stable on average due to local tectonic uplift and these spatial variations in erosion rates are due to site-specific conditions such as energy conditions, sediment types, tectonic activity and rates of relative sea-level rise. Three general categories of human responses to shoreline recession are to retreat from the shore, armor the coast or nourish the beach. The proper response is site-specific depending on a number of socioeconomic and environmental factors. Costs and benefits of stabilization or retreat must be carefully considered because the cost in either case is likely to be quite high. The apparent national desire to live in the coastal zone has long-term and expensive consequences. The federally insured flood program is already burdened with billions of dollars of insured properties close to the water’s edge. Accelerated sea-level rise due to the Greenhouse effect will further jeopardize these vulnerable properties, eventually resulting in massive destruction (without ameliorating action) during major storms at great expense to the American taxpayer.
Numéro du document :	A/MAC
Niveau Bibliographique :	2
Bull1 (Theme principale) :	METEOROLOGIE ,ATMOSPHERE,CLIMATOLOGIE
Bull2 (Theme secondaire) :	ATMOSPHERE,CLIMATOLOGIE-CONSIDERATION GENERALE