Climate Change and Coastal Ecosystems

A coastal system

• Waves and Currents
• Sediment
• Erosion

Effects of climate change on coastal systems

• Change in water temperature
  • Melting polar ice-caps
  • Thermal expansion of water
  • More frequent and stronger coastal storms
• Rising Sea Levels
  • Land Loss
    • Coastal erosion
  • Loss of water resources

Storms

• Fewer natural defenses
• Warmer waters equal stronger storms
• More space for hurricanes

A never ending cycle?

• Rising sea levels
• Coastal erosion
• Stronger storms
• Fewer defenses

Implications

• People’s homes at risk
• Loss of life
• Cost of property

What can be done?

• Mitigation
  • Less carbon emission
  • Less development of coasts
• Policies
  • Sea Walls or no Sea Walls?
  • Coastal Restoration