Causes of Coastal Erosion
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NATURAL CAUSES |
ARTIFICIAL CAUSES |
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Wave Action |
Deforestation |
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Effect of Severe Cyclone |
Excessive Sea Mining |
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Rise in Sea level |
Construction of Ports and Harbours |
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Hide Tides |
Daming of Rivers |
Natural Factors
- Wave Action – High wave energy leads to the gradual removal of the land near the coastline through littoral drift. Coastal erosion caused due to wave action can never be rebuilt through natural processes. Wave action erodes the coastline over time.
- Currents – Currents erode the coastline by carrying away sand and other sediments.
- Tides – Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon. When the tidal energy is less, the level of coastal erosion is less whereas, when the tidal energy is more, the rate of coastal erosion is more.
Human Activities
- Deforestation – It is one of the major causes of soil erosion. Tress and other vegetation help to bind the soil together.
- Sand mining – It is the process through which the primary soil is extracted from beneath the sea. It not only lowers the groundwater level of the coast but also serves as a threat to the marine fisheries and aquatic ecosystem.
- Construction of ports and harbors – The construction of jetties, breakwaters, groins, and reclamation bunds, disturbs the natural flow of the sea which in turn blocks the coastal sedimentary transport. It alters the dune topography and coastal forest growth.
Coastal Erosion
Coastal Erosion is the wearing away of the land near the coastline. It removes sediments from beaches, dunes, cliffs, and coastal wetlands, mainly due to wind, waves, high tides, and storms. Coastal erosion is a natural process that shapes the world’s coastline but is also a significant environmental issue.
This article will focus on the causes, types, impacts, case studies, management studies, and some interesting facts related to coastal erosion.
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Coastal Erosion