Authors: WERNER G. HENNECKE¹; CATHARINA A. GREVE²; PETER J. COWELL³; BRUCE G. THOM³

Source: Coastal Management, Volume 32, Number 4, October-December 2004 , pp. 449-470(22)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

Rising sea level potentially poses a threat to many coastal areas, thereby possibly affecting coastal environments, including human assets. Taking into account the precau­-tionary principle demanded at the Framework Convention for Climate Change in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, coastal managers and planners are required to evaluate the possibility of both physical and economic impacts of sea-level rise. However, long-term and cost-intensive data capture is often not affordable for a first estimation of general trends. To determine physical and economic impacts on a spatial scale of less than 10 km, a rapid and low-cost method is required. A Geographic Information System (GIS), in combination with readily available data and two coastal behaviour models (the Bruun-GIS Model and the Aggradation Model) was applied to simulate shoreline recession caused by a rise in sea level. In addition, the potential impacts of a 50-year design storm were considered in conjunction with sea-level rise. The monetary vulnerability was assessed and combined with the simulated recession rates. This procedure provides a first estimate on the potential risk a locality (here Collaroy/Narrabeen Beach) may face due to the impacts of sea-level rise and/or coastal storms. Overall, the modelling outcome suggests that long-term erosion problems associated with rising sea level are less significant in comparison with those impacts associated with short-term coastal storm events for Collaroy/Narrabeen Beach.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08920750490487485

Affiliations: 1: School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 2: Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Environment, Australian Maritime College, Beauty Point, Tasmania, Australia 3: Coastal Studies Unit, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Publication date: 2004-10-01

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