Coastal Erosions

Published on 05 Apr 2025

The process by which local sea level rise, powerful waves, and coastal flooding wear down or remove rocks, soils, and/or sands from the coast is known as coastal erosion. The shoreline analysis by NCCR suggests that 34% of the coast is eroding, 28% is accreting and 38% is in a stable state.

Causes of Coastal Erosion

• Wave Action: Shorelines can gradually deteriorate due to wave energy, particularly during storms.

• Sea Level Rise: Increased erosion rates along beaches can result from rising sea levels, which are frequently linked to climate change.

• Example: In Diogué Island of Senegal, the retreat of sandy shore over the past decade was about 50m (164 feet) according to Journal of Coastal Erosion.

• Storm Surges: Severe storms have the potential to produce storm surges, which raise water levels and exacerbate erosion.

• Example: Coastal Odisha under Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts are at greater risk of deluge and inundation due to erosion of coastal lands by storm surges.

• Human Activities: Construction of coastal constructions, removal of natural barriers like mangroves, and dredging can aggravate erosion.

• Example: Sand erosion at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam due to man-made structures and cyclones raises safety concerns

Impacts of Coastal Erosion

• Saltwater Intrusion: Seawater intrusion into freshwater sources due to erosion can have an adverse effect on ecosystems and drinking water supplies.

• Example: Coastal erosion on the west coast of Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island is advanced that seawater has penetrated the groundwater supply

• Displacement of Communities: Communities may be forced to relocate in extreme cases of erosion because liveable land is lost.

• Example: Rising sea levels caused by climate change has displaced people from the coasts of Odisha with 16 villages having already gone under seawater

• Loss of Land: The progressive loss of land caused by coastal erosion has an impact on infrastructure, agriculture, and habitats.

• Example: In Kerala, 647 acres of coastal land lost to the sea in 14 years: Study by University of Kerala.

• Economic Impact: Communities may suffer financial losses when coastal infrastructure is destroyed or severely damaged by erosion.

• Example: Rising sea levels could cost the global economy $14.2 trillion in lost or damaged assets by the end of the century.

Government initiatives and policy measures

• National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management: It seeks to promote integrated and sustainable management of coastal and marine areas in India for the benefit and well-being of traditional coastal and island populations.

• Coastal Regulation Zone: The notification was issued in 1991 by the MoEFCC under the Environmental Protection Act of 1986 to restrict operations in India's coastal areas.

• Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan: It is a method of managing the coast that takes an integrated approach to all aspects of the coastal zone, including physical and political borders, to promote sustainability.

• Coastal Management Information System (CMIS): It is a data gathering activity that is carried out to collect near shore coastal data that can be utilized in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of site-specific coastal protection structures along vulnerable portions of coastline.

Way Forward

• Ecosystem-Based Approaches: Encourage the preservation and regeneration of mangroves, salt marshes, and dunes, among other natural coastal ecosystems.

• Beach Nourishment and Restoration: Implement beach nourishment programs to restore and widen deteriorated beaches by adding sand or sediments.

• Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Ensuring the climate change resilience of infrastructure will help to protect lives and livelihoods, reduce direct losses as a result of extreme weather events

• Early Warning Systems: Early warnings can reduce the impact of erosion during storms by assisting communities in evacuating and taking preventative action.

• Adaptive Planning and Flexibility: Adopt planning strategies that are flexible enough to adjust to changing conditions in the environment.

Case study

• Kadalur Periya Kuppam, Tamil Nadu: A submerged offshore dyke was built. This contributed to the restoration of the lost beach and the safety of three fishing villages during strong cyclonic occurrences.

Tags:
Environment

Keywords:
Coastal area biodiversity Land degradation Marine Biodiversity Coastal erosion

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Environment and Climate Change