THE FUTURE: COASTAL ENVIRONMENT Flashcards
(17 cards)
caused by sea waves
Erosion
movement of eroded material
Transportation
depositing materials when waves losses strength
Deposition
As the seas get warmer, their density diminishes and their volume expands. This increase in volume, known as thermal expansion or
THE STERIC EFFECT
the anticipated sea-level rise attributed to thermal expansion from 1990 to 2100 is estimated to be around
0.28 m
total predicted increase in sea level due to climate change of
0.49 m.
CAUSES OF SEA LEVEL RISE
- seawater gets bigger as it warms up, which is called thermal expansion.
- melting ice from glaciers
- human activities change how much water is stored
are tropical landforms with high biodiversity.
Coral Reefs
Three types of Coral Reefs:
Fringing reefs, Barrier reefs, Atolls
often called the “rainforests of the sea.”
Coral Reefs
are critical ecosystems at high risk from sea-level rise, especially when barriers like seawalls prevent their natural landward migration.
Salt marshes and mangrove swamps
home to many people, face risks of submergence as sea level rise, especially where sediment accretion is insufficient.
River Deltas
are where rivers meet the ocean, creating a mix of freshwater and saltwater. They act as natural filters and provide habitats for many species.
ESTUARIES
Are areas where steep cliffs meet the ocean.
Cliffed Coasts
are dynamic coastal landforms composed of loose sand, shaped by waves, tides, and wind.
SANDY BEACHES
HUMAN INDUCED THREATS TO THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT
Habitat loss
Overexploitation
Pollution
coastal degradation
climate change.
MITIGATING THE THREATS
Habitat restoration
coral reef rehabilitation
reducing pollution
sustainable fisheries management
combating climate change
