Increasing risks

Increasing risks

1. The majority of the world's population lives in low-lying coastal areas

2. A significant proportion of those densely populated coastal areas are exposed to the tsunamis generated by earthquakes

3. The impact of storm surges is expected to worsen as a result of the rise in sea levels

4. The rise in sea level is global. Therefore, all coastal areas may expect higher rates of coastal erosion and a higher risk of flooding

5. The continuing concentration of settlement and development in coastal areas will make problems even more serious

6. The 2004 Asian Tsunami

   • 26th December 2004
   • Epicentre was off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia
   • Killed around 280,000 people and inundated coastal communities
   • $7 billion in aid was donated
   • Had an impact on the survivors mental health
     • Estimated that 50% of all survivors had problems and that 5-10% have serious mental problems requiring treatment
   • 40% incidence of PTSD in children affected by the tsunami

7. Holderness on the Retreat

   • Northeast coast of England
   • Suffers fastest rate of coastal erosion in Europe
   • The coastline is mainly cliffs between 20 and 30m high
     • Soft, easily eroded glacial sands, gravels and boulder clay
   • Erosion at a rate of more than 1m per year
   • Erosion up to 10m per year
   • 4km of land has been lost since Roman times
   • Suffered badly in the 1953 storm surge
   • Exposed, particularly to waves from the North East
   • Waves are destructive
   • Longshore drift provides nourishment for Spurn Head

8. Thames Estuary

   • Has a long history of flooding
   • Tide levels are steadily increasing
   • Tide levels are rising in the Thames estuary relative to the land by about 60cm per centuary
   • When a trough of low pressure moves across the Atlantic towards the British Isles, the sea beneath it rises above the normal level
     • This creates a 'hump' of water, which moves eastwards with the depression
   • The Thames Barrage was completed in 1984
   • Gateway reduces flood risk