A Global View on Beach Erosion

Abstract

Coastal zones have long attracted humans and human activities, due to the economic opportunities they offer, their aesthetic value, and the diverse ecosystem services they provide. As a result, coastal zones throughout the world have become heavily populated and developed, with 15 of the world’s 20 megacities (population >10 million) being in the coastal zone. The global coastline is spatially varied and comprises different coastal landforms, such as barrier islands, sea cliffs, sandy coasts, tidal flats, and river deltas. Of these different coastline types, the sandy coasts are highly dynamic in time and space and constitute a substantial part of the world’s coastline. Sandy coasts are highly developed and densely populated due to the amenitiesCoastal Engineerin