The Dangers of Coastline Changes

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Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Countering The Effects of High Seas 2
Hurricanes 3
Beach Protection 5
New Protection Methods 6
Conclusion 6
References 7

Introduction
Coastline changes due to weather and human intervention represent a major concern for coastal planners all over the world. Coastline changes, not only has an effect on citizens who own property by the seaside, it also has a major effect on our business here at McDuff. While beaches may be vacation spots for some, their disappearance through erosion a great loss of business for our company. The purpose of this report is to inform our coastal planners and stakeholders of ways to prevent coastal erosion in the Caribbean.
Shorelines are areas of continuous change. Natural forces of wind and water interact with the land and cause shifts between water and land. These shifts between water and land have been taking place for centuries but it has become a major issue in the Caribbean islands since tourism became the major industry in the 1970s. Despite being a major value here at McDuff, beaches have not been perceived as areas needing management, protection and funding.
Environmental awareness has been growing slowly due to the numerous hurricanes that have past through the region. These dramatic events bring home to everyone the importance and vulnerability of the region's beaches. This report will give information regarding: countering the effects of high seas, hurricanes, structures for beach protection, and new protection methods. This report provides information on these situations and offers ways to protect the beaches in the future.

Countering The Effects of High Seas
Waves, tides and ocean currents are among the several natural forces that cause beach changes. One cause of considerable beach erosion is swell waves. Swell waves are seas that have moved out and away from the area in which they were formed. Because of their different wave lengths and wave speeds, waves move outward from the windy areas where they formed, and separate into groups of waves with distinct wave periods. In the Caribbean, swell waves are usually caused by intense mid-latitude storms in the North Atlan...

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...during the low tide and by day when the sand can dry. Another recent invention that was designed to help protect the beaches is artificial seaweed. Unfortunately this does not share the same success as beach drainage. The seaweed was design to collect sand from the water forming an offshore sand bar. This sand bar was then supposed to stop wave action around the beaches. However, the seaweed did not hold up in the strong Caribbean currents and was ineffective.

Figure 6: Beach Drainage (Coastal Stabilization Inc. 1989)

Conclusion
In conclusion I think year by year we are steadily learning more about beach erosion. With more advanced studies I think we can take a major step in protecting our beaches in the Caribbean.

References

Bacon, P.R. 1978. Flora and Fauna of the Caribbean, an Introduction to the Ecology of the West Indies. Key Caribbean Publications Ltd, Port of Spain, Trinidad .

Komar, P.D. 1976. Beach Processes and Sedimentation. Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Coastal Stabilization Inc. 1989. Stabeach: the Cost - Effective, Long-Term Solution for Stabilizing America’s Beaches. Brochure CS 2/89 009 2M. Coastal Stabilization Inc., Tampa, Florida.

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