Coastal resilience refers to the ability of coastal areas to absorb disturbances and maintain their function, structure, and identity. This page provides an overview of our research on coastal resilience, including the challenges faced by coastal regions and the strategies we employ to enhance their resilience.

Challenges Faced by Coastal Regions

  1. Sea-Level Rise: Rising sea levels pose a significant threat to coastal areas, leading to increased flooding and erosion.
  2. Climate Change: Climate change contributes to more frequent and severe weather events, such as hurricanes and storms, which further exacerbate coastal vulnerabilities.
  3. Human Activities: Coastal development, pollution, and overfishing can degrade coastal ecosystems, reducing their ability to withstand disturbances.

Strategies for Enhancing Coastal Resilience

  1. Natural Infrastructure: Restoring and preserving natural coastal features, such as mangroves, coral reefs, and wetlands, can help protect against erosion and flooding.
  2. Managed Retreat: In some cases, it may be more sustainable to retreat from vulnerable coastal areas and focus on building defenses in less-exposed locations.
  3. Building Codes and Standards: Implementing stringent building codes and standards can help reduce the risk of damage to coastal infrastructure during extreme events.

Coastal Resilience

For more information on our coastal resilience research, please visit our Research Library.

References

  1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. IPCC.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (2019). Coastal Resilience and Adaptation to Sea-Level Rise. USGS.