Present and Future Challenges of Coastal Erosion in Latin America


Por: Silva R., Martínez M.L., Hesp P.A., Catalan P., Osorio A.F., Martell R., Fossati M., Da Silva G.M., Marino-Tapia, I, Pereira P., Cienguegos R., Klein A., Govaere G.

Publicada: 1 ene 2014
Resumen:
The coastal zones of Latin America have many landforms and environments, including sedimentary cliffs, deeply incised estuaries, headlands, barrier coasts and low lying, muddy coastal plains. These forms will respond differently to the expected changes in climate and associated sea level rise, which may produce coastal erosion in the future. Considering the coasts of Latin America overall, erosion is not yet a serious threat, although it is widespread and it is severe in some parts. Major erosion problems are frequently associated with human intervention in sediment supply, with poor planning or with the morphodynamic nature of the coast. Permanent erosional processes, locally or regionally, are caused by tectonic subsidence, deforestation and the fragmentation of coastal ecosystems, land use changes and sediment deficits because of infrastructure built along the coast. In this article we analyse coastal erosion in Latin America and the challenges it presents to the region. We first highlight the relevance of Latin America in terms of its biodiversity; then we describe the population at risk, demographic trends and economic growth throughout the low lying coastal zones. We also examine the vulnerability of the region by analyzing the resilience of key coastal ecosystems after exposure to the most frequent hazards that affect coastal zones in Latin America, namely tropical cyclones, sea level rise, ocean acidification, earthquakes and tsunamis. Finally, we discuss seven case studies of coastal erosion across Latin America. We close the study by pinpointing the main areas of concern in Latin America and explore possible strategies to overcome erosion and thus sustain economic growth, minimize population risk and maintain biodiversity.

Filiaciones:
Silva R.:
 Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Ingn, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico

Martínez M.L.:
 Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Ingn, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico

Hesp P.A.:
 School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Catalan P.:
 Departamento de Obras Civiles, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile

 Centro Nacional Para la Investigación en Gestión Integrada de Desastres Naturales, Santiago, Chile

Osorio A.F.:
 Grupo OCEANICOS, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia

Martell R.:
 Subcordinación de Monitoreo Marino, CONABIO, Mexico City, Mexico

Fossati M.:
 IMFIA, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

Da Silva G.M.:
 School of the Environment, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Marino-Tapia, I:
 Inst Politecn Nacl, Ctr Invest & Estudios Avanzados, Merida, Mexico

Cienguegos R.:
 Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

 Centro Nacional Para la Investigación en Gestión Integrada de Desastres Naturales, Santiago, Chile

Klein A.:
 Centro de Ciências Tecnológicas da Terra e Do Mar, Universidade Do Vale Do Itajaí, Itajaí, Brazil

Govaere G.:
 Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
ISSN: 07490208
Editorial
COASTAL EDUCATION & RESEARCH FOUNDATION, 810 EAST 10TH STREET, LAWRENCE, KS 66044 USA, Estados Unidos America
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: Número: 71
Páginas: 1-16
WOS Id: 000344617300002

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