Coasts

• Dalmatian Coasts


  Found where mountains run parallel or concordant to the coastline. Sea level rise produces long narrow inlets which run parallel to the coast.
• Ria


  Flooded river valley/estuary, due to sea level rise.
• Fjord

  Flooded U-shaped/glacial valleys, due to sea level rise.

  Only found in areas that were once covered by Ice (higher latitudes).
• Submergent Landforms:

  • Dalmatian Coasts
  • Rias
  • Fjords
• Eustatic Sea Level Change

  • Global change in sea level.
  • Can be sea level rise or fall.
  • Sea level rise is caused by climatic warming leading to the melting of glaciers or ice sheets.
  • Sea level fall is caused by climatic cooling leading to glaciation or a slowed hydrological cycle.
  • Rise and fall are also caused by the thermal expansion and contraction of water.
• Isostatic Sea Level Change

  • Local change in level of land relative to sea.
  • Fall in level of land caused by the added weight of glaciers during colder times can offset fall in sea level.
  • Geographically specific:
  • Only on coastlines in higher latitudes experiencing glaciation.
• Impacts of sea level change

  • Loss of coastal Settlements.
  • Cost of increased sea defences needed to protect coasts e.g. East Anglia. E.g. Thames Barrier ($80 billion)
  • Contamination of soil by salt water
  • Cost of adapting ports to function with higher sea levels
  • Displacement of people (Kos)
  • Contamination of freshwater resources by salt water
  • Insurance costs as properties are lost
  • Cost of power station relocation (Hinkley Point?)
  • Loss of coastal habitats (Mangrove forests)