Australian approaches to coastal vulnerability assessment |
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Authors: | Nick Harvey Colin D Woodroffe |
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Institution: | (1) Geographical and Environmental Studies, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5400, Australia;(2) School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia |
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Abstract: | The Australian coastline is one of the longest and most diverse of any in the world, and Australian researchers have developed
preliminary models of the behaviour of major coastal systems such as beaches and reefs. The Australian population is particularly
focused along the coastline, especially in metropolitan centres; however, the population of regional centres along the coast
is increasing steadily in response to a phenomenon termed seachange. Coastal systems are increasingly threatened by potential
impacts as a result of climate change, as indicated by the successive assessments by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC). Although Australia played a central role in applying a common methodology (CM), developed from IPCC guidelines
in the 1990s, and in devising alternative approaches, which were initially trialled at nine sites on the Australian coast,
there has not been a nationally co-ordinated approach to assessing the coastal vulnerability of Australia, and such an approach
is only emerging now. Instead, there have been a series of different approaches adopted to look at the different parts of
the Australian coast, including wetland mapping in northern Australia; geomorphic unit mapping in South Australia; storm surge
vulnerability modelling in Queensland; probabilistic approaches to beach erosion in New South Wales; indicative mapping of
potential coastal retreat in Tasmania. Additionally, there have been methods proposed by insurers and coastal engineers to
meet their requirements. Since 2005, the Australian government has once again seen the need for a national coastal vulnerability
assessment, and a series of studies are planned or under way to achieve the aims of a National Climate Change Adaptation Framework. |
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Keywords: | Australia Coast Global climate change Sea-level rise Vulnerability assessment |
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