sea-level rise. Collectively, sensitivity and adaptive capacity determine the coastal
system’s natural vulnerability to biogeophysical effects of sea-level rise.
Autonomous adaptation (or spontaneous adjustments) represents the coastal
system’s natural adaptive response to sea-level rise (e.g. increased sediment
supply due to erosion, or increased accretion on saltmarshes and mangroves).
These autonomous processes (which can be considered resilient characteristics of
the coastal system) are often being reduced or stopped by non-climatic
(human-induced) stresses. (cf. ref. 12). Planned adaptation (which must emerge from
the socio-economic system) can serve to reduce natural vulnerability by
enhancing the capacity for autonomous adaptation (i.e. enhance natural-system
resilience).
The biogeophysical effects of sea-level rise generate potential socio-economic
impacts. In parallel with a coastal zone’s natural vulnerability, the socio-economic
sensitivity and adaptive capacity determine the socio-economic vulnerability.
Again, the potential for autonomous adaptation (e.g. market price adjustments)
and planned adaptation determines this adaptive capacity. Hence, the socio-economic
vulnerability is distinct from the natural vulnerability, even though they are
related and interdependent.
Finally, it is important to acknowledge the dynamic interaction that takes
place between the natural and socio-economic systems in the coastal zone. This
includes the natural system impacts on the socio-economic system and planned
adaptation by the socio-economic system influencing the natural system. Hence,
the natural and socio-economic systems interact in a complex manner which
needs to be taken into account in any analysis. The biogeophysical effects and
socio-economic impacts of sea-level rise are now considered within the framework
outlined in Figure 4.
Biogeophysical Effects of Sea-Level Rise
Climate change and sea-level rise have a wide range of effects on coastal
processes. In addition to raising ocean level, rising sea level also raises all the
coastal processes that operate around sea level. Therefore, the immediate effect of
a rise in sea level concerns submergence and increased flooding of coastal land,
and saltwater intrusion of surface waters. Longer-term effects, including
morphological change and saltwater intrusion into groundwater as the coast
adjusts to the new environmental conditions. These morphological changes
interact with the more immediate effects of sea-level rise and will often exacerbate
them.
Here only the most serious physical effects of sea-level rise are considered —
R. J. T. Klein and R. J. Nicholls, Coastal zones, in J. F. Feenstra, I. Burton, J. B. Smith and R. S. J.
Tol (eds.), Handbook on Climate Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Strategies, Version 2.0,
United Nations Environment Programme and Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije
Universiteit, Nairobi, Kenya, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1998, pp. 7.1—7.35.
M. Parry and T. Carter, Climate Impact and Adaptation Assessment, Earthscan, London, 1998.
A. Sanchez-Arcilla, P. Hoekstra, J. Jimenez, E. Kaas and A. Maldonado, Climate change
implications for coastal processes, in D. Smith, S. B. Raper, S. Zerbini and A. Sanchez-Arcilla (eds.),
Sea Level Change and Coastal Processes. Implications for Europe, EUR 19337, European
Commission, Brussels, 2000, pp. 173—213.
R. J. Nicholls
92
system’s natural vulnerability to biogeophysical effects of sea-level rise.
Autonomous adaptation (or spontaneous adjustments) represents the coastal
system’s natural adaptive response to sea-level rise (e.g. increased sediment
supply due to erosion, or increased accretion on saltmarshes and mangroves).
These autonomous processes (which can be considered resilient characteristics of
the coastal system) are often being reduced or stopped by non-climatic
(human-induced) stresses. (cf. ref. 12). Planned adaptation (which must emerge from
the socio-economic system) can serve to reduce natural vulnerability by
enhancing the capacity for autonomous adaptation (i.e. enhance natural-system
resilience).
The biogeophysical effects of sea-level rise generate potential socio-economic
impacts. In parallel with a coastal zone’s natural vulnerability, the socio-economic
sensitivity and adaptive capacity determine the socio-economic vulnerability.
Again, the potential for autonomous adaptation (e.g. market price adjustments)
and planned adaptation determines this adaptive capacity. Hence, the socio-economic
vulnerability is distinct from the natural vulnerability, even though they are
related and interdependent.
Finally, it is important to acknowledge the dynamic interaction that takes
place between the natural and socio-economic systems in the coastal zone. This
includes the natural system impacts on the socio-economic system and planned
adaptation by the socio-economic system influencing the natural system. Hence,
the natural and socio-economic systems interact in a complex manner which
needs to be taken into account in any analysis. The biogeophysical effects and
socio-economic impacts of sea-level rise are now considered within the framework
outlined in Figure 4.
Biogeophysical Effects of Sea-Level Rise
Climate change and sea-level rise have a wide range of effects on coastal
processes. In addition to raising ocean level, rising sea level also raises all the
coastal processes that operate around sea level. Therefore, the immediate effect of
a rise in sea level concerns submergence and increased flooding of coastal land,
and saltwater intrusion of surface waters. Longer-term effects, including
morphological change and saltwater intrusion into groundwater as the coast
adjusts to the new environmental conditions. These morphological changes
interact with the more immediate effects of sea-level rise and will often exacerbate
them.
Here only the most serious physical effects of sea-level rise are considered —
R. J. T. Klein and R. J. Nicholls, Coastal zones, in J. F. Feenstra, I. Burton, J. B. Smith and R. S. J.
Tol (eds.), Handbook on Climate Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Strategies, Version 2.0,
United Nations Environment Programme and Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije
Universiteit, Nairobi, Kenya, and Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1998, pp. 7.1—7.35.
M. Parry and T. Carter, Climate Impact and Adaptation Assessment, Earthscan, London, 1998.
A. Sanchez-Arcilla, P. Hoekstra, J. Jimenez, E. Kaas and A. Maldonado, Climate change
implications for coastal processes, in D. Smith, S. B. Raper, S. Zerbini and A. Sanchez-Arcilla (eds.),
Sea Level Change and Coastal Processes. Implications for Europe, EUR 19337, European
Commission, Brussels, 2000, pp. 173—213.
R. J. Nicholls
92