Sea level and coastal change

'Coastal changes in a mangrove': A climate change project looking at the geochemistry and palynology of the 'carbon-rich' sediments deposited by the flora and fauna of the mangrove system at Sebana Seca, on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico.

Coasts are particularly sensitive to the impacts of climate change from both the ocean and the land. The future predictions of sea-level rise, and bigger and more frequent storms, are likely to have a profound impact on coastal erosion and serious consequences for the effectiveness of sea defences in the future.

Coastal erosion is a serious issue for many coastal communities. The consequences to life, assets and the environment can be enormous. It is therefore important that we understand how the coast will respond to the impacts of climate change so that people can plan for living and working in this dynamic environment.