kusterosionering

Kusterosionering, commonly referred to as coastal erosion in English, is the process by which coastlines are worn away by natural forces and human activities. It results in shoreline retreat, loss of land, and changes to coastal habitats. The rate and pattern of erosion vary greatly depending on geology, sea level, wave climate, sediment supply, and management practices.

Natural processes driving erosion include wave action, tidal currents, storm surges, and longshore transport, which move and remove sediment along the coast. Sea level rise from climate change can intensify these effects by increasing water depth at the foot of cliffs and inundating dunes. Human activities can worsen erosion when sediment supply is reduced by damming and dredging, or when hardened shorelines prevent natural sediment replenishment.

Coastal erosion can occur on rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, and dune systems. It is monitored by measuring shoreline change over time, using aerial photographs, LiDAR, satellite imagery, or fixed benchmarks. Erosion rates are often expressed in meters per year and can vary from less than a millimeter to several meters annually, sometimes spiking during major storms.

Impacts include property and infrastructure damage, loss of tourism and coastal ecosystems, and increased flood risk. Erosion also affects cultural and archaeological resources along shorelines. In many regions, management combines soft engineering—such as beach nourishment and dune restoration—with hard engineering—such as seawalls, groynes, and rock armor—and, in some cases, managed retreat from vulnerable areas.

Integrated coastal zone management and climate adaptation planning aim to balance protection, sustainability, and land use, recognizing that erosion is a natural process that cannot be eliminated entirely but managed to reduce risks and maintain coastal resilience.