Mackenzie Beach in Cyprus is expected to have its shoreline shrunk by 660.9 meters, being the second beach that is impacted by rising seas, following Landmark Beach in Nigeria, which is already experiencing a reduced shoreline due to increased flooding, water-borne disease and declining water quality.
According to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, with a 514.2 meters reduction, the shoreline in San Tedora, Italy, is the second destination in Europe to be impacted by increased water levels.
The Blåvand beach in Denmark is the third European beach that is also expected to experience a significantly shrunk shoreline as the water is expected to come near the shore by 181.1 meters by 2100. Compared to other countries, this beach is the 20th to be the most impacted by the phenomenon.
According to the Visual Capitalist, since the 1970s, the world has experienced an average temperature increase of 0.15 to 0.20 Celsius degrees per decade, as indicated by NASA research.
This global warming phenomenon has caused the melting of polar ice caps, resulting in the loss of approximately 28 trillion tonnes of ice within a little over two decades. The global sea levels are estimated to have escalated by an average of 34.6 millimetres during the same period.
In the face of the challenge, solutions such as creating dunes along the backshore of beaches, increasing shoreline setbacks, and planting submerged aquatic vegetation to reduce erosion have been studied to reduce the impact of rising sea levels.
As per other beaches in other countries, the majority of those are scattered across the Asian continent, including those in Bangladesh – Patuakhali and Chattogram, which are expected to experience a shoreline shrink of 361.2 and 245.8 meters, respectively.
Qatar will also see rising water levels in two of its beaches – Al Daayen and Al Khor, which will decrease by 298.6 and 278.9 meters, respectively. Myanmar will also witness increased water levels at its two beaches, Kabyar Wa and Ngapali, which will have 351.7 and 249.5 meters less of shoreline by 2100, respectively.
The Royal Commission Beach Yanbu in Saudi Arabia is the eighth destination to witness a shoreline reduction – having its shoreline shrunk by 336.2 meters. In addition, Dado Beach in Haifa, Israel, is expected to have a shoreline reduction of 201.4 meters.
In Africa, except for the Landmark Beach Entry of Elegushi Beach in Lekki, it will also reduce by 338 meters, while Praia Da Costa Do Sol in Maputo, Mozambique, will also decrease by 351.7 meters.
Beaches in the United States and South America that are expected to have a shrunk shoreline include the following:
- Playa Akumal, Cancun, Mexico, reduction of 265.9 meters
- Beach of Morro Branco, Beberibe, Brazil, reduction of 224.6 meters
- Brealade’s Bay, Jersey, reduction of 213.6 meters
- Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes, United States, reduction of 204.7 meters
- Playa Veracruz, Panama City, 202.4 meters reduction
- Clearwater Beach, Longboat Key, Florida, 193.4 meters reduction
