Living on the coast of Southern California could be five times more expensive by 2050 due to coastal erosion, a new study has found.
The erosion, due to rising sea levels and increased urban development, is rising at an alarming rate, the study from the University of Southern California (USC) shows. The researchers believe that by 2050, beach erosion will increase living costs in the region by five times, severely impacting the economy. The findings have been published in Communications Earth & Environment.
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As beach erosion continues, it will need more maintenance, which will be extremely costly. The added cost largely comes from sand, which helps to rebuild the eroded land and act as a barrier against the waves.
"Our study presents compelling evidence of the rapid deterioration of Southern California's coastal landscapes," Essam Heggy, a geoscientist in the Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering/Electrophysics at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the study's corresponding author, said in a statement.
"The challenges facing Southern California mirror a growing threat shared by coastal communities worldwide. The environmental and economic implications of coastal erosion reach far beyond California's shores and demand interdisciplinary, global solutions."
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Researchers focused on the Gulf of Santa Catalina, which stretches from Los Angeles County to the north of Baja California, Mexico. Using recent and historical satellite images, they predicted what the future of this region could look like as environmental factors like rising sea levels continue.
They found erosion rates could triple by 2050. This could add logistical and economic pressure to communities, the study reported.
"Our investigation suggests that coastal problems start inland due to the rapid growth of cities along the coast, which compromise inland sediment replenishment of sandy beaches," Heggy said.
"As our beaches shrink, the cost of maintaining them will rise. Finding innovative solutions is key to securing a sustainable future for our shores and local economies."
Sea levels are rising largely due to the thermal expansion of the ocean as it warms, and the melting of sea ice and glaciers. Climate change is making both things worse, and by 2050, it could be largely impacting coastal areas.
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There are even concerns that as sea levels continue to rise, some areas of the U.S. coast could be submerged.
According to this study, areas of Southern California and those facing the Mediterranean Sea face a similar challenge of eroding shorelines due to rising sea levels.
"While beach nourishment can temporarily combat erosion, however, it presents significant challenges for developing countries," Oula Amrouni, a sedimentologist at the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies at the University of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia, and one of the study's co-authors, said in a statement.
"The high cost of acquiring the right sand, with the specific grain size, quality and composition, and the technical complexity of extracting and laying it are major hurdles. Additionally, worsening erosion in previously stable areas compels more frequent nourishment projects, straining already limited budgets and leading to unplanned expenditures for many communities."
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