Climate change affects the world in multiple ways, with extreme weather and rising seas ranking among the most serious. The European Atlantic coastal dunes serve as the first line of defense against flooding and coastal erosion. Understanding and predicting how dunes respond to these events is crucial for building effective coastal management tools. Researchers are actively working on this challenge.
The ERoDES project, coordinated by the University of Bordeaux and funded by European sources, conducts field observations to forecast dune behavior amid projected extreme sea-level rise driven by changing weather patterns and climate dynamics.
Results come from a mix of methods, including satellite data and light-ranging technologies such as LIDAR, to inform coastal management strategies across Europe’s Atlantic fringe across short, medium, and long terms.
Researchers have demonstrated solid knowledge of geomorphological and hydrodynamic processes across varied coastal environments and now aim to expand their numerical modeling skills through this initiative.
The ERoDES program will feature public outreach and education activities such as scientific field trips, science festivals, and presentations. New technologies in coastal science, including drones, will illustrate how EU-funded research can help reduce coastal flooding and erosion risk. [Citation: EU projects]
flood protection
Assessing the impacts of climate change on coasts is essential for the 200 million Europeans living in coastal areas and for communities already feeling the effects of global warming through sea-level rise and flooding. [Citation: EU climate impact reports]
Given the emission trends driving climate change, the European Environment Agency indicates that parts of Europe could experience coastal flooding ten times more frequent by 2100 compared with today. [Citation: EEA projections]
Coastal cities face an intensifying challenge. Scientists believe dunes can play a significant role in defense, though current protection levels have diminished due to human activities over recent years. [Citation: coastal dynamics studies]
Understanding how sand dunes respond to and recover from extreme weather on Europe’s Atlantic coast is vital for the future of coastlines and will provide data for strategies to protect dunes, restore coastlines, and guard against future storms and floods. [Citation: coastal resilience literature]
The EU-funded DUNES project appears to complement ERoDES by compiling the history of human–environment interactions in coastal zones around the world, helping to mitigate future impacts. [Citation: DUNES overview]
The DUNES project, launched in late 2018, extends into 2024 and covers regions including France, Portugal, England, Brazil, Mozambique, North America, and New Zealand. [Citation: project scope]
The beaches are in danger
“Dunes keep the sand in place; they are reservoirs of beachfront resilience”, notes a leading environmental historian from Lisbon and a principal researcher at DUNES. During storms, larger waves pull sand from beaches, forming underwater barriers that later waves struggle to cross. [Citation: expert statement]
Over weeks or months, gentler waves often return eroded sand to the shore, yet this shore surge is a balancing act that can become dramatic during severe storms. [Citation: coastal processes overview]
Scientists warn that the natural balance could be disrupted, risking beach loss and reduced coastal protection provided by dunes. [Citation: resilience studies]
Examining eight dune regions from Northwest England to Southwest France between 2011 and 2020, ERoDES researchers found that all experienced erosion during major storms, especially the winter of 2013–2014. [Citation: ERoDES findings]
Despite facing the same storms, dunes responded differently and recovered at varying rates. Some areas returned to pre-storm conditions, while others lagged or lost sand permanently. [Citation: comparative responses]
Researchers are seeking explanations for these differences, which may relate to environmental factors such as tides, climate, dune size, shoreline geometry, and vegetation density. [Citation: environmental variability]
Nature Based Solutions
One major finding is that dunes with steeper slopes tended to lose more sand. The recovery rate also hinges on the available sediment along the coast, making accurate sediment balance assessments central to predicting dune evolution. [Citation: sediment dynamics]
Both ERoDES and DUNES align with the European Union’s push to help cities and local governments better understand climate threats and respond in a timely manner. [Citation: EU objectives]
These projects are exploring approaches beyond traditional coastal defenses like boardwalks and embankments, moving toward nature-based strategies that emphasize living coastlines. [Citation: nature-based approach]
Future restoration and protection of dunes will rely on cultivating native vegetation and reintroducing local plant species, actions that are environmentally friendly and comparatively affordable. [Citation: restoration principles]
Nature-based solutions are a historic and ongoing practice for many European coastal communities. [Citation: historical context]
Nature-based approaches use natural resources to address environmental challenges while promoting biodiversity and delivering ecological, social, and economic benefits. [Citation: multi-benefit view]
Beyond ERoDES and DUNES, other initiatives applying nature-based solutions to coastal erosion are underway, including dune restoration efforts such as REST-COAST and the North Sea region program MANABAS. [Citation: related programs]
The DUNES project and ERoDES are part of a broader strategy to enhance coastal resilience and sustainable management across Europe and beyond. [Citation: program synergy]
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