Europe has a long history of managing coastal erosion and protection, examples including the defences of the Venice lagoons, Mediterranean beaches and reclaimed land in The Netherlands. Climate change is now creating enhanced risks of coastal erosion through storms and rising sea levels, with many initiatives being developed to improve coastal protection. This book provides a comprehensive review of the entire coastline of Europe, from Scandinavia and the Baltic to the British Isles and north-west Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean and the Black Sea. It provides a comparative analysis of erosion problems and solutions across European countries, with particular attention to demogaphic and economic factors influencing coastal erosion in each country and to technical and administrative criteria influencing defence projects design. Each chapter discusses the following topics: coastal morphology and wave climate; natural and anthropogenic factors in the erosion process; the evolution of coastal protection in the country or region.
Erosion processes and the protection of works are described in light of the socio-economic evolution and pressures in each country, including land use changes, land reclamation, river bed quarrying, river damming, harbour contruction, use of coastal areas, changing climate, and political and administrative assessments. Lavishly illustrated in full colour throughout, the book represents a definitive reference work on its subject.