Written Statement

Coastal erosion is defined as the weathering of our coast line due to harsh storm-generated waves. To define coastal erosion, its namesake must be explored. “Coast” means the area near or adjoining the ocean. “Erosion” is the weathering or washing away of sediment. Put together, the sediment on coastlines are being washed away by tidal waves. The branch of science that deals with coastal erosion is geology, the study of the physical matter that constitutes the earth. The sub-branch of geology that deals more closely with coastal erosion is sequence stratigraphy, a pretty new branch of geology dealing specifically with sea level and sedimentary deposits. Technically, there is no specific “start” to coastal erosion. The tides have been weathering away at the coasts for as long the existence of earth itself. But, it is not until recently that coastal erosion has worsened drastically. Coastal erosion is caused by the tidal waves pummeling the rocks and sediment along the coast. These large waves are caused by harsh storms and high sea level. It is possible that global warming contributed to this issue, as the melting of the polar ice caps created a higher sea level, and global warming itself is creating harsher storms. Although coastal erosion occurs on almost every coast across the globe (some worse than others), surprisingly it has not been recognized until quite recently. It was clearly known about in the 1970’s but was not fully acknowledged as a global issue until the mid to late 1980’s. Aside from the fact that beaches are shrinking and will eventually cease to exist, there are coastal ecosystems that are being affected. There are many examples of coastal bird and insect colonies, and coastal erosion is shrinking the area in which they can live. Concern at this point really does depend on an individual’s location. Some coasts are experiencing coastal erosion much worse than others. But, undoubtedly, even the coasts that are not of concern now, should be concerned in the near future. Coastal erosion cannot be fixed in its entirety. Studies say that unless global warming is stopped, or there is complete climate change, coastal erosion will not be stopped. But, it can be slowed drastically. Many actions have been taken to try to slow down coastal erosion. One of the most effective actions taken was building walls to break the waves before they hit the coast. This initially worked extremely well, but they discovered in the long run that it had adverse effects. What is working, and is the best method at the moment is beach nourishment. This is the process of taking sand from an offshore site and transplanting it to the coast. Concern is raised about the offshore site being ruined. This is valid concern, and if sand/ sediment is taken from a bad offshore site, it could prove problematic. Beach nourishment is also very expensive. Actually, recently, this issue has been raised a lot in government. Because solutions are so expensive, government funding is necessary to pay for beach nourishment. The government has also recently stepped up and has issued beach nourishment itself and has researched better solutions. Personally, I have tried to help with coastal erosion with a three pronged attack for my local solution. I went to affluent coastal towns and passed out pamphlets I made to inform them about the issue and give them a place to donate to. I raised awareness on campus, and wrote a letter to New Jersey senator, Frank Lautenberg.