Coastal defence: Beach nourishment schemes may provide only a short-term fix.
Researchers at Sussex studying coastal erosion between Brighton and Whitstable have estimated that some shingle beaches in the region may all but disappear within 50 years unless they are artificially replenished.
The discovery comes from the recently completed and EU-funded project 'Beaches At Risk' (BAR) (www.geog.sussex.ac.uk/BAR/).
The five-year study, led by Sussex geographer Dr Cherith Moses, has investigated beach sustainability on the eastern Channel coasts of East Sussex and Kent.
Research partners included East Sussex County Council, Kent Wildlife Trust, and French universities investigating the French side of the Channel.
Shingle beaches predominate along the eastern Channel but, unlike sand beaches, they are little understood yet vital in protecting low-lying land from storm, flood and wave damage.
Predicted sea-level rises, restricted supplies of fresh sediments because of cliff protection and unexpectedly large rates of pebble abrasion present potential difficulties for land protected by shingle beaches on the eastern Channel coasts.
Findings include:
Cherith says: "The results are directly informing decisions made by those who manage our local coastlines." The BAR team is developing a computer-based 'toolbox' to help local authority planners and environmental agencies assess the risks associated with beach erosion and its management in vulnerable areas.
Cherith says: "Changes in beach volumes could have important economic, social and environmental consequences for the region. Shingle beaches erode continually and already almost half the beaches on the Sussex and Kent coastline have been artificially replenished to maintain adequate volumes for coastal protection. This may be a short-term fix that becomes less cost-effective over time."
She adds: "There are, however, still many 'unknowns' when it comes to the management of pebble beaches, in particular how they respond to storms, so funding for further research is vital."