It is not just Dubai that faces this problem, many other countries face the same situation. Dredging is very active in the region and this is the main cause of coastal erosion. Dredging is done mostly to provide easy navigation to import and export goods and to reclaim land.
Modern developments are made to facilitate both commercial and recreational waterways. Nature is altered to provide that rather than adapt sea traffic to what nature has given us.
When this is done overbuilding and too much development can destroy natural coast lines, and change the flow of currents and wave patterns.
Another disadvantage of modern development and re construction is that the marine environment and marine life such as endangered turtles and dolphins suffer. The increased presence of fishing vessels and pollution from garbage thrown from these vessels and chemical pollutants, threatens their environment and decreases the species.
Two types of human activities causing coastal erosion are construction of coastal structures like seawalls and dredging of sand from beaches. Seawalls disrupt natural sediment flow, leading to erosion downstream, while dredging reduces the natural supply of sand that replenishes the beaches.
Coastal erosion: where waves and currents wear away shorelines over time. Riverbank erosion: where flowing water gradually removes soil and sediment from the banks of rivers. Wind erosion: where wind carries and deposits soil and sediments, causing changes to the landscape.
Coastal erosion can lead to the loss of sediment and land in coastal areas, which can impact the formation and stability of bays. As erosion removes sediment from coastal areas, it can contribute to the shallowing of bays or changes in their shape. Additionally, the loss of protective coastal features like dunes or wetlands due to erosion can leave bays more vulnerable to wave action and storm surges.
cliffs
destructive
coastal erosion
erosion. deposition. transportation. hydraulic action erosion (wave erosion). abrasion erosion (wave erosion).
In Dubai, both weathering and erosion processes occur. Weathering can be observed in older buildings where the structures are worn down due to exposure to sunlight, wind, and sand over time. Erosion is commonly seen along the coastline where the action of waves and currents slowly shape the shoreline and sand dunes.
Wave erosion is a specific type of coastal erosion caused by the action of waves on the coastline. Coastal erosion, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of processes that result in the gradual wearing away of coastal landforms, including wave erosion, weathering, and other factors.
Coastal erosion can be addressed through various methods such as building seawalls, groins, and breakwaters to limit wave impact, beach nourishment to replenish sand, planting vegetation to stabilize shorelines, and regulating coastal development to prevent further erosion. It is important to consider the specific characteristics of the coastal area in order to implement the most effective erosion control measures.
Crashing waves can cause erosion because the force and energy of the waves can wear down coastal rocks and cliffs over time. The constant impact of the waves can break apart rocks and carry away sediments, leading to the gradual erosion of the coastline.
Shoreline erosion is the natural process of coastal land slowly wearing away due to factors like waves, wind, and tides. This erosion can lead to loss of land, destruction of habitats, and increased vulnerability to storm damage. Additionally, coastal erosion can impact local economies by affecting property values and tourism.