School of Education

Forecasting Coastal Erosion

Following the National Coastal Change Assessment, the Dynamic Coast research project continued in 2018. This phase mapped and categorised the resilience of Scotland’s natural coastal defences (i.e. identifying where low dunes may breach), it estimated how future climate change may exacerbate erosion on our soft (erodible) coast. It incorporated the latest monitoring techniques to inform natural resilience and vulnerability of our shoreline. At five ‘super sites’, including St Andrews, Montrose and Skara Brae we forecasted future change, anticipated damage and developed mitigation and adaptation plans with stakeholders. This helped demonstrate the applicability and need for adaptation actions across the public sector. Importantly also considered the social justice implications of existing and climate change exacerbated coastal erosion in Scotland.