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The Process of Coastal Erosion and Its Economic Implications for Delmarva

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The Process of Coastal Erosion and Its Economic Implications for Delmarva
The Process of Coastal Erosion and its Economic Implications for Delmarva Many geologic processes affect the landscape of the Delmarva Peninsula drastically, but one specific process has major economic implications as well. The process of coastal erosion, which is defined as the actual removal of sand from a beach to deeper water offshore or alongshore into inlets, tidal shoals and bays, is one of the most detrimental geologic events to this region’s economy (Scientific American). This type of erosion can result from many factors including rising sea levels and changing weather patterns. A majority of coastal erosion is episodic, meaning that the erosion occurs in small episodes over short periods. During intense storms, such as hurricanes or nor’easters, the coastal shoreline can be eroded in a day or even several hours. Erosion is also sporadic, meaning that erosion rates in the same region are not always uniform (Stewart). In the Delmarva region, the beaches are a main recreational attraction, and the resulting tourism boosts the economy. Therefore, when these geologic events do occur, the primary concern of governments in these areas is beach replenishment. Beach replenishment is a costly endeavor, but a necessary one. Some recent replenishments in southern Delaware have been in the range of 3 to 5 million dollars, and are not guaranteed to last. As a result, it is important to understand the process of coastal erosion as well as the replenishment techniques in order to maximize the economic benefits of the Delmarva beaches. Coastal erosion results from interaction between ocean waves beach sediments. Human influence, mainly urbanization, also plays a large role. Beach systems are considered to be in dynamic equilibrium and are essentially temporary geological features. The sand levels on beaches are constantly in flux. The common misconception is that once sand is removed off the beach back into the ocean, it is lost. However, when sand is moved from one


Cited: Barber, Don. “Beach Nourishment Basics.” Bryn Mawr College Geology Department. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. <http://www.brynmawr.edu/‌geology/‌geomorph/‌beachnourishmentinfo.html>. “Coastal Erosion Description.” HazNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. <http://www.haznet.org/‌haz_hazards/‌hazard_erosion.htm>. Creighton, Dave. E-mail interview. 20 Apr. 2010. Parsons, George R, and Michael Powell. “Measuring the Cost of Beach Retreat.” Coastal Management 29.91 (2001): n. pag. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. <http://works.bepress.com/‌cgi/‌viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=george_parsons>. Stewart, Robert. “Coastal Erosion.” Oceanography in the 21st century. Ocean World, 8 Jan. 2009. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. <http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/‌resources/‌oceanography-book/‌coastalerosion.htm>. “What Causes Beach Erosion?” Scientific American. N.p., 17 Dec. 2008. Web. 26 Apr. 2010. <http://www.scientificamerican.com/‌article.cfm?id=what-causes-beach-erosion>.
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