COASTAL EROSION

Coastal erosion occurs when the water of the ocean beats against coastal rocks and reduces them to rubble, eventually grinding them into sand. As sea levels rise around the world – a knock-on effect of melting ice caps – the water can extend further up coastal regions, increasing the rate of erosion. Erosion at the coastline can occur in several ways: simple abrasion from waves can grind rock and stone away, but it can also dredge up rock and stone from the seabed and throw them against the cliffs, chipping away at the coastline. Hydraulic action also occurs when air trapped between the rocks of a cliff compresses under the force of the wave, weakening structural integrity. Britain has some of the fastest-eroding coastlines in Europe and loses around four metres of coastline each year in heavily affected areas.

Endorheic lakes are landlocked and don’t drain into other bodies of water. Water levels are determined by precipitation and the rate of evaporation; this makes them a useful tool as indicators of climate change and rising global temperatures. Between 2002 and 2016, approximately 106.3 gigatonnes of water was lost from the endorheic system worldwide. Water loss from these lakes can put pressure on local communities that rely on them, as well as displacing water into other water systems, which could cause flooding.