Improving our ability to predict how coastlines will change is an essential part of quantifying risks from coastal erosion and flooding. Coastal Modelling Environment, or CoastalME, is a free tool created by BGS in partnership with the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) at the University of Oxford and the University of Southampton.

CoastalME is being used in the UK and internationally to provide improved predictive capability for coastal adaptation. Modellers can use CoastalME to simulate the interaction of coastal landforms and human interventions for open coast systems. This enables users to model and visualise coastal landscape changes more effectively using commonly available spatial data.

The operational tool is being used to inform decision making at regional, international and global levels and was named as a as part of the Government Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management research and development programme. At the regional level, the tool is being used as part of the Resilient Coast (RC) project, funded by the Government’s .

The RC project explores the concept of a sediment circular economy for coastal adaptation in East Anglia, in which the release and transit of sediment is mapped and value is assigned where benefits accrue. CoastalME is used to quantify the movement of sand, gravel and fine material along the coast and to determine its value as a nature-based resource. Early results suggest that allowing a 1Ìým landward recession of less than 10Ìým of the cliffs between Felixstowe and Caister would release around 1.8ÌýmillionÌým³ of sand.

At an international level, CoastalME has been used in Spain to assess the risk of flooding and erosion for the whole of Andalusia coastline, which extends for 1200 km, measured at a scale of 1:25 000, and traverses five of eight provinces. This study represents the first attempt to map the spatial distribution of sediment thickness along this coastal zone by integrating various publicly available datasets. It demonstrated the flexible design of CoastalME by incorporating representations of geomorphological features such as ‘ramblas’ (a dry riverbed used as a road or thoroughfare) that are important sources of sediment during heavy rainfall events.

After years of developing CoastalME, we are pleased to see that it now been officially released and is freely available to support coastal engineers and decision makers to better assess the risk of compound flooding and erosion more accurately than ever before.

Dr Andres Payo Garcia, head of BGS Coasts and Estuaries.

Funding

This research was initially funded by the NERC iCOAST project as a proof of concept, NE/J005584/1 (2012 to 2016).

The workflow to create the sediment thickness model was developed between 2016 and 2022 thanks to funding from BLUEcoast, NE/N015649/1.

It is being operationalised (2022 to 2027) as part of the ongoing CHAMFER project NE/W004992/1 and is being extended to gravel-dominated coastal environments as part of the 2024 to 2028 UKGravelBarriers project, NE/Y503265/1.

Contact

For more information, please contact 51ÁÔÆæ press (bgspress@bgs.ac.uk) or call 07790 607 010.

Gravel-dominated beach and barrier systems are common around the UK and provide important coastal defences, especially in low-lying regions. ÌýA new, four-year research project, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and entitled ‘Gravel barrier coasts’ (GBCoasts), will deliver enhanced understanding and modelling of gravel barrier systems. The project aims to support more sustainable coastal management by increasing resilience and reducing the vulnerability of coasts to climate change.

51ÁÔÆæ will use a new community modelling system, ‘Coastal modelling environment (CoastalME)’, alongside terrestrial, marine and groundwater models, to characterise how a combination of processes along gravel barrier coasts control coastal flooding and erosion.

CoastalME will produce numerical simulations to support multi-hazard analyses under present and future climate change scenarios. These will project, over a range of timescales:

• how multi-hazards will respond to predicted climate change processes and impacts
• how humans are affecting future hazards
• how we will be affected under different coastal management scenarios; for example, how do gravel barriers respond to individual events, such as storms, in the context of longer-term, ‘progressive’ trends, such as sea-level rise?

The results will support improved coastal management decision making based on the improved understanding of how gravel barriers evolve over longer time scales under different climate condition and human intervention scenarios.

The findings will be combined with an assessment of the role of coastal habitats, resulting in national maps of vulnerabilities of coastal habitats to climate-driven multi-hazards for protective services. BGS will also provide tools to analyse the efficacy of future coastal management schemes.

The GBCoasts project will enable us to better address the transformational challenges that many communities along the UK coastlines are facing today and in the near future, regarding ever-increasing risks of coastal flooding and coastal erosion.

Andres Payo Garcia, BGS Coastal Geomorphologist.

In order to achieve the objectives of GBCoasts, there will be a collaboration between the different sectors of UK academics, engineering consultants and research institutions.

October 2023 saw BGS National Geological Repository (NGR) welcome two UK-based artists who were visiting the collections as part of their individual projects focused on the Blackwater Estuary in Essex. Nastassja Simenski and Angenita Teekens visited the repository to view core samples from around Bradwell A, a Magnox-design nuclear power station located on the Dengie peninsula at the mouth of the River Blackwater in Essex. The power station has been in long-term decommissioned management since 2019.  

The landscape of the Blackwater Estuary

Nastassja Simenski, artist and researcher at University College London, is studying for her PhD on the potential of collaborative fieldwork between artists and archaeologists. She is particularly focused on how the development of place-specific and collaborative methods ‘in the field’ enable new ways of highlighting current conversations around energy production in the Blackwater Estuary.  

Visiting the BGS repository and seeing the core samples from the Bradwell and Blackwater Estuary helped me to get a sense of how the geology of the area has shaped the landscape over time and, in turn, impacted the types of human production and interaction here over long durations […] for instance, the core samples from Bradwell are a starting point from which we can think about how a seemingly remote part of the Essex coast is implicated in wider contexts like managed realignment and climate change mitigation, agricultural policy, natural and cultural heritage, and the development of new forms of energy production.

Ìý

Nastassja Simenski

Natassja research includes place-based art practices and considers how specific scientific research and data such as BGS core samples can be used creatively to tell bigger stories that move across long time periods and wider geographies. The issues explored in her research are mediated through art including the potential to use data, historical records and interviews to inform musical scores, live performances and films that get shown in situ or in galleries, broadcast on radio and screened at film festivals. Natassja research includes place-based art practices and considers how specific scientific research and data such as BGS core samples can be used creatively to tell bigger stories that move across long time periods and wider geographies. The issues explored in her research are mediated through art including the potential to use data, historical records and interviews to inform musical scores, live performances and films that get shown in situ or in galleries, broadcast on radio and screened at film festivals. 

Earthworks: boreholes and dorodangos 

is an established artist with 25 years of experience in facilitating environmental community art projects. Her most recent project, ‘Earthworks’, is a community inquiry about bore samples, extraction, disposal and the energy transition. The project will see members of the Othona community, as well as community groups in Essex, creating 260 dorodangos, which will be twinned with bore samples taken from fields adjacent to Bradwell, which are currently stored at BGS.

The Japanese dorodango artform consists of a small sample of clay rolled into a sphere by human hands within human time, as part of a slow meditative practice.  

Accessing the BGS collections is a vital source of information for the creation of a borehole catalogue as part of Angenita project. The inclusion of visual materials such as borehole logs, along with sketches, drawings and writing, will help to guide participants in their creation of the dorodangos, whilst questioning land use, energy production, geological and human time and human impact on land. 

The National Geological Repository at BGS

The National Geological Repository (NGR) is a  and the largest collection of geoscience samples from the UK. It forms an integral part of BGS (part of 51ÁÔÆæ ) and is located at the BGS headquarters in Nottinghamshire. 

NGR unique collections are used extensively by industry, in research and to support university teaching. It has the UK largest core storage and examination facility, with the Core Store and records collections at its centre. The collections include: 

• borehole cores and samples 
• fossils, rocks and other samples 
• related subsurface information from the UK landmass and continental shelf 

About the artists

 

On 25 February 2023, was closed off to the public due to significant coastal erosion. Over the following days, homes and properties on the cliff were evacuated, with some collapsing into the sea because of this loss of land.

The coastal frontage at Hemsby comprises a narrow zone of vegetated sand dunes of very loosely consolidated sand, situated behind a narrow beach. Its weak geology makes the coastline susceptible to this erosion.

Beaches are great natural coastal defences because they act to dissipate wave energy, but at Hemsby, because the beach is so narrow, the erosional susceptibility of the geology is enhanced because of direct wave action on the cliffs. This occurs under both normal tidal and weather conditions and especially during high tides and storms. There is unfortunately a long history of coastal erosion at Hemsby, documented in a wide range of historical (and more modern) accounts.

Jonathan Lee, BGS Regional Geologist.

51ÁÔÆæ research at Hemsby

The BGS Coasts and Estuaries team has been studying the Hemsby coastline by looking at historic and current coastal change as part of the ‘Coastal monitoring and historical coastal change’ project. The team reviewed historical evidence, which suggested that the annual cliff recession rate of UK coastlines can vary from almost nothing, if the beach is wide and thick enough, up to as much as 25 m in a single year if the beach is narrow and thin. We are working to understand whether we will see more of these events in the future under different climates and management interventions.

Property owners along non-defended coast in north Norfolk should be aware of the direct relationship between a beach wedge (combined beach width and thickness) and the level of protection. Once the beach wedge is below 10 m² per metre of beach length, the protection offered by the beach is negligible and the cliff retreat is controlled by the combination of high tides and moderate energy waves (also known as multi-hazards).

Other risks around the coast

Hemsby is not the only erosion hotspot that needs a transformational change in England. The scale of shift at the coast is significant and requires long-term strategic planning involving collaboration across all scales, levels and sectors of government, academics, consultants and communities.

A recent paper by the coasts and estuaries team explores the scale of the and how flood risks may change around England’s coast. The paper confronts the importance of accepting the challenge we as a country face regarding coastlines and calls attention to the need to have honest debates around how we respond fairly and sustainably to coastal erosion in the longer term. We must realise that it will not be possible to protect every property and the clearer we are on a long-term strategy, the more clarity and support can be provided for communities that may be affected.

The paper highlights:

It is important to note that we are not suggesting the 150 000 to 200 000 properties at increased risk to coastal erosion under climate change scenarios will be lost. Many will continue to be protected, but we are highlighting the importance of accepting the scale of challenge and setting out a long-term plan. This challenge was also recognised in the , James Bevan.

Dissemination event

The final output of the project will be presented at the BGS headquarters in Nottingham on 30 March 2023. Please visit the Eventbrite page for:

More information

The BGS Coasts and Estuaries geohazards team provides independent and expert geoscientific tools and advice for collaborative decision making to assess different adaptation options for coastal flooding and erosion.

About the authors

Further reading

In our previous posts, we shared a broad overview of our coastal regions, with examples of our coastal environments and potential future changes. Here, we dig a little deeper into more specific vulnerabilities and focus on how our new GeoCoast data product can support coastal management and adaptation initiatives. This new dataset has been designed to assist future planning, with resilience considerations based on the natural geological characteristics of the coastal region.

Low-lying areas

Low-lying coastal areas are already vulnerable to inundation (flooding by the sea). However, with increasing sea levels and storminess, impacts could be felt over a wider area than we think.

• Many dune sites are already in fragile equilibrium
• Damage to infrastructure, agricultural production and a loss of homes and businesses could be felt
• Groundwater levels at the coast are likely to rise, and the combination of rising groundwater and inundation from the sea, mean that flooding events could become more severe, extensive and prolonged
• Groundwater is also likely to become more saline (salty), causing added pressure on water resources, which in some parts of the UK are already critical (e.g. )

Shoreline defences

Shoreline defences and their management are also under threat in many areas. How long can we continue to repair defences or implement new schemes; to what extent can we manage the realignment — or should we let nature take its course and adapt rather than resist? In a 2015 report, the to help understand whole-life costing in flood risk management, including coastal erosion and protection.

There are many factors affecting our coastline and its resilience to these factors has been an ongoing debate for many years. Climate scenarios (UKCP18) predict that sea levels will continue to rise, wave heights will increase and freak storms might become more regular events by 2080 and 2100.

Human influence

Humans may come and go but the underlying, fundamental natural deposits — the geology — will always remain an important factor to consider. A sea wall might be currently protecting weak sediments, but if that sea wall is breached or no longer maintained, we need to know where and what is vulnerable and how we can adapt the area to be more resilient.

Impacts of climate change

The effects of climate change have been seen around our coastline: Happisburgh in Norfolk has (around 35 homes) over the years and Norfolk has a long history of coastal erosion dating back centuries, for example with the so-called ‘lost villages of Norfolk’ (Eccles; Keswick; Waxham Parva; Newton; Foulness; Ness; Shipden, and Clare). Birling Gap in Sussex has lost its terraces and the , perched above the English Channel, was moved 17 m inland in 1999 to protect it from the failing cliff.

Important structures and assets are strongly protected and have multimillion pound budgets to accommodate this. For example, the Bacton sandscaping scheme in 2019 cost around £22 million, raising the beach level by about 7 m in places, and protects the gas terminal and adjacent village. It is estimated it will only be effective for the next 20 years.

The National Trust has funded several rebuilds of the harbour wall at Mullion Cove, Cornwall, costing over £2 million, as winter storms become more frequent and stronger. The trust has recognised that there may come a point where rebuild is no longer financially possible.

How will the GeoCoast data product help?

GeoCoast is an integrated GIS package of datasets designed to inform and support coastal management and adaptation. Targeted at coastal practitioners, including regulatory bodies, local authorities, asset owners and also home owners who want to be better informed, GeoCoast can be used to underpin coastal decision making and planning relative to coastal inundation, erosion and climate change impacts. The datasets are compatible with shoreline management plan areas.

Coastal erosion

Coastal erosion is a real issue and is only set to increase under future climate change scenarios. There are some 133 km², or 15.5 per , of coastline that are classed as having a high susceptibility to erosion, much of which are located around the east, south-east and north-east coasts. A further 195 km², or 22 per cent, are classed within the moderate-high category. Some are defended; others are not.

Even if defences are maintained, this is a staggering amount of coastline under threat and there are some 30 000 properties within 25 m of potentially highly susceptible coast. Counties such as Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Norfolk and Lancashire have a high percentage of low-lying, weak, coastal landforms that are at potential risk from increased storminess and wave attack.

GeoCoast includes information on the morphology, behaviour and vulnerability of the coastline, underpinned by its geology and its coastal context (shape; slope; range, etc.) We have carried out a detailed analysis of the coastline sediments and cliff sections, and identified the changes of coastal stratigraphy that are stacked in cliff sections.

Geology maps only identify the uppermost geology, whereas GeoCoast considers the whole sequence from beach level or sea level, to the top of the cliff or coastal deposit. For example, parts of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset have sequences, from beach level to cliff top, of:

• Charmouth Mudstone Formation
• Eype Clay Member
• Downcliff and Thorncombe Sand Members
• Gault Formation
• Upper Greensand Formation

Each of these lithologies has different properties and different levels of resistance to coastal erosion, which, in turn, affect the resilience of the coastline and how it responds.

Coastal subsidence

The potential for coastal zones to undergo subsidence due to natural processes of compaction, dissolution, and shrinkage of geological deposits, has been linked with variations in sea level.

The coastal subsidence analysis combines satellite-measured movement with lithological data to generate levels of potential and measured movement (mm/yr).

Coastal floods

We have carried out extensive characterisation and modelling of the coast of Great Britain, considering many aspects of the coastal zone and its underpinning geology and sediments. Future sea-level rise has been modelled using UKCP18 SLR scenarios (RCP4.5) to provide an estimate of coastal inundation (nationally) of approximately 7258 km² by the 2050s, 7768 km²in the 2080s and 8145 km² by 2100.

Looking at the worst-case scenario and not taking into account defences, our data also suggests that some one million properties are at potential risk from inundation by 2050, increasing to 1.25 million by the 2080s and 1.35 million by 2100 if no protective measures are implemented.

More examples of the datasets can be viewed in our case studies, available as ESRI Storymaps.

To find out more about our GeoCoast data product, including to arrange sample datasets or licensing, please get in touch with us at digitaldata@bgs.ac.uk.

Read previous entries in this blog series:

• Six changing coastlines and how climate change could affect them
• Sea level rise and coastal erosion: what the real impact?

Join us for our GeoCoast launch event

Join our data products team for a live webinar on the 28 April 2022, and discover more about our new data product to underpin coastal decision making, resilience and adaptation. > Register online

About the author

In our last post, we looked at the coastline of Great Britain, how it is changing and what important factors we should consider in terms of natural hazards, adaptation and resilience. In this article, we visit six key examples of natural environmental importance and explore their potential vulnerability to climate change.

The coastline of Great Britain, including its islands, is 31 368 km long, according to the Ordnance Survey (OS), with the mainland making up 17 819 km. Cornwall is the county with the longest coastline (1086 km) followed by Essex (905 km) and Devon (819 km). Our island nation experiences some of the largest tides in the world, with a range of up to 15 m, and a variety of geohazards and processes regularly have an impact on the changing coastline.

51ÁÔÆæ has mapped the whole of the British coastline and now a new data product, GeoCoast, brings a whole range of data together into one package to help inform and interpret our coastal environment.

Spurn Point, East Yorkshire

Overview

Spurn Point is three miles long, forming a natural protection for the Humber estuary and the port of Hull, as well as being an important site for migratory birds and other wildlife. It is an ever-changing environment composed of shingle beach and tidal flat deposits that is highly susceptible to coastal retreat. Formed as a long, narrow spit from deposits moving along the coast carried by currents, it has been breached by storms multiple times, notably in December 2013 by a huge tidal surge, bursting through the narrowest part of the spit and destroying the road.

A changing climate

Sea-level rise is predicted to completely cut off Spurn Head by 2050, according to modelled .

More information

• Spurn Discovery Centre, Spurn Road, Kilnsea, Hull HU12 0UH
• Get there: take the A1033 from Hull

Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire

Overview

Further north from Spurn Point, the geology at Flamborough Head comprises chalk cliffs capped by deposits of glacial till. Here, the chalk is more resistant to erosion than the overlying till, which is often unstable and can be susceptible to landslides.

A changing climate

Increased rainfall could increase the sensitivity of the till deposits to destabilisation. In addition, increased wave activity and storminess could impact the chalk at wave level, creating undercutting and cavities, which will eventually destabilise parts of the cliff.

More information

• Visit just a few miles from Flamborough Head. The nature reserve is characterised by its stunning array of wildlife, a flint boulder beach and chalk cliffs with fossils
• Flamborough Head car park, Flamborough, Bridlington YO15 1AR
• Get there: the nearest train station is Flamborough, or take the B1259

Holkham, Norfolk

Overview

Miles of empty dunes and sandy beaches at low tide, alongside estuaries, tidal creeks and salt marshes, Holkham is one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in England. This unique stretch of coastline attracts numerous nature lovers, walkers, horse riders and film makers. Some four miles long, the white sandy beach is backed by high dunes and pine woods, creating an important habitat, and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The geology consists of tidal deposits, tidal flat and sand dunes, all with high susceptibility to coastal erosion and inundation.

The Holkham area suffered devastating consequences from floods in 1953 and 1978, then again on 5 December 2013 when a tidal surge flooded shops and homes in neighbouring Wells-next-the-Sea.

A changing climate

Continued effects of climate change are projected to see increased sea-level rises, resulting in a higher tidal reach into the tidal marshes and even higher storm surges, which could flood sensitive habitats, campsites and properties more frequently.

More information

• Get there: the nearest train stations are Cromer (25 miles) and Sheringham (19 miles). Take thh B1105 from the south or the A149 from the east/west. Use NR23 1RH in your satnav for parking

Tillingham marshes, Essex

Overview

The Dengie peninsula in Essex is a national nature reserve situated on low-lying land adjacent to the North Sea. There is evidence that the coastline was previously much further inland, as far as Tillingham village (which is 2 to 3 km from the coast). Earthen sea-wall embankments dating back to the Middle Ages have enabled the land to be reclaimed on the seaward side, forming an expansive area of saltmarsh, creeks and intertidal mudflats. This area is exposed to the waves and the saltmarsh landscape helps to attenuate the wave action, forming a natural defence against the sea.

The geology around this part of the coast is predominantly flat alluvial land, more gently undulating further inland with some steep slopes in the estuaries. The main superficial deposits are intertidal flats at the coast, fringed with saltmarsh with river terrace deposits and head landward, all underlain by the London Clay Formation.

A changing climate

Sea-level rises are accelerating erosion of the saltmarsh landward due to ‘coastal squeeze’ where the saltmarsh is eroded up against the seawall. The eroded sediment is then deposited on top of the existing saltmarsh and mudflats, building the height up on the seaward side so the marsh is higher than the land behind the seawall.

More information

• Get there: the nearest train station is Southminster, or take the B1021

Studland Bay, Dorset

Overview

Frequent winter storms have meant loss of sand from Studland Bay over many years and, in 2014, one of the worst winter storm surges in 35 years resulted in a loss of up to 10 m of dunes in just one storm. The coastline is composed of sand dunes and beach deposits, underlain by the Broadstone Clay Member. 

A changing climate

Projected increased sea-level rise and increased storminess will see the loss of these sand-rich deposits continue. The National Trust manages the coastline here and their focus is now on adaptation and the use of softer defences rather than the hard sea defences traditionally used.

More information

• Get there: you can reach Studland Bay on the B3351. Use BH19 3AH in your satnav for parking

Dungeness, Kent

Overview

Dungeness is situated at the southernmost point of Kent and is one of the most extensive examples of stable, vegetated shingle (gravel) in Europe, sheltering a large area of low-lying land.

Dungeness is almost entirely made up from flint shingle that has built up over the past six thousand years. The shingle has been redistributed over time forming a cuspate barrier, or ness, between its two shorelines. In addition to exposed shingle there are also buried shingle banks present. This barren landscape, with its landmark lighthouse, and also the site of a major nuclear power station, attracts around one million visitors annually.

The geology comprises predominantly storm beach and tidal flat deposits, alongside small amounts of blown sand and alluvium. These superficial deposits are underlain at depth by the Hasting Beds (sandstone, siltstone and mudstone).

A changing climate

Although some 30 per cent of the coastline is susceptible to erosion and 44 per cent (68km) could potentially be at risk of inundation by 2050, increasing slightly to 45 per cent (69km) by 2100, there is the requirement for continued sediment management to ensure the frontage at Dungeness nuclear power station is protected for the next 100 years..

More information

• Get there: the nearest train station is Rye, one mile from Lydd on the Dungeness road. Use TN29 9PN in your satnav for parking

Further information

In our next post, we will discuss how our new GeoCoast data product can be used to inform and assist users when responding to coastal adaptation and resilience.

GeoCoast is an integrated GIS package of datasets designed to inform and support coastal management and adaptation. It includes information about coastal erosion, sea level rise and inundation, coastal subsidence and the properties of the geological deposits.

Join us for our GeoCoast launch event

Join our data products team for a live webinar on the 28 April 2022, and discover more about our new data product to underpin coastal decision making, resilience and adaptation. > Register online

About the author

In this new series of blogs, the digital products team looks at the coastline of Great Britain, how it is changing and what important factors we should consider in terms of natural hazards, adaptation and resilience.

Coastal resilience is a key issue for our island nation, especially those who live and work around our coastline. The climate is changing, temperatures are increasing and sea-levels are set to rise. In recent years, we have witnessed numerous examples of coastal flooding, cliff falls and damage to infrastructure, businesses and homes during storms. But how much of an issue are these coastal vulnerabilities and what do we need to consider to increase our resilience to future events?

It is difficult to quantify the threat and potential economic impact of coastal erosion and flooding. The Climate Change Committee estimated in 2018 that, by the 2080s, over 100 000 properties may be in areas at risk from coastal erosion in England alone.

Various reports have been commissioned over recent years to assist in building a clearer picture of the situation and options to reduce this risk. The UK Government on exploratory sea-level projections for the UK provides future projection ranges to the year 2300. Under all scenarios, sea level is expected to continue to rise. Estimates range across (approximately):

• 0.5Ìým to 2.2Ìým for low () emissions
• 0.8Ìým to 2.6Ìým for medium-low () emissions
• 1.4Ìým to 4.3Ìým for high () emissions

To provide some context relating to the societal importance of our coastal regions, aside from their natural significance, we can consider some of the findings of a by a Select Committee appointed through the House of Lords. This group and the subsequent report had been set up to focus on the regeneration of seaside towns and communities, which included a review of tourism and hospitality. Based on this report and the associated proceedings, the following numbers can be ascribed to our coastal regions:

• more than eight million people live on the coast, in coastal communities ( (2018))
• according to , the sector employs 2.9Ìýmillion people and generates £130Ìýbillion in economic activity
• VisitBritain stated that tourism was worth £127Ìýbillion to the British economy ().

In the UK, current annual damages from coastal flooding are estimated at over £500Ìýmillion per year () and costs are likely to increase under projections of future sea-level rise. Historic assets are also under threat: buried archaeology and historic structures, such as the Godwin Battery on Spurn Point, have already been lost to coastal erosion. The following the 2013/14 winter storms amounted to some £250Ìý000, with other repairs costing many thousands of pounds. Ìý

Our new GeoCoast data product can be used to inform and assist users when responding to coastal adaptation and resilience. GeoCoast is an integrated GIS package of datasets designed to inform and support coastal management and adaptation. It includes information about coastal erosion, sea-level rise and inundation, coastal subsidence and the properties of the geological deposits.

Our next post in this series will look at six areas of changing coastlines around Great Britain and how climate change could affect them.

Join us for our GeoCoast launch event

Join our data products team for a live webinar on the 28 April 2022, and discover more about our new data product to underpin coastal decision making, resilience and adaptation. > Register online

About the author

51ÁÔÆæ GeoCoast is a new data product from BGS that will enable local authorities and coastal practitioners to make improved decisions about coastal hazards and help build resilience to increasing changes facing Britain coastlines.

A package of geospatial datasets designed to provide information on the geological conditions and constraints around the coastline of Britain, it translates key geological data into suitable information to support the decision-making process. The new data product has been designed to assist future planning, with resilience considerations based on the natural geological characteristics of the coastal region.

Each year, Britain coastline shoulders some of the largest tides in the world. Some areas are highly vulnerable to flooding, like Spurn Point in East Yorkshire where sea level rise is predicted to cut off Spurn Head by 2050 (based on UKCP18 climate change projections).

Of the 17 819 km of coastline around mainland Britain, some 15 per cent is potentially highly vulnerable to erosion. As climate change triggers sea-level rise and more extreme weather events, the effects on many of our coastlines, such as erosion, subsidence and landslides, are likely to become more frequent, scientists warn.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoCoast brings together a range of data for coastal practitioners, local authorities and asset owners who want to underpin their decision making and planning with authoritative data.

Users can access information on the morphology, behaviour and vulnerability of the coastline, underpinned by its geology and its coastal context, accounting for factors such as the shape of the coastline and its orientation.

Such information is essential for good coastal management and improving our understanding of coastal environments and their properties, enabling communities to better respond and build resilience to our changing coastline in the wake of more extreme weather events.

Increasing numbers of people are living in and using our coastal areas, where hazards such as flooding and erosion will continue to threaten our environment, infrastructure and livelihoods.

Adaptative strategies and effective planning decisions cannot be adopted without a thorough assessment of the area and an understanding of its unique coastal vulnerabilities. The availability and use of coastal data, including an assessment of climate change-related flood impact, are central to this evaluation.

The release of BGS GeoCoast will be a welcome step in arming practitioners with information and resources to understand more about which coastline is potentially vulnerable and make informed decisions about how we can adapt coastal areas to be more resilient.

Unlike other coastal datasets, BGS GeoCoast offers a consistent, national assessment that includes detailed analysis of the variation and erosion potential around the coast, especially in complex cliffs.

Katy Lee, BGS Digital Product Lead.

In areas vulnerable to coastal change, such as Holkham in Norfolk, tidal surges will particularly affect sensitive habitats, properties and businesses more frequently in the future. Other areas include Tillingham Marshes in Essex, Studland Bay in Dorset and Dungeness in Kent.

Human influence may come and go but the underlying, fundamental natural deposits — the geology — are always an important factor to consider. A sea wall might be protecting weak sediments currently, but if that sea wall is breached or no longer maintained, we need to be aware of potential vulnerabilities in order to adapt the area to be more resilient.

Katy Lee, BGS Digital Product Lead.

Combining geological knowledge and coastal expertise with a track record of delivering data services to stakeholders for over 20 years, BGS GeoCoast is available in two easy-to-use packages, GeoCoast Premium and GeoCoast Open.

GeoCoast data product launch event

Coastal practitioners, local authorities and anyone interested in finding out more about GeoCoast are invited to attend a free, online webinar being hosted by BGS on 28 April 2022 at 13.00. Those wishing to attend should register online via our event page.

GeoCoast Premium

Offering the most detailed and technical suite of information, GeoCoast Premium provides a range of geological and geomorphological properties that influence coastal vulnerability. It is best suited to local authorities, coastal practitioners and asset owners who want essential and tailored baseline geological information to feed into coastal vulnerability analyses and assessments at the local level.

The datasets are compatible with shoreline management plan areas and can be integrated with other models and datasets to ascertain a more extensive vulnerability assessment considering broader ecological, morphological and societal impacts.

GeoCoast Open

A suite of GeoCoast Open datasets are also available for anyone with an interest in coastal change, offering access to archive photographs, cross-sections and diagrams from BGS maps, memoirs and publications, as well as a combined coastal domains summary and an analysis of the key variables and data combinations available within the BGS GeoCoast product.