Search Results (442)

Wind power has gained attention as a vital renewable energy source capable of reducing emissions and serving as an effective alternative to fossil fuels. Floating wind farms could significantly enhance the energy capacities of Mediterranean countries. However, location selection for offshore wind farms (OWFs) is a challenge for renewable energy policy and marine spatial planning (MSP). To address these issues, this study considers the marine space of Greece to propose a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to identify suitable sites for OWFs. The approach assesses 19 exclusion criteria encompassing legislative, environmental, safety, and technical constraints to determine the eligible areas. Subsequently, 10 evaluation criteria are weighted to determine the selected areas’ level of suitability. The study considers baseline conditions (1981–2010) and future climate scenarios based on RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 for two horizons (2011–2040 and 2041–2070), integrating projected wind velocities and sea level rise to evaluate potential shifts in suitable areas. Results indicate the central and southeastern Aegean Sea as the most suitable areas for OWF deployment. Climate projections indicate a modest increase in suitable areas. The findings serve as input for climate-resilient MSP seeking to promote sustainable energy development. Full article

Population growth and land use change often have significant environmental impacts, affecting biodiversity, water supply, agricultural production, and other resources. Future scenario models can provide a better understanding of these changes, helping planners and the public understand the consequences of choices regarding development density, land use, and conservation. This study presents a model that has been used to identify alternative future scenarios for Florida considering future population growth and land use. It includes two scenarios: a “Sprawl” scenario reflecting a continuation of current development patterns and a “Conservation” scenario with higher densities, redevelopment, and more land protection. The study incorporates sea level rise scenarios for both 2040 and 2070. Results show that the Sprawl scenario could lead to 3.5 million acres of new developed land and 1.8 million acres of lost agricultural land by 2070 in Florida. In contrast, the Conservation scenario for 2070 results in 1.3 million fewer acres of developed land and 5 million more acres of protected natural land, showing that it is possible to accommodate future population growth while reducing impacts to agricultural and conservation priorities in Florida. Although this is by no means a “prediction” of future Florida, it has been useful as a tool for evaluating potential future land use scenarios and is a model that may be more broadly applied by other locations and users. Full article

The preservation and protection of historic urban centers in climate-sensitive coastal areas contributes to the promotion of culture as a driver and enabler of achieving temporal and spatial sustainability, as it is recognized that urban heritage is an integral part of the urban landscape, culture, and economy. The aim of this study was to enhance the resilience and protection of cultural heritage and historic urban centers (HUCs) in the coastal area of Kaštela, Croatia, by providing recommendations and action guidelines in response to climate change impacts, including rising temperatures, sea levels, storms, droughts, and flooding. Preserving HUCs is essential to maintain their cultural values, original structures, and appearance. Many ancient coastal Roman HUCs lie partially or entirely below mean sea level, while low-lying medieval castles, urban areas, and modern developments are increasingly at risk. Based on vulnerability assessments, targeted mitigation and adaptation measures were proposed to address HUC vulnerability sources. The Historical Urban Landscape Approach tool was used to transition and manage HUCs, linking past, present, and future hazard contexts to enable rational, comprehensive, and sustainable solutions. The effective protection of HUCs requires a deeper understanding of the evolution of urban development, climate dynamics, and the natural environments, including both tangible and intangible urban heritage elements. The “hazard-specific” vulnerability assessment framework, which incorporates hazard-relevant indicators of sensitivity and adaptive capacity, was a practical tool for risk reduction. This method relies on analyzing the historical performance and physical characteristics of the system, without necessitating additional simulations of transformation processes. Full article

This study developed a coupled hydrodynamic-sediment-vegetation model to investigate the effects of Spartina alterniflora management and Suaeda salsa restoration on coastal wetland geomorphological evolution and vegetation distribution. Special attention is paid to the regulatory roles of tidal dynamics, sea-level rise, sediment supply, and sediment characteristics. The study shows that the management of Spartina alterniflora significantly alters the sediment deposition patterns in salt marsh wetlands, leading to intensified local erosion and a decline in the overall stability of the wetland system; meanwhile, the geomorphology of wetlands restored with Suaeda salsa is influenced by tidal range, sediment settling velocity, and suspended sediment concentration, exhibiting different deposition and erosion patterns. Under the scenario of sea-level rise, when sedimentation rates fail to offset the rate of sea-level increase, the wetland ecosystem faces the risk of collapse. This study provides scientific evidence for the ecological restoration and management of coastal wetlands and offers theoretical support for future wetland conservation and restoration policies. Full article

Climate change poses significant threats to oceans, leading to ocean acidification, sea level rise, and sea ice loss and so on. At the same time, oceans play a crucial role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, offering solutions such as renewable energy and carbon sequestration. Moreover, the availability of diverse ocean data sources, both remote sensing observations and in situ measurements, provides unprecedented opportunities to monitor these processes. Remote sensing data, with its extensive spatial coverage and accessibility, forms the foundation for accurately capturing changes in ocean conditions and developing data-driven solutions. This review explores the dual relationship between climate change and oceans, focusing on the impacts of climate change on oceans and ocean-based strategies to combat these challenges. From the artificial intelligence perspective, this study systematically analyzes recent advances in applying deep learning techniques to understand changes in ocean physical properties and marine ecosystems, as well as to optimize ocean-based climate solutions. By evaluating existing methodologies and identifying knowledge gaps, this review highlights the pivotal role of deep learning in advancing ocean-related climate research, outlines existing current challenges, and provides insights into potential future directions. Full article

This study presents the first comprehensive nationwide assessment of mangrove ecosystems in the Maldives. Surveys were conducted across 162 islands in 20 administrative atolls, integrating field data, the literature, and secondary sources to map mangrove distribution, confirm species presence, and classify habitat types. Twelve true mangrove species were identified, with Bruguiera cylindrica, Rhizophora mucronata, and Lumnitzera racemosa emerging as dominant. Species diversity was evaluated using Shannon (H′), Margalef (d′), Pielou’s evenness (J′), and Simpson’s dominance (λ′) indices. Atolls within the northern and southern regions, particularly Laamu, Noonu, and Shaviyani, exhibited the highest diversity and evenness, while central atolls such as Ari and Faafu supported mono-specific or degraded stands. Mangrove habitats were classified into four geomorphological types: marsh based, pond based, embayment, and fringing systems. Field sampling was conducted using standardized belt transects and quadrats, with species verified using photographic documentation and expert validation. Species distributions showed strong habitat associations, with B. cylindrica dominant in marshes, R. mucronata and B. gymnorrhiza in ponds, and Ceriops tagal and L. racemosa in embayments. Rare species like Bruguiera hainesii and Heritiera littoralis were confined to stable hydrological niches. This study establishes a critical, island-level baseline for mangrove conservation and ecosystem-based planning in the Maldives, providing a reference point for tracking future responses to climate change, sea-level rise, and hydrological disturbances, emphasizing the need for habitat-specific strategies to protect biodiversity. Full article

As sea levels rise and extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change, coastal urban areas are increasingly vulnerable to wave overtopping and flooding. Retrofitting existing vertical seawalls with retreated storm walls represents a key adaptive strategy, especially in the Mediterranean, where steep foreshores and limited public space constrain conventional coastal defenses. This study investigates the effectiveness of storm walls in reducing wave overtopping on vertical walls with steep foreshores (1:7 to 1:10) through high-fidelity numerical simulations using the SWASH model. A comprehensive parametric study, involving 450 test cases, was conducted using Latin Hypercube Sampling to explore the influence of geometric and hydrodynamic variables on overtopping rate. Model validation against Eurotop/CLASH physical data demonstrated strong agreement (r = 0.96), confirming the reliability of SWASH for such applications. Key findings indicate that longer promenades (Gc) and reduced impulsiveness of the wave conditions reduce overtopping. A new empirical reduction factor, calibrated for integration into the Eurotop overtopping equation for plain vertical walls, is proposed based on dimensionless promenade width and water depth. The modified empirical model shows strong predictive performance (r = 0.94) against SWASH-calculated overtopping rates. This work highlights the practical value of integrating storm walls into urban seawall design and offers engineers a validated tool for enhancing coastal resilience. Future research should extend the framework to other superstructure adaptations, such as parapets or stilling basins, to further improve flood protection in the face of climate change. Full article

Sea level rise due to climate change poses an increasing threat to coastal ecosystems, infrastructure, and human settlements. However, accurately estimating sea level changes in regions without tide gauge observations remains a major challenge. While satellite altimetry provides wide spatial coverage, its accuracy diminishes near coastlines. In contrast, tide gauges offer high precision but are spatially limited. This study aims to develop an artificial neural network-based model for estimating relative sea level changes in coastal regions where tide gauge data are unavailable. Unlike conventional forecasting approaches focused on future time series prediction, the proposed model is designed to learn spatial distribution patterns and temporal rates of sea level change from a fusion of satellite altimetry and tide gauge data. A normalization scheme is applied to reduce inconsistencies in reference levels, and Bayesian optimization is employed to fine-tune hyperparameters. A case analysis is conducted in two coastal regions in South Korea, Busan and Ansan, using data from 2018 to 2023. The model demonstrates strong agreement with observed tide gauge records, particularly in estimating temporal trends of sea level rise. This approach effectively compensates for the limitations of satellite altimetry in coastal regions and fills critical observational gaps in ungauged areas. The proposed method holds substantial promise for coastal hazard mitigation, infrastructure planning, and climate adaptation strategies. Full article

CO₂ geo-storage is a promising approach in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and controlling global temperature rise. Although numerous studies have reported that offshore saline aquifers have greater storage potential and safety, current suitability evaluation models for CO₂ geo-storage primarily focus on onshore saline aquifers, and site-level evaluations for offshore CO₂ geo-storage remain unreported. In this study, we propose a framework to evaluate the site-level offshore CO₂ geo-storage suitability with a multi-tiered indicator system, which considers three types of factors: engineering geology, storage potential, and socio-economy. Compared to the onshore CO₂ geo-storage suitability evaluation models, the proposed indicator system considers the unique conditions of offshore CO₂ geo-storage, including water depth, offshore distance, and distance from drilling platforms. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE) methods were integrated and applied to the analysis of the Ying–Qiong Basin, South China Sea. The results indicated that the average suitability score in the Yinggehai Basin (0.762) was higher than that in the Qiongdongnan Basin (0.691). This difference was attributed to more extensive fault development in the Qiongdongnan Basin, suggesting that the Yinggehai Basin is more suitable for CO₂ geo-storage. In addition, the DF-I reservoir in the Yinggehai Basin and the BD-A reservoir in the Qiongdongnan Basin were selected as the optimal CO₂ geo-storage targets for the two sub-basins, with storage potentials of 1.09 × 10⁸ t and 2.40 × 10⁷ t, respectively. This study advances the methodology for assessing site-level potential of CO₂ geo-storage in offshore saline aquifers and provides valuable insights for engineering applications and decision-making in future CO₂ geo-storage projects in the Ying–Qiong Basin. Full article

This study assesses the exposure of the 155 Greek seaports to marine flooding and extreme heat under climate change. Flood exposure was estimated through a threshold approach that compared projected mean and extreme sea levels to high-resolution port quay elevation data. It was found that while relatively few ports will face quay inundation, the majority will experience operational disruptions due to insufficient freeboard for berthing of commercial vessels under both the mean (80%) and extreme sea (96%) levels by 2050. For selected ports, 2-D flood modelling was undertaken that showed that the used ‘static’ flood threshold approach likely underestimates flood exposure. Future heat exposure was studied through the comparison of extreme temperature and humidity projections to operational and health/safety thresholds. Port infrastructure and personnel/users will be exposed to large material, operational and health risks, whereas energy demand will rise steeply. Deadly heat days (due to mean temperature/humidity combination) will increase, particularly at island ports: 20% of Greek ports might face more than 50 such days annually by end-century. As ports are associated with large urban clusters, these findings suggest a broader health risk. Our findings suggest an urgent climate adaptation need given the strategic socio-economic importance of ports. Full article

Marsh vegetation dampens wave energy, providing protection to coastal communities from storms. A new modeling framework was applied to study wave height evolution over the saltmarsh bordering Newbury, MA. A regional Delft3D hydrodynamic model generated wind driver waves in the open water portions of the study area, which were then one-way coupled with an analytical model, the Marsh Transect Wave Attenuation (MTWA) model, which tracked wave evolution along select transects throughout the marsh. Field observations of vegetation and wave height evolution were used to calibrate MTWA. Seven scenarios were run covering a range of possible future management and environmental conditions, in addition to projected sea level rise. Results underscore the importance of vegetation and elevation to wave attenuation. Full article

Coastal cities are increasingly exposed to the risks posed by climate change, including rising sea levels, intensified storms, and coastal erosion. In this context, risk communication plays a crucial role, as it can shape public perception, promote preparedness, and influence both emergency responses and long-term mitigation strategies. This study investigated how disaster-related risks are framed in the media, focusing on the case of Naples, Italy, following a severe coastal storm surge that struck the city’s waterfront on December 2020. Using Dynamic Latent Dirichlet Allocation (DLDA), the research analyzed 297 newspaper articles published between 2020 and 2024 to examine the evolution of media narratives over time. The findings reveal four dominant patterns: (1) a prevailing economic discourse centered on financial damages and compensations, with limited references to resilience planning; (2) a temporal framing that presents the storm as a sudden, exceptional event, disconnected from historical precedents or future climate projections; (3) a lack of emphasis on the social experiences and vulnerabilities of local residents; and (4) minimal discussion of tourists’ exposure to risk, despite their presence in high-impact areas. These results highlight key limitations of media-driven risk communication and underscore the need for more inclusive, forward-looking narratives to support urban resilience and climate adaptation in coastal cities. This research offers valuable insights for urban planners, policymakers, journalists, and disaster risk reduction professionals, helping them to better align communication strategies with long-term adaptation goals and the needs of diverse urban populations. Full article

The Arabian Sea has undergone significant warming since the mid-20th century, highlighting the importance of assessing how decadal climate patterns influence chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and broader marine ecosystem dynamics. This study investigates the variability of Chl-a, sea surface temperature (SST), and sea level anomaly (SLA) over the past three decades, and their relationships with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). The mean Chl-a concentration was 1.10 mg/m³, with peak levels exceeding 2 mg/m³ between 2009 and 2013, and the lowest value (0.6 mg/m³) was recorded in 2014. Elevated Chl-a levels were consistently observed in February and March across both coastal and offshore regions. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis revealed distinct spatial patterns in Chl-a and SST, indicating dynamic regional variability. The SST increased by 0.709 °C over the past four decades, accompanied by a steady rise in the SLA of approximately 1 cm. The monthly mean Chl-a exhibited a strong inverse relationship with both the SST and SLA and a positive correlation with SST gradients (R² > 0.5). A positive correlation (R² > 0.5) was found between the PDO and Chl-a, whereas the PDO was negatively correlated with the SST and SLA. In contrast, the AMO was negatively correlated with Chl-a but positively associated with warming and SLA rise. These findings underline the contrasting roles of the PDO and AMO in modulating productivity and ocean dynamics in the Arabian Sea. This study emphasizes the need for continued monitoring to improve predictions of ecosystem responses under future climate change scenarios. Full article

Climate change poses substantial threats to natural ecosystems and human livelihoods, particularly in coastal regions, by intensifying coastal erosion. This process leads to land loss, infrastructure damage, and habitat destruction while amplifying challenges such as sea-level rise, flooding, desertification, and salinization. In Vietnam’s Red River Delta (RRD), the dynamic interplay between erosion and accretion presents a highly complex challenge, necessitating effective risk assessment and management to safeguard communities and resources. Using the principles of natural disaster risk assessment and comprehensive analysis, this study develops a coastal erosion risk assessment framework incorporating hazard, exposure, and vulnerability dimensions. The framework integrates 17 indicators, including human activities, socioeconomic factors, shoreline type, and vegetation cover, with indicator weights determined through expert evaluation and the analytic hierarchy process. The application of this framework reveals that coastal erosion risk in the RRD is relatively high, with greater risk concentrated in the central and northern segments of the coastline compared to the flanking areas. This framework offers valuable insights for coastal erosion prevention, mitigation strategies, and the optimization of coastal spatial planning. The application of coastal erosion risk assessment methods provides a relatively complete foundation for developing comprehensive prevention and adaptation solutions in the future. Through the system of parameters and corresponding weights, it provides an overview of potential responses to future impacts while identifying current high-risk zones specifically and accurately, thereby assessing the importance of each parameter on that impact. Based on specific analysis of assessment results, a reasonable resource use and management policy can be developed to minimize related natural disasters. Therefore, two main groups of solutions proposed under the “Protection—Adaptation” strategy are proposed to prevent natural disasters, minimize risks and sustainably develop the coastal area of the RRD. Full article

Globally, coastal wetlands are among the most dynamic and important environments due to their wide range of environmental services, from which coastal communities benefit. Mexico has coastal wetlands that are a priority in the Pacific Flyway in America, since every year millions of shorebirds use these wetlands to reproduce and rest during their migration, in addition to various species that live there and are under some protection standard or in danger of extinction. In addition, these Mexican wetlands are also spaces from which important growing coastal communities benefit. However, the conservation of these coastal sites will be compromised in the coming decades by sea level rise and increasing pressure derived from coastal development, which directly impact the potential loss of space and consequently the decrease in migratory bird populations. This work identifies hydrodynamic changes and the effects of sea level rise in five coastal wetlands in Mexico and the Pacific Flyway in America, focusing on the future availability of space and the potential loss of ecosystem services under projected scenarios. The results generated give us a knowledge base to design strategies focused on the conservation and resilience of these wetlands in the face of sea level rise. Full article