Alarm about seawater encroachment on sand dunes in Australia

According to research, the central area of ​​the Younghusband Peninsula (Australia) is in a period of severe coastal erosion, shrinking 100m since 1980 at an average rate of 1.9m per year.

Coastal sand dunes are shrinking due to seawater encroachment. (Illustrative photo: TimeOut).

According to research published on March 28 in Australia, coastal sand dunes in the state of South Australia (SA) are shrinking due to seawater encroachment, at an alarming rate.

In this study, a team of scientists from the Beach and Dune Systems Laboratory (BEADS) at Flinders University in the state measured the Younghusband Peninsula - Australia's longest coastal sand dune with a 190km long in the Coorong National Park , where they discovered the rapid shrinking of sand dunes due to sea erosion.

The results show that the central area of ​​this peninsula is in a period of severe coastal erosion, shrinking 100m since 1980 at an average rate of 1.9m per year.

According to the detailed description in the above study, a new sand dune has developed in less than 5 years on the Younghusband Peninsula and has expanded landward more than 100m in 8 years.

"This rate of shrinkage is exceptionally fast, and if this trend continues to expand north and south as it is now, it will significantly change the dune system," said study co-author Patrick Hesp. of Coorong Park".

According to Mr. Hesp, the above research results should be considered a call to action to increase research on coastal processes, especially research on the relationship between sea level rise, sea level change and climate change. Future climate change and coastal dune systems.