Multi-decadal spatiotemporal shoreline vulnerability assessment (1987–2025): integrating erosion-accretion dynamics for disaster risk reduction across 90 coastal transects
Ahmet Durap ()
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Ahmet Durap: Istanbul Medipol University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, 2025, vol. 121, issue 19, No 27, 23019 pages
Abstract:
Abstract Coastal zones, vital for socio-economic activity, face escalating threats from climate change, including sea-level rise and intensifying storms. Accurate shoreline change assessments and vulnerability analyses are critical for resilience planning but are often constrained by methodological limitations that may not capture complex spatiotemporal dynamics. This study aims to address critical gaps related to temporal simplification, the methodological constraints of linear models, and spatial homogenization by developing and applying an integrated analytical framework to quantify multi-decadal trends and event-scale variability along a dynamic coastline. We analysed 38 years of Landsat-derived shoreline data (1987–2025) along the north section stretch of North Stradbroke Island, Australia, using 90 shore-normal transects. Our multi-method approach integrated ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, Sen slope, and annual Δ-chainage analysis (≈ 2100 transitions) to distinguish long-term trends from short-term variability. Transects were classified into behavioural groups and spatially zoned into regions (e.g., stable, volatile, erosion-dominant, and accretion-dominant) based on alongshore change patterns. The coastline exhibited a clear tripartite structure: Regions 1 and 3 (57 transects) showed chronic erosion (up to: − 3.73 m yr−1), while Region 2 (33 transects) functioned as a sediment sink with sustained accretion (up to + 1.90 m yr−1). Despite a near-equilibrium in annual erosion (52%) and accretion (47%) events, 61% of transects experienced net erosion, with a mean net shoreline displacement of − 35.47 m. Transect classification revealed four distinct behavioural groups: stable (17), volatile (24), erosion-dominant (27), and accretion-dominant (21). The Sen slope provided trend estimates in volatile zones where OLS was skewed by storm-driven outliers. This study demonstrates that integrating multi-temporal analytical techniques is essential to reveal the coexistence of dynamic equilibrium and directional change on contiguous coastlines. The framework identifies precise vulnerability gradients, sediment sources, sinks, and hotspots. These findings operationalise Sendai-aligned (Disaster Risk Reduction) DRR by converting 38-year shoreline dynamics into prioritised, place-based interventions, enabling targeted nature-based measures, sediment conservation strategies, and governance triggers that strengthen coastal resilience.
Keywords: Shoreline change; Coastal erosion and accretion; Transect analysis; Coastal monitoring; Disaster risk reduction; Coastal management; Remote sensing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s11069-025-07716-z
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