Coastal Vulnerability to Erosion Using a Multi-Criteria Index: A Case Study of the Xiamen Coast

Zheng-Tao Zhu, Feng Cai, Shen-Liang Chen, Dong-Qi Gu, Ai-Ping Feng, Chao Cao, Hong-Shuai Qi and Gang Lei
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Zheng-Tao Zhu: State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Feng Cai: Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China
Shen-Liang Chen: State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Dong-Qi Gu: First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061, China
Ai-Ping Feng: Island Research Center, State Oceanic Administration, Pingtan 350400, China
Chao Cao: Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China
Hong-Shuai Qi: Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China
Gang Lei: Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: The assessment of coastal vulnerability to erosion is urgently needed due to increasing coastal erosion globally. Based on the coastal characteristics of the Xiamen artificial coastline, which accounts for more than 80% of the coastline in this area, this study provides an integrated approach based on a multi-criteria index. The evaluation index system of the local coastal vulnerability to the erosion of Xiamen includes 12 indexes based on natural (coastal characteristics, coastal forcing), and socio-economic factors (coastal infrastructure, disaster reduction). The spatial differentiation characteristics of the coastal vulnerability to erosion along the Xiamen coast (2018) have been quantitatively assessed with the aid of GIS (Geographic Information System) and RS (Remote Sensing) technology. The results show that the very high vulnerability, high vulnerability, medium vulnerability, low vulnerability and very low vulnerability areas of coastal erosion accounted for 4.6%, 30.5%, 51.6%, 12.5% and 0.8% of the Xiamen coast, respectively. The coastal vulnerability to erosion classes of artificial coasts is significantly higher than those of natural coasts. This difference is mainly controlled by the coastal slope and coastal buffer ability. The results of the evaluation are basically consistent with the present situation. The rationality of the index system and the applicability of the theoretical method are well explained. The evaluation model constructed in this study can be extended to other areas with high ratios of artificial coasts.

Keywords: coastal erosion; coastal vulnerability to erosion; artificial coast; coastal buffer ability; Xiamen (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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