Projections of Beach Erosion and Associated Costs in Chile

Patricio Winckler (), Roberto Agredano Martín, César Esparza, Oscar Melo, María Isabel Sactic and Carolina Martínez
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Patricio Winckler: Escuela de Ingeniería Civil Oceánica, Universidad de Valparaíso (UV), Valparaíso 2362844, Chile
Roberto Agredano Martín: PRDW Consulting Port and Coastal Engineers, Santiago 7560830, Chile
César Esparza: Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
María Isabel Sactic: Centro de Cambio Global, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
Carolina Martínez: Institute of Geography, Faculty of History, Geography and Political Science, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-23

Abstract: Economic costs associated to coastal erosion are projected in 45 sandy beaches in Chilean coasts. We compare mid-century (2026–2045) and end-of-century projections (2081–2100) of wave climate and sea-level rise (SLR) with a historical period (1985–2004) using several General Circulation Models for the RCP 8.5 scenario. Offshore wave data are then downscaled to each site, where shoreline retreat is assessed with Bruun rule for various berm heights and sediment diameters. Results indicate that mid-century retreat would be moderate (>13 m) while larger end-of-century projections (>53 m) are explained by SLR (0.58 ± 0.25 m). A small counterclockwise rotation of long beaches is also expected. To assess the costs of shoreline retreat, we use the benefit transfer methodology by using adjusted values from a previous study to the sites of interest. Results show that, by mid-century, beach width reduction would be between 2.0% and 68.2%, implying a total annual loss of USD 5.6 [5.1–6.1] million. For end-the-century projections, beach width reduction is more significant (8.4–100%), involving a total annual loss of USD 10.5 [8.1–11.8] million. Additionally, by the end-of-century, 13–25 beaches could disappear. These costs should be reduced with coastal management practices which are nevertheless inexistent in the country.

Keywords: wave climate; sea level rise; shoreline change; economic losses (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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