Global distribution and dynamics of muddy coasts

Romy Hulskamp, Arjen Luijendijk (), Bas Maren, Antonio Moreno-Rodenas, Floris Calkoen, Etiënne Kras, Stef Lhermitte and Stefan Aarninkhof
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Romy Hulskamp: Deltares
Arjen Luijendijk: Deltares
Bas Maren: Deltares
Antonio Moreno-Rodenas: Deltares
Floris Calkoen: Deltares
Etiënne Kras: Deltares
Stef Lhermitte: Delft University of Technology
Stefan Aarninkhof: Delft University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Muddy coasts provide ecological habitats, supply food and form a natural coastal defence. Relative sea level rise, changing wave energy and human interventions will increase the pressure on muddy coastal zones. For sustainable coastal management it is key to obtain information on the geomorphology of and historical changes along muddy areas. So far, little is known about the distribution and behaviour of muddy coasts at a global scale. In this study we present a global scale assessment of the occurrence of muddy coasts and rates of coastline change therein. We combine publicly available satellite imagery and coastal geospatial datasets, to train an automated classification method to identify muddy coasts. We find that 14% of the world’s ice-free coastline is muddy, of which 60% is located in the tropics. Furthermore, the majority of the world’s muddy coasts are eroding at rates exceeding 1 m/yr over the last three decades.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43819-6

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