Blog Week 13 - Matthew Babcock

Coastal Erosion in the Channel Islands

The great nation of the Channel Islands, which of course consists of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Herm, are located in the English Channel right off the coast of France. As we have discussed before, these islands are a very popular tourist destination due to their incredible scenery and very rich cultural history. However, something many tourists may not know about these beautiful Islands, is that they are also at a fairly high risk for coastal erosion, which poses a pretty significant threat to the environment, infrastructure, and their local economy. 

To give some brief context, coastal erosion is the natural process of wearing away of land or coastal features due to the harsh action of waves, tides, the wind, and other factors. It is obviously a more common occurrence in coastal areas, but it can be actually be worsened by human activities such as construction, dredging, and the creation of sea defense structures. The Channel Islands, with their rugged coastline and thus exposure to strong ocean currents, are particularly vulnerable to this erosion. 

The Channel Islands' geology is another factor that contributes to their risk of coastal erosion. The islands are composed of a mix of sedimentary and volcanic rocks as we have previously discussed, which have different rates of erosion. The sedimentary rocks, which are softer and more prone to erosion, make up most of the islands' coastlines. In contrast, the volcanic rocks are harder and more resistant to erosion but occur in far fewer locations. This variation in rock types means that some areas are actually a lot more vulnerable to erosion than others. 

The effects of coastal erosion on the Channel Islands are numerous and pretty severe. One of the most significant impacts is the loss of land and property. Erosion can cause wild events such as cliffs to collapse and beaches to disappear, leading to the loss of valuable real estate and infrastructure such as roads, buildings, and seawalls. In some cases from the past, entire villages and towns have been abandoned due to erosion, such as the hamlet of Petit Bot in Guernsey. The loss of land can also have a pretty severe effect on the islands' economy. Tourism is a very significant source of income for the Channel Islands, but erosion can make beaches and other attractions way less attractive to visitors. The islands' fishing industry is also at risk because of this, as erosion can damage or destroy the infrastructure, such as harbors and quays, used by fishermen. 

Another impact of coastal erosion is the potential loss of biodiversity and habitats. The coastlines of the Channel Islands support a very rich and diverse range of flora and fauna, including rare and even endangered species. Erosion can destroy or alter these habitats, making it difficult for these species to survive. For example, the Jersey Tiger moth, which is a rare and protected species, is only found in a few locations on Jersey's coastline, and erosion could threaten its survival. 

There have actually been several high-profile instances of erosion affecting the Channel Islands in recent years. In 2012, a cliff collapse in Alderney caused a house to fall into the sea, and in 2016, part of a beach in Guernsey was lost due to erosion. I think that both of these incidents demonstrate the immediate and significant threat that erosion poses to the islands in the future. To begin to address the risk of coastal erosion, the Channel Islands have already implemented various measures, including beach nourishment, seawalls, and vegetation planting to help combat this destructive force and attempt to preserve the beauty of the Channel Islands that people travel from all around the world to see. 

Thanks for reading!

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_natural_disasters_in_the_British_Isles  

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18175986 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Islands 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61795783 

https://mapcarta.com/Channel_Islands 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/30389409_Catastrophic_Wave_Erosion_Bristol_Channel_United_Kingdom_Impact_of_Tsunami