Half of World's Sandy Beaches Could Disappear by 2100
2020-03-08
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1A new study says up to one-half of the world's sandy beaches could disappear by 2100 because of climate change.
2Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, China and the United States would be among the hardest hit, the research shows.
3The study was published in the journal Nature Climate Change.
4Michalis Vousdoukas was the lead investigator. "Touristic areas which have sandy beaches as their main selling point will probably face strong consequences," he said.
5Aside from economic value, beaches play an important environmental role.
6"Sandy beaches are important habitats supporting a wide range of species.
7They also protect the coast from the effects of storms, so without sandy beaches other inland environments can be affected by the effects of waves and saltwater intrusion," Vousdoukas added.
8Global sea levels have increased in recent decades.
9Major causes include melting glaciers and thermal expansion.
10Thermal expansion is the reaction of matter to increases in temperature.
11Water expands as it warms.
12Researchers examined satellite images showing shoreline changes during the past thirty years.
13They then used these trends in two different climate change situations.
14One situation predicted a small reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
15The other situation predicted high greenhouse gas emissions.
16Greenhouse gas emissions have a link to climate change.
17By 2050, the researchers projected beach losses of between 13 and 15 percent.
18By 2100, the projected losses are from 35 to 49.5 percent, or 95,061 to 131,745 kilometers of beaches.
19Australia would lose more sandy shoreline than any other country, with 14,849 kilometers projected to be gone by 2100.
20Canada is second in projected losses.
21The United States could lose up to 5,530 kilometers.
22I'm John Russell.
1A new study says up to one-half of the world's sandy beaches could disappear by 2100 because of climate change. Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, China and the United States would be among the hardest hit, the research shows. 2The study was published in the journal Nature Climate Change. Michalis Vousdoukas was the lead investigator. "Touristic areas which have sandy beaches as their main selling point will probably face strong consequences," he said. 3Aside from economic value, beaches play an important environmental role. 4"Sandy beaches are important habitats supporting a wide range of species. They also protect the coast from the effects of storms, so without sandy beaches other inland environments can be affected by the effects of waves and saltwater intrusion," Vousdoukas added. 5Global sea levels have increased in recent decades. Major causes include melting glaciers and thermal expansion. Thermal expansion is the reaction of matter to increases in temperature. Water expands as it warms. 6Researchers examined satellite images showing shoreline changes during the past thirty years. They then used these trends in two different climate change situations. One situation predicted a small reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The other situation predicted high greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions have a link to climate change. 7By 2050, the researchers projected beach losses of between 13 and 15 percent. By 2100, the projected losses are from 35 to 49.5 percent, or 95,061 to 131,745 kilometers of beaches. 8Australia would lose more sandy shoreline than any other country, with 14,849 kilometers projected to be gone by 2100. 9Canada is second in projected losses. 10The United States could lose up to 5,530 kilometers. 11I'm John Russell. 12Will Dunham reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 13______________________________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15beach - n. an area covered with sand or small rocks that is next to an ocean or lake 16oceanography - n. a science that studies the ocean 17consequence - n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions 18intrusion - n. from the verb intrude - to come or go into a place where you are not wanted or welcome 19thermal - adj. of, relating to, or caused by heat 20shoreline - n. 21We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.