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11 - 18 years > How will climate change in Wales affect me? > Coastal flooding
Extreme events : Storms Sea defences in Wales
WHY IS SEA LEVEL RISING?

  • Warming air and land temperatures cause glaciers to melt – ice turns into water which runs into the sea
  • The temperature of the sea is increasing – water expands a little on warming
M.Brooks
Melting icebergs, S. Iceland [M Brooks]

Facts:
The coastline of Wales

  • Wales has a coastline of 1562km [8% of the British coastline]
  • Sea Level in Wales is approximately 10cm higher than 1990
  • The frequency of extreme Sea Levels may increase 10-20 fold by 2080
  • The land in South Wales is gradually sinking [isostatic adjustment] following the Ice Age
  • Many people live near the coast
  • Tourism, agriculture, secondary and service industries are found near the Welsh coast
  • There are unique ecosystems along the coastline

Population density and topography
Taken from "Our Environment, Our Future, Your views"
Welsh Assembly Government, July 2005.


Find out about storms and sea defences by clicking the white bar above

Try This!
How much will a rise in Sea Level affect Wales?

1. Look at the population map shown here.

  • Where do most of the people in Wales live?
2. Look at other maps of Wales

  • Where are the main economic activities located in Wales?
  • How much of the population and economic activity of Wales is found on the coast?
3. There are many natural environments around the Welsh coast such as

  • cliffs
  • estuaries
  • sand dunes
  • salt marshes
Which environments will be most affected by sea level rise?

4. Search through the National Archives web site to find out about the coast in your area. The web site is www.ndad.nationalarchives.gov.uk The reference you need for coastal surveys of Wales is CRDA/6/DS/1/1
 
            Related Sections:
River flooding Planning for flooding Landslides Biodiversity