Tidal flats, also known as mud flats, make up coastal wetlands that protect against destructive powers from the ocean such as waves, tsunamis and hurricanes. These guardians of the coastlines, however, are under threat due to natural and human events.
have resulted in a"coastal squeeze" between land and sea. More than 20,000 kilometers of tidal flats have shrunk worldwide since 1984. In the U.S., human development has made irreversible damages to tidal flats.has only been conducted in small areas. For the first time, a new Florida Atlantic University study provides a"big picture" examination that demonstrates the impacts of urban expansion on tidal flat environments across the contiguous U.S.
Tidal flats are areas that are alternatively and periodically exposed to or inundated by the tides. Credit: Chao Xu, Ph.D. Findings from the study reveal massive urban expansions throughout the entire contiguous coastal U.S., in which the Atlantic Coast shows outstandingly high rates. The top eight are all in this area: Prince William County, Virginia; Horry County, South Carolina; the City of Newport News, Virginia; Gloucester County, Virginia; Richmond County, New York; New Hanover County, North Carolina; the City of Hampton, Virginia; and Duval County, Florida.
Researchers also identified the largest tidal flat cluster from South Carolina and Georgia in Zone B, which is followed by Delmarva Peninsula in the eastern shore of Delaware, in Zone A, Southern Coastal Texas in Zone C, and the San Francisco Bay Area in Zone D. While the Atlantic Coast, which belongs to Zone A and Zone B, has been rapidly urbanized during the three decades, the rates of urbanization in the other two zones are relatively mild. This preliminary observation suggests some intersections between tidal flat erosions and urban expansions.
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'Coastal squeeze:' Massive loss of U.S. coastline tidal flats over 31 years: Study provides first 'big picture' of nationwide tidal flats erosion and urban development (1985 to 2015) -- ScienceDailyThe entire contiguous U.S. has experienced massive urban expansions and the Atlantic Coast shows outstandingly high rates. Urban expansion has substantially squeezed the space of tidal flats and affected surrounding environments. In new urban areas, tidal flats have undergone considerable degeneration with more significant patterns as they get closer to new urban locations. Tidal flats protect against the ocean's destructive powers such as hurricanes. Without some inland spaces to move around, they will likely disappear, which will have dire consequences for beachfront communities.
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