Mapping Vulnerability and Risk of Ghana’s Coastline to Sea Level Rise
Mapping Vulnerability and Risk of Ghana’s Coastline to Sea Level Rise
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Date
2016-11
Authors
Boateng,Isaac
George Wiafe
Jayson-Quashigah, Philip-Neri
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Portsmouth, UK
Abstract
Coastal erosion and flooding are major threats to coastal dwellers, and
the situation is predicted to worsen as a result of the impacts of
climate change and associated sea level rise. In order to identify the
level of vulnerability of various sections of Ghana’s coastline for
planning and future hazard management, a coastal vulnerability index
approach was adopted for the creation of the relative vulnerability
map. The coastal vulnerability variables used include geomorphology,
coastal elevation, geology, local subsidence, sea level rise, shoreline
change rates, mean tidal range, mean wave height and population
density of the coastal areas. Risk factors were assigned to the various
variables, and all the factors were combined to calculate the coastal
vulnerability for the coastal front of each administrative district along
the coast. The outcome was used to produce a vulnerability index map
of coastal districts in Ghana. The results revealed that parts of the
central coast and the eastern coasts of Ghana were the most
vulnerable. It was identified that about 50% of the 540km shoreline of
Ghana is vulnerable. This assessment will facilitate the long-term
adaptation planning and hazard mitigation to inform the management
of Ghana’s coast.
KEYWORDS
Climate change; coastal
adaptation; coastal
management; coastal
mapping; coastal
vulnerability; Ghana’s coast
Description
Keywords
Citation
Boateng, I., Wiafe, G., & Jayson-Quashigah, P. N. (2017). Mapping vulnerability and risk of Ghana's coastline to sea level rise. Marine Geodesy, 40(1), 23-39.