An assessment of the physical impacts of sea-level rise and coastal adaptation: a case study of the eastern coast of Ghana
An assessment of the physical impacts of sea-level rise and coastal adaptation: a case study of the eastern coast of Ghana
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Date
2012
Authors
Boateng, Isaac
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Publisher
University of Portsmouth
Abstract
Sea-level rise is a major coastal issue in the 21st century because many of the
world’s built assets are located in the coastal zone. Coastal erosion and flooding are serious
threats along the coast of Ghana, particularly, the eastern coast where the Volta delta is
located. Past human interventions, climate change and the resultant rise in sea-levels,
increased storm intensity and torrential rainfall have been blamed for these problems.
Accelerated sea-level rise and storm surge pose serious threat to coastal habitat, bio diversity and socio-economic activities in the coastal zone of Ghana and elsewhere. There
is the need for an holistic assessment of the impacts of sea-level rise on the coast zone in
order to formulate appropriate adaptation policies and strategies to mitigate the possible
effects. Using the eastern coast of Ghana as a case study, this paper assesses the physical
impacts of accelerated sea level rise and storm surge on the coastal environment. It evaluates
adaptation policies and plans that could be implemented to accommodate the present and
any future impacts. Field investigation and Geographic Information System (GIS) are among
the methods used for the assessment. The outcome of the assessment has provided compre hensive knowledge of the potential impacts of accelerated sea-level rise and storm surge on
the eastern coast. It has facilitated identification of management units, the appraisal of
alternate adaptation policies and the selection of the best policy options based upon the
local conditions and environmental sustainability. Among other things, this paper reveals
that the eastern coast of Ghana is highly vulnerable to accelerated sea-level rise and
therefore, requires sustainable adaptation policies and plans to manage the potential impacts.
It recommends that various accommodation policies, which enable areas to be occupied for
longer before eventual retreat, could be adapted to accommodate vulnerable settlements in
the eastern coast of Ghana.
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Citation
Boateng, I. (2012). An assessment of the physical impacts of sea-level rise and coastal adaptation: a case study of the eastern coast of Ghana. Climatic Change, 114(2), 273-293.