This book assists the reader in determining storm risks focussing on sandy coasts and cliff
coasts in the context of expected sea level rise from littoral transformation and climate
change. It examines storm impacts through matrixes concerning physical parameters
socio-economic activities ecological and historic resources and it presents the Coastline
Risk to Storms Index as a single numerical measure of the risk for a given area. The
methodology is described and tested against two coastal areas: one in the Caribbean Sea
(Cartagena Colombia) and the other on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean (Cadiz Spain). Both
areas record an important flow of tourists associated with the sun sea and sand market which
represents an economic recourse for the hinterland too. Chapters describe this approach and
explore three particular types of variables: i) the forcing variables contributing to
storm-induced erosion ii) dynamic variables that determine the resilience to erosion
(Susceptibility) and iii) the vulnerable targets grouped in three different contexts
(socio-economic ecological and heritage). These are combined into two separate indices the
Hazard Index (combining forcing and susceptibility) and the Vulnerability Index which together
constitute the Coastline Risk to Storms Index. Maps created using this semi-quantitative
approximation method can help to determine the causes processes and consequences of
storm-related processes. This book is therefore important to anyone considering coastal
development programs especially decision-makers: the work presented here can assist in the
development of preventative management strategies for the most vulnerable areas.
