Changes in the coastal zone during a fast greenhouse-induced sea level rise

Abstract

The first attempt to compile maps of future multi-pattern coastal evolution under the possible accelerated sea level rise during the 21st century is presented. General tendencies in coastal evolution are predicted after the separation of dominant processes into passive inundation, reformation of accumulative coasts, sea cliff recession, etc. In addition to sketch survey map of the whole coastal USSR scaled 1:4000000, a case study map of the Sea of Azov is compiled. Palaeogeographical analogous method is used as additional one for the latter map. Preliminary quantitative estimates of shoreline migration for certain coastal segments are also presented. Natural coastal «risk zones» for different types of coastal development are mapped.