Diagnostic and Pre-Feasibility Coastal Conservation Study (1983-1984)

Diagnostic and Pre-Feasibility Coastal Conservation Study (1983-1984)

Summary

The 1983-1984 Diagnostic and Pre-Feasibility Coastal Conservation Study was the first major project work executed by the Unit. The study was designed to determine and assess the causes of coastal erosion in Barbados (west and south coasts) and to make recommendations on remedial strategies. This work was funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The causes of erosion in the study area were determined to be:

Poor water quality resulting from surface water, ground water discharge into the nearshore area
Stress of the fringing reefs found in the nearshore as a result of the poor water quality
Natural phenomena (e.g. hurricanes and winter storm swell events)
Poorly designed and badly placed sea defense structures

Recommendations were also proposed regarding the types of options that could be used as conservation approaches, potential mechanisms to recover cost and the need to retain the project unit to continue its role in the monitoring of the coastline.

This study served as a forerunner to important research on the causes of beach erosion.

Glossary of Terms

Swell

Wind-generated waves that have travelled out of their generating area. Swell characteristically exhibits a more regular and longer period and has flatter crests than waves within their fetch (seas).

Natural Resources

May be classified as non-renewable (e.g. coal, oil) and renewable. The latter may further be classified as unconditionally renewable (e.g. solar, tidal or wind energy) and conditionally renewable (e.g. fish, forest products). Conditionally renewable sources will last indefinitely if not over-exploited because that part of the resource that is used can be replaced through natural processes.

Station, control

A point on the ground whose horizontal or vertical location is used as a basis for obtaining locations of other points.

Longshore

Parallel to and near the shoreline; Also referred to as alongshore.

Continental Slope

The declivity from the offshore border of the continental shelf to oceanic depths. It is characterized by a marked increase in slope.

Continental Shelf

The zone bordering a continent extending from the line of permanent immersion to the depth, usually about 100 m to 200 m, where there is a marked or rather steep descent toward the great depths of the ocean.

The region of the oceanic bottom that extends outward from the shoreline, with an average slope of less than 1:100, to a line where the gradient begins to exceed 1:40 (the continental slope).

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Diagnostic and Pre-Feasibility Coastal Conservation Study (1983-1984)