Florida - Coastalisation Case Study

Question 1

Why has coastalisation taken place in Florida?

Answer 1

• Florida has an equable climate with temperatures averaging at 75 degrees fahrenheit.
• Florida has flat, low-lying land that makes it an attractive spot for construction.
• Florida has 663 miles of beach, making its coastline an attractive tourist destination.
• Florida’s coastline is in close proximity to Orlando; Orlando is a major urban centre.
• Marine life, including dolphins and coral reefs, attract tourists.
• The Everglades National Park is a big tourist attraction due to its unique wildlife (e.g. home to the endangered Florida Panther).
• Florida has over 800 airports, providing easy access to the coastline for many visitors.

Question 2

What evidence is there for coastalisation in Florida?

Answer 2

• Florida’s coastal population has risen dramatically since the 1960s. By 1970, its coastal population had reached 110m people (16% increase from 1960). In the 1980s, the coastal population grew by a further 11%.
• In Florida, 75% of all people live in the coastal zone.
• The total value of Florida’s coastal property is $1.9 trillion.
• Between 1960 and 2008, Palm Beach (a coastal county in Florida) grew by over one million residents.

Question 3

What are the issues with coastalisation in Florida?

Answer 3

• The increasing proportion of people living at the coast means that more people are vulnerable to flooding and coastal erosion.
• This is a big issue, as 9% of Florida lies less than 2 metres below sea level.
• Coastal development has put pressure on coastal ecosystems. For example, 16% of all Florida’s coral was found dead or bleached in 1998.
• The Florida Everglades Wetland has shrunk by over 80%, leading to the loss Mangroves and other protected species.

-The Everglades is also home to the endangered Florida Panther (only 100 remaining in Florida), so the rapid decline of the wetlands is a huge environmental problem.
In South Florida, over 2.4m people live within 1 meter of the high-tide line.

• As sea level rises, property will almost certainly be lost.
• Due to climate change, the risk of storm surges is expected to double by 2030. This puts Florida’s coastalised population at risk.

Local authorities are being forced to spend lots of taxpayer money to protect themselves against coastal flooding and erosion.

-For example, Miami has allocated £7bn to build new coastal defences.

Question 4

What is coastalisation?

Answer 4

The increasing proportion of people that live in coastal areas. A coastal area is usually defined as within 60km of the land-sea boundary.