Preliminary communication

Vulnerability of the Rab island coastline due to sea level rise

Igor Ružić ; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Rijeka, Croatia
Čedomir Benac ; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

The paper describes the vulnerability of the Rab island coastline which may be caused by the forecast sea level rising by the end of the 21st century, including the consequences potentially resulting from this natural phenomenon. Three scenarios of high sea level occurrence were analysed: the case of stagnating global sea levels and the cases of sea level rising by 30 and 60 cm. The analyses were conducted on topographic maps in scale 1:5000. The following urbanised coastal zones were established: Sv. Eufemija cove, Port Rab, Supetarska Draga and Lopar cove. The impact of rising sea levels on the wave action in the investigated coastal zones was estimated. Due to rising sea levels, it can be expected that the salinized coastal zones will spread to agricultural land. It is probable that the marine erosion of the coastline will increase, causing a decline in cliffs and/or decrease in the size of numerous sandy beaches. Further problems may consist in a more difficult drainage of low and flat parts of the terrain and the functioning of the local stormwater and faecal sewerage. Additionally, residential buildings constructed in low-lying coastal zones in the recent decades may be threatened as well, including some structures in the medieval historic centre of the town Rab.

Keywords

sea level rise; floods; hazard; vulnerability; Rab island; Adriatic sea

Hrčak ID:

166043

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/166043

Publication date:

12.9.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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