A Framework for Assessing the Dynamic Coastlines Induced by Urbanization Using Remote Sensing Data: A Case Study in Fujian, China

Abstract

The coastline plays an important role in indicating the conditions of social-economic development in the coastal zone. In this study, an integrated assessment framework was proposed to address the provincial and county-level spatiotemporal dynamics of continental coastlines from the perspectives of length, position, composition, and anthropogenic utilization quantitatively, and to explore the exact impacts of urbanization on coastline changes in the Fujian Province over the period from 1985 to 2020. Results showed that the total length of coastlines decreased first and then increased due to the different patterns of economic development. The proportion of artificial coastlines and the index of coastal utilization degree increased rapidly during the same period. Moreover, the seaward movement of coastlines due to the coastal reclamation projects resulted in a considerable increment in land areas. The pressure brought by the continuous concentration of population, built-up areas, and industrial districts under the rapid urbanization was the primary factor that increased the degree of anthropogenic disturbances in the coastal zone. Furthermore, the policies issued by the local or central government can be critical tipping points for coastline changes in different periods.

Tracking the 2D/3D Morphological Changes of Tidal Flats Using Time Series Remote Sensing Data in Northern China

“…Approximately 10% of the global population resides in coastal regions with elevations below 10 m [10]. However, tidal flats face increasing threats from human activities, such as land reclamation [11,12] and aquaculture [13], which amplifies the exposure of tidal flats to coastal erosion [14] and rising sea levels driven by climate change [15,16]. It is crucial to carefully consider the balance between the preservation and utilization of tidal flats to ensure the future sustainable development of coastal areas.…”