Week 13: Costal Hazards
Chile's 4,000 mile long coastline makes it vulnerable to multiple coastal hazards, such as rising sea levels, coastal floods, and coastal erosion. As a result of climate change, Chile is expected to see a 55cm increase in sea level by 2100. This sea level rise can increase the risk of other coastal hazards, such as flooding. Additionally, a few coastal storms have affected Chile in recent years. For instance, a 2015 coastal storm caused powerful waves to crash down onto Valparaiso Bay. The waves reached the buildings by the shore, causing damage to the coastal infrastructure. Another coastal storm in 2024 brought heavy rains and flooding to much of Chile. The storm brought flooding to the coastal town of Vina del Mar, forcing 150 people to evacuate. Chile is also affected by coastline erosion. A study of 45 beaches along Chile's coast revealed that 80% of those beaches have eroded. Storm surges have increased since 2015, which has led to the erosion of Chile's coastlin...