Whenever you think of a weekend getaway to de-stress yourself from work or school, the first thing that you will probably consider is a quick foray to the beach. It is not a surprising thought as multiple studies have attested to the multiple positive effects of a trip to the beach for the human bodies.

 According to a study published in the Journal of Coastal Zone Management, people who live in a place where they could see the ocean are calmer than those who do not.

This is because the blue color of the ocean changes the brain waves' frequency and puts it into a "mild meditative state" says Richard Shuster, PsyD, host of The Daily Helping podcast.

It comes with little surprise that the report published in the journal, Health Place, concluded that people who live near the beach have better physical and mental health than those who did not. This leads to increased craze for a regular escape to the beach which prompts the building of more extablishments along the coastal areas. This is now a problem because the building ad development processes increase the rate of erosion which may cause some beach to disappear faster over time.

O top of the developments, the sea level continue to rise due to the prevalence of global warming, with ocean levels increasing by up to three feet within 80 years, so says a recent report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

"The ocean will take the beach faster than it is right now, and it will not spare anybody," said Orrin Pilkey, Director emeritus for the Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines.

Here are some of the popular beaches around the world that could disappear if no steps are taken to reverse this phenomenon:

1. Waikiki Beach (Honolulu, Hawaii)

 According to history, the Hawaiian royalties consider this area as their playground. Years later, the whole world realized why — the beach flaunts beautiful white sand and turquoise-blue waters. No wonder, the area was earning $2 billion annually from tourism, especially from surfers who enjoy the wave.

Unfortunately, a 2017 report from the Hawaii Climate Commission said that the very same waves are now consuming the shorelines and the beach might as well disappear in 15 to 20 years at its current rate.  In response, Hawaii, through the convertion of its energy sources to renewable ones strived to stop the progress of the damage. Their initiative aims to make the state 100 percent dependent on green energy  by 2045. However, scientists said that this action will be deemed useless unless the whole world would follow the lead.

2. Copacabana Beach (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Much like the popular Waikiki beach, the Copacabana beach is also experiencing extreme erosion. Two years ago, nearby roads and buildings got flooded by tons of sand after waves as high as four meters slammed the beach. Because of this, scientists in Rio de Janeiro issued a warning that the city may suffer worse conditions if it does not put up preventive measures that can mitigate the effects of climate change, which also includes stronger storm surge.

This iconic beach in Brazil is a popular tourist destination during New Year's Eve. Last year, at least two million tourists witnessed the annual pyrotechnic spectacle. If no action is taken soon, the pyroclastic show at Copacabana beach may be replaced with a not-so-pleasant sand explosion.

3. Ocean City (Maryland, US)

Every four years, Ocean City is replenishing its disappearing beach by excavating sand from the sea and putting it back to the beach. It is an expensive maintenance work that will have to be done more frequently soon.

In 2016, the beach management was forced to spend $12.7 million to restore the beach after a serious erosion caused by a winter storm. The residents of the areas near the beach will be forced to face more intense tropical cyclone, if the health of the shorelines do not improve as fast as global warming advances, says a report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

4. South Beach (Miami, Florida)

The situation in South Beach was so bad that the area is just a few feet above sea level, which makes it prone to flooding.

Just like the Ocean City, South Beach has been dredging up the sand to replenish what was lost due to erosion. The city has also built sea walls and installed pumps on the most vulnerable areas in an attempt to minimize the loss. However, it proves to be of no help against recent strong hurricanes that wrecked the beach and worsened the erosion.

To keep up with the progressive erosion, city officials are considering buying sands from the Bahamas and other nearby areas.

5. Santa Monica Beach (Los Angeles, California)

The Santa Monica Beach was drastically altered as it expanded to achieve its signature look of a "wide and flat" beach with soft and well-groomed sand. Sadly, soil erosion problems did not miss out on this beach either.

To fight this, the Bay Foundation has cultivated native plants and dunes to keep the sand intact. While it could be helpful, the rising sea level put the future of Santa Monica at stake as well.

Tags beach

© 2024 NatureWorldNews.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.