1. EROSION OF THE COASTS National High School “D’Annunzio- Romani”
Roseto degli Abruzzi
Italy

2. Erosion of the coasts is the process in which beaches tend to disappear because of sea storms and drifts.
In nature beaches are in balance as accumulation and erosion are equal, the influence of humans is the one that disturbs this equilibrium.

3. Erosion in Italy
42% of Italian coasts are affected by erosion that is to say 3150 km of beaches.
Abruzzo is one of the regions mostly damaged by erosion.

4. The coast erosion in Abruzzo:
Abruzzo coastline is 125 km long; 99 kms are low coasts. 61% of these beaches are damaged by erosion with serious consequences on the tourism industry.
BALANCE
39%
EROSION
61%
The majority of beaches are already protected by artificial reefs.

5. Erosion in Roseto Degli Abruzzi
There are 10 km of beaches in Roseto Degli Abruzzi and 3,5 of them are affected by erosion despite of
the presence of artificial reefs.
The damages caused on the tourism economy are remarkable.

6. CAUSES OF EROSION: CLIMATE CHANGES SUBSIDENCE
Strong sea storms are increasing
The global warming is causing the glaciers melting and the rise of the sea level (15 cm during the last century)
SUBSIDENCE
The excessive withdrawal of water, oil and methane gas near the coasts creates the subsidence of the ground

7. CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE SEA:
RIVERS TRANSPORT
CONSTRUCTIONS IN THE SEA:
Dams and quarries along the rivers reduce the quantity of sand that should be transported by the rivers into the sea
The creation of docks and reefs makes the usage of beaches more difficult and moves the problem of erosion to the surrounding areas.
URBANIZATION OF THE COASTS
It caused the destruction of the coastal environment

8. Our own “Agenda 21”
Stop the quarries near the rivers: they reduce the quantity of sand transported by the rivers into the sea;
Avoid local actions that move the problem elsewhere;
Reduce the withdrawal of underground water, petrol and methane gas;
Protect the coastal environment (dunes)
Nourish the beaches with sand taken from distant sea bed.