Editorial Type: RESEARCH PAPERS
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Online Publication Date: 01 Jul 2007

Human Impact on Coastal Erosion in Taiwan

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Article Category: Research Article
Page Range: 961 – 973
DOI: 10.2112/04-0353R.1
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Abstract

Coastal erosion is an islandwide problem in Taiwan. On the basis of the result of the most recent survey, more than 80% of the island's sandy coasts have undergone erosion over the past 3 decades. Naturally and historically with the specific tectonic environment and uplifting rate in Taiwan, sufficient sediments had been yielded and transported to the coastal area, resulting in an advancing shoreline along the trailing edge coast during the last several centuries. However, human interventions have contributed significantly to the erosion in more recent times. In this paper, documented examples are chosen to address how human-induced changes have made profound impacts on the coastal erosion in Taiwan. The information presented will provide a better understanding of the coastal processes, and solutions to the erosion problem for the benefit of others in different parts of the world.

Keywords: Shoreline change; sediment transport; groin effect; overmining
Copyright: Coastal Education and Research Foundation 2007
Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Spatial diversity of coastal erosion in Taiwan.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

Schematic view of sediment budget to a coast (Horikawa, 1988).

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

Distribution of major rivers and their average annual runoff in Taiwan (1949–2002).

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

Shoreline changes at Linco and Bali coast due to improvement of the flood channel at Tanshui River, Taipei, Taiwan. Construction of Taipei Harbor has been in progress since January 1993.

Figure 5.
Figure 5.

Shrinkage and landward migration of a series of barriers north of the Tsengwen River mouth, resulting from loss of sediment supply of the Tsengwen River.

Figure 6.
Figure 6.

Dune erosion and shoreline retreat at Wangziliao barrier, Tainan County.

Figure 7.
Figure 7.

Satellite photos showing Waisanding barrier in 1986, 1994, and 2001.

Figure 8.
Figure 8.

Historical evolution of Waisanding barrier.

Figure 9.
Figure 9.

Beach erosion and shoreline retreat at Ilan coast. (a) Aozujia; (b) Daken.

Figure 10.
Figure 10.

Extension of the north breakwater at Taichung Harbor with sand accretion updrift and erosion downdrift: (a) initial stage (1972); (b) original layout (1986); (c) after breakwater extension (1995); (d) comparison of shoreline changes.

Figure 11.
Figure 11.

Beach volume changes in each sector adjacent to Taichung Harbor. The sector between north breakwater and north groin (sector B) was in accretion from 1976 to 1993; the sectors south of the north breakwater (sectors C–E) were in erosion from 1976 to 1987.

Figure 12.
Figure 12.

Sand deposition in the harbor basin due to north breakwater extension at Hommei fishing harbor: (a) top view; (b) wave-induced nearshore currents before breakwater extension; (c) wave-induced nearshore currents after the extension.

Figure 13.
Figure 13.

The Gold Coast in Tainan city. A 150-m-wide beach was destroyed and retreated during Typhoon Herb in 1996:(a) vertical seawall at Gold Coast; (b) beach erosion in the front of the seawall; (c) shoreline recovery at the Gold Coast after Typhoon Herb.

Figure 14.
Figure 14.

Beach erosion at Chijin coastal park in Kaohsiung city (a) before construction of coastal park building; (b) after construction of the park building; (c) after protection (2003).

Figure 15.
Figure 15.

Distribution of land subsidence around Taiwan. (SA = subsidence area recently; AS = accumulated subsidence depth; SR = subsidence rate in last 4 y)

Figure 16.
Figure 16.

Land subsidence and shoreline retreat at Wenfong coast: (a) shoreline retreat; (b) land subsidence.

Received: 09 Sept 2004
Accepted: 22 Aug 2005
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