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An Assessment Of Climate Change And Variability In Coastal Region
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 4]
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1.1: PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Climate change is to a great extent
induced by human activities that causes variability in the intensity of
heat burning the earth surface and the degree of rainfall for long
period. This could provoke dangerous implications to vulnerable Lagos
coastal regions because it is prone to sea-level rise and extreme
weather events which include:
(a) Wetlands and lowlands
inundation: Wetlands in Lagos coastal region consist of the dominant
brackish water mangrove swamps and marshes and rainforest swamps and
marshes (Ibe, 1990). A sea level rise will inundate these wetlands with
sea water through the many tidal inlets that characterize the Lagos
coastline which will adversely affect the mangrove ecosystem and its
inhabitant. Loss of wetlands could also occur whereby wetlands do no
longer function as natural buffer to flooding.
(b) Shorelines
erosion (Plate 2): An accelerated rise in sea level will be accentuated
by the phenomenon of subsidence which would aggravate the existing
ecological problems associated with coastal erosion resulting in loss of
wetlands and creating threats to most socio-economic installations on
or near the coastline and increase flood risk.
(c) Exacerbate
coastal flooding (Plate 1): Increase precipitation and thermal expansion
of sea will raise the sea level resulting in flooding of low lying
beaches. This will automatically cause flooding in the adjacent coastal
areas, cities and inhabited islands. This is expected to even become
more threatening whenever storm surges coincide with spring tides (Kron,
2008).
(d) Salt water intrusion: Rising sea levels also increase
the salinity of groundwater and push salt water further upstream. This
salinity may make water undrinkable without desalination, and harms
aquatic plants and animals that cannot tolerate salinity.
(e) Change the heights, frequencies and other characteristics of waves among others
These
effects have enormous environmental, social, cultural, economic and
financial implications for the coastal areas. Hence a participatory
approach by various stakeholders involved in Lagos coastal region
towards implementation of adaptation techniques will be needful for
sustainable development of the region.
Plate 1: Flooding of Lagos city after a heavy rain
Source: (BNRCC, 2008)
Plate 2: Eroded shorelines of Alpha Beach, Lagos
Source (Vanguard Newspaper, October 9, 2012)
Plate 3: Coastal Erosion threatened by Atlantic Ocean, Lagos
Source (Vanguard Newspaper, October 9, 2012)
Plate 4: Atlantic Ocean Surge at Kuramo Beach, Lagos.
Source (Premium Times, August 21, 2012)
Plate 5: Lagos, February 13, 2012 Rainstorm
Source: Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency 4th Summit Presentation
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