Challenge 6:
Increase community resilience to ocean and coastal risks

Enhance multi-hazard early warning services for all geophysical, ecological, biological, weather, climate and anthropogenic related ocean and coastal hazards, and mainstream community preparedness and resilience.

Climate change is accelerating the rate of soil erosion in the Polar Regions. By analysing satellite images of Seymour Island, Antarctica, from 1978 to the present day, huge geomorphological changes have been observed, with the erosion of an entire peninsula. During the winter months, the coast of the Island is protected by a barrier of ocean ice, reducing the risk of soil erosion caused by floods and storms, which are particularly intense. This ice barrier is now forming later and later every year, and is less extensive, bringing more land into contact with the sea and the erosive action of waves. The damage that could potentially be caused to the coast by storms is increasing, and the reefs are becoming more susceptible to subsidence.