09.04.2013 Views

Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Figure 4.6.6: Total beach <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> loss from SLR, Western Shore, Gr<strong>and</strong> Turk Isl<strong>and</strong><br />

Beach area losses at study sites in <strong>Turks</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Caicos</strong> were calculated for 0.5 m, 1 m, 2 m <strong>and</strong> 3 m scenario<br />

(Table 4.6.2). At a 0.5 m SLR scenario, more than half of the beach area will be lost in Gr<strong>and</strong> Turk West<br />

Shore (53%) <strong>and</strong> Historic Cockburn Town (65%). All (100%) of the beach area will be lost in Historic<br />

Cockburn Town under a 2 m SLR scenario, with all (100%) of the beach area in Gr<strong>and</strong> Turk Cruise Centre<br />

<strong>and</strong> Gr<strong>and</strong> Turk West Shore under a 3 m SLR scenario. It is important to note that the critical beach assets<br />

would be affected much earlier than the SLR induced inundation damages to tourism infrastructure due to<br />

SLR-induced coastal erosion. The response of tourists to such a diminished beach area remains an<br />

important question for future research; however local tourism operators perceive that these beach areas<br />

along with the prevailing climate are the isl<strong>and</strong>’s main tourism attractions.<br />

Table 4.6.2: Beach area losses at three beach locations in the <strong>Turks</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Caicos</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong>s<br />

Gr<strong>and</strong> Turk – Cruise<br />

Centre<br />

SLR Scenario Beach Beach<br />

Area Lost Area Lost<br />

to SLR m² (%)<br />

Gr<strong>and</strong> Turk – West<br />

Shore<br />

Beach Area Beach<br />

Lost to SLR Area Lost<br />

m²<br />

(%)<br />

87<br />

Historic Cockburn<br />

Town<br />

Beach Beach<br />

Area Lost Area Lost<br />

to SLR m² (%)<br />

0.5m 12,149 45% 30,874 53% 4,275 65%<br />

1.0m 4,380 61% 9,887 70% 1,019 81%<br />

2.0m 9,886 97% 13,723 94% 1,247 100%<br />

3.0m 778 100% 3,750 100% - -

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!