Author(s)

B. Singh & A. El Fouladi

Abstract

Coastal erosion in Trinidad in the Southern Caribbean : probable causes and solutions B. Singh & A. El Fouladi Dkpartement de gkographie, Universitk de Montrkal, Canada, Abstract This paper examines the rate of coastal erosion at several beaches on the island of Trinidad in the Southern Caribbean. Erosion rates are gauged from analyses of sequential beach profiles spanning the period 1990 to 2001, for most beaches. Based on data collected and differentiated according to season, average erosion rates are about 1 to 2 metres per year. However, for a single year extreme erosion rates approaching 10 to 12 metres have been noted, although these abnormal rates have been followed by accretion. Our data also show evidence of accelerated erosion, most likely linked to unduly high rates of relative sea level rise. Adaptation measures to cope with unduly high rates of coastal erosion include sea defences, limited by cost considerations, and retreat, which given limited land area, is not desirable. 1 Intr

Keywords