Questions of Coastal Protection and the Human Response to Sea-level Rise in Ireland and Britain

Ireland's long coastline (>6,500km) and its vulnerable position in the track of storm and wave activity from the North Atlantic present serious questions for the conservation of coastal environments. Consideration is given here to the physical environmental constraints and data that underpin an understanding of the changes to the coastline that may take place as a consequence of any increased global climate warming. Both the concepts and practical responses to such changes that may be used in managing coastal resources in Ireland and elsewhere are discussed.