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The Conversation
The Conversation
Dhritiraj Sengupta, Visiting Researcher, University of Southampton

Artificial developments weaken coastal resilience – here’s how mapping them can help

Reclamation at Colombo Port, Sri Lanka. Google Earth

The coastlines I trace resemble logos and luxury icons: palms, crescents, pixelated grids, surreal ornaments etched into shallow seas. The cartography is striking. The environmental consequences are very concerning.

There is an urgent need to evaluate the negative effects and risks associated with these artificial structures around the world, especially as climate change makes sea-level rise more extreme.

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