Variables that induce coastal squeeze, case study: Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico

Abstract

Coastal squeeze describes a dynamic process in which sea level rise and concomitant variables (e.g., increased storms, coastal subsidence) shift coastal habitats to land. The presence of hard structures of anthropogenic origin along the coasts can also create static artificial margins between land and sea, restricting coastal habitats to a narrow area. Ground level rise with respect to the coastal plain, which can be caused by an interrupted hydro-sedimentary flow, can also form added natural barriers. In particular, the coast of Mexico is vulnerable to sea level rise, however, other faster processes could be inducing coastal oppression/squeeze to a greater extent, such as subsidence, extreme hydrometeorological phenomena, changes in land use and erosion derived from sediment retention in the upper coastal basins. The aim of this study is analyzed coastal oppression along the coast for Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico, by finding its determining variables based on a literature review and analysis of open access databases. The processes analyzed correspond to changes in land use, the incidence of storms and the presence of hard structures, among other factors, which have increased rapidly in the study area in recent years and have caused the loss of coastal ecosystems. Ultimately, this work aims to generate a method that can quantitatively measure the effects of coastal oppression in different coastal areas. The resulting method serves as a tool for decision-making and sustainable coastal management. Keywords: coastal zone, land use change, incidence of storms, Gulf of Mexico, Campeche.