Assessment of climate change sensitive coastal hazards on the Maltese coastal environment

Abstract

This dissertation provides an assessment of climate change sensitive coastal hazards on the Maltese coastal environment through the application of the Coastal Hazard Wheel 2.0 version. This analysis was conducted through the application of various methodologies including field observations, satellite imagery, ArcGIS software and the CHW methodology. Through this dissertation, inherent coastal hazards such as ecosystem disruption, gradual inundation, salt water intrusion, erosion and flooding have been addressed. The results obtained from this research have shown that the Maltese coastal environment will mostly have low to moderate hazard levels for the aforementioned hazards, with the only exception being erosion, which is likely to present high or very high influence on the Maltese coastline. Overall, the results obtained from the CHW methodology were similar to results presented in other documentations, however this research has shown that this methodology would still need modification and adaptation in order to ensure its applicability to the Maltese scenario. Furthermore, the CHW was proved in some instances, to be particularly insensitive in providing an accurate assessment for certain inherent coastal hazards as in the case of flooding. Thereby, this dissertation has shown that the CHW 2.0 version can be applied in different areas, but it needs to undergo modification in order to provide accurate results for the area concerned.