Main characteristics: Low barrier island, dunes, high touristic value, defended coastline, infrastructures, microtidal.

In France the case study site will be the Lido of Sète located in the Languedoc-Roussillon Region in the Mediterranean. The lido of Sète, a 13 km narrow strip of land separating the lagoon of Thau and the open sea, has become very vulnerable to coastal erosion and sea level rise. Many activities are developed in this area (housing, vine growing, tourism installations and high ecological value areas) as well as fishing activities inside the lagoon are at risk of serious economical, social and environmental consequences. The coastal road, as well as the national railways, are located on the dune system, and are particularly vulnerable during storms. Here the main issues are related to overwash processes, shoreline retreat and dune erosion.

Linear length: 13 kilometers.

Localization: see in Google Maps.

Main characteristics: Macrotidal site with high occupation and touristic value, high value infrastructure, coastal defences, sand dunes, tidal flats, mud flats, salt marsh and estuaries.

In the UK, the selected UK site is the Eastern Irish See and the adjacent natural and defended coastlines in NW England. The estuary is chosen for five reasons: (a) it hosts a wide range of industrial, commercial and residential buildings; (b) its coastline comprises a wide range of coastal types including sand dunes, tidal flats, mud flats, salt marsh and hard engineering structures; (c) it remains vulnerable to coastal flooding during extreme storm events; (d) it is at the heart of a coastal observing system making it exceptionally well-monitored and modelled; (e) its fragile ecosystems are sensitive to storm impacts. The field laboratory site is 10 Km long and the area is macrotidal.

Linear length: 40 kilometers.

Localization: see in Google Maps.

Main characteristics: Nourished beach, dunes, high touristic value, mesotidal. 

In the Netherlands the case study will be located at Egmond, in the Northern part of the Holland Coast. This coastal stretch has a length of about 120 km and mainly consists of dune areas, sandy beaches and multiple-barred nearshore zones. On average, the beaches are approximately 60m wide with a 1 to 40 slope. Since the implementation of the Dynamic Preservation policy, in the early 90's, this coastal stretch has been regularly nourished and is among the most frequently nourished areas in the Netherlands. The Egmond beach is 5 Km long and the area is mesotidal.

Linear length: 5 kilometers.

Localization: see in Google Maps.