Our Changing Coast

The Solent was once a valley though which the Solent river flowed west to east and was progressively inundated by the sea between 15,000 and 5,000 years before present. Sea level continues to be a major factor in the evolution of the Solent and its continued rise will determine the future shape and nature of the coastline.  In more recent times it is the impact of human activity that has moulded the coastline as we have reclaimed land and built housing, industry and recreational facilities along the shoreline.

Man has lived by and used the Solent's resources for work and play for hundreds of years and will continue to do so. The coastline continues to be developed, changed and protected by man's activities and we continue to harvest the coast's and seas's resources for economic and recreational benefit. How we use the coast in the future and adapt to the physical and manmade changes taking place will determine what the Solent will look like for the generations to come.

Future climate change threats around the Solent include extreme heat and humidity, landslides, coastal erosion, shrinking and shifting ground due to wet and dry conditions known as "soil heave", and high winds.

This section covers the following topic areas:

• Invasive Non Native Species
• Climate Change
• Coastal squeeze
• New development
• Sea level change
• Shoreline evolution