Historical evolution of seafront occupation in France (Bay of Biscay) and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) face to coastal erosion vulnerability and risks (19th - 21th centuries)

Abstract

Large-scale anthropic intervention in the coastal zone started mainly in the 19th century due to the need to accommodate increasingly larger ships in the port areas, and to the diffusion of the value of beaches as places for sea-bathing. Throughout the 20th century, urban growth of coastal areas increased, and it is where, nowadays, some of the largest cities in the world are established. Also, several popular tourist destinations are found in the coastal areas, creating a huge flux of people. In this work is presented the historic evolution of the coastal zone occupation in the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and in the Bay of Biscay (France) with emphasis on its influence on the natural dynamics of sandy beaches, and on their vulnerability and risks to coastal erosion. The historic review starts in the early 19th century and extends until our days, focusing on the transformations caused by the urban development and tourism-related activities, and their

Keywords

• climate change
• urbanization
• tourism
• coastal erosion
• Biscay Bay.