Environ Exp Biol (2016) 14: 91–96

The assessment of potential physical impact of climate change on coastal reef habitats: A case study of the Latvian coast of the Baltic Proper

Abstract

The relation between climate change and biodiversity in coastal reefs was assessed in the region of the Latvian coast of the Baltic Proper. To quantify this relation, the characteristic wave heights, closure depth and sediment transport intensity were estimated using the third generation spectral wave model WAM and the world-wide acknowledged Coastal Engineering Research Council approach for sediment transport. The cumulative influence of physical properties in the coastal zone results was estimated by the physical impact index, which indicates the areas with the highest potential treat to coastal reef habitats. This index tends to increase from the south to north with the highest physical impact in the area between Akmensrags and south of Oviši village.