Exploring Coastal Vulnerability Assessment through the Lens of Physical and Human Vulnerabilities for the Azores: A First Approach

Rosa, B.; Ng, K.; Borges, P., and Calado, H., 2024. Exploring coastal vulnerability assessment through the lens of physical and human vulnerabilities for the Azores: A first approach. In: Phillips, M.R.; Al-Naemi, S., and Duarte, C.M. (eds.), Coastlines under Global Change: Proceedings from the International Coastal Symposium (ICS) 2024 (Doha, Qatar). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 113, pp. 1-5. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Coastal communities in the Azores, small islands located in the North Atlantic, are vulnerable to coastal hazards, especially in a changing climate. Understanding site-specific shoreline vulnerability from the perspective of human vulnerability in relation to physical conditions informs short to medium-term planning and management. This research developed a novel human coastal vulnerability index (HCVI) and adapted a physical coastal vulnerability index (PCVI) for the Azores. It aims at assessing coastal vulnerability by comparing HCVI with PCVI. The PCVI evaluates vulnerability from coastal hazards and (inherent and man-made) geomorphological characteristics, while the HCVI evaluates vulnerability from the social-cultural-economic-ecological aspects. PCVI indicators include: type of cliff, type of beach, coastal defences, flooded outcrop, and exposure to swell/storm waves; while HCVI indicators include: population density, companies and services, tourism accommodations, immovable cultural heritage, infrastructure and natural heritage. Using GIS, remote sensing and semi-quantitative methods, this approach was applied to two case studies located in the southern coast of São Miguel Island: Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo municipalities. The study areas were divided into geomorphological units that were subsequently assigned with a relative PCVI and HCVI value ranging from very low to very high vulnerability score. In addition to a vulnerability map, a graph was plotted to visualise physical vs human vulnerabilities for each coastal segment. Results showed that circa 69% of the study areas were classified as low HCVI/high PCVI and circa 9% as high HCVI/high PCVI. These findings inform coastal planners and managers in site selections for future development and assist in determining the (urgent) needs for place-based interventions, where and what types. As a supporting tool to risk management and coastal adaptation planning, this simple tool can be adapted to other similar areas, such as the Macaronesia Islands.