Climate Change Has It In for the World’s Best Surfing
A new study indicates that climate change, through rising sea levels and shifting coastal geography, poses a significant threat to world-renowned surfing locations. These changes impact both the ecological health of the coast and the local economies that rely on surf tourism.
Why it matters
It illustrates the tangible economic and cultural impacts of climate change on specific recreational and environmental assets.
Analysis of dozens of famous waves in World Surfing Reserves (WSR) found that more than three-quarters were at high risk because of changing tide levels, hardened shorelines, and shifting sands.
The impacts matter not only to the surfers catching the waves but also to the communities that depend on the multibillion-dollar surf economy, often located in places with little else.
The waves rated at most risk in the study include the “bombing barrels” of Croyde Beach in North Devon, UK; the point breaks at Noosa in Australia and Oriente Salvaje, El Salvador; and Santa Cruz reefs of California such as Sewer Peak and Wind and Sea.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in