Many of the world’s most important deltas have had unprecedented amounts of erosion and f looding in recent decades. This degradation of river deltas is often used as an example of the impacts of global warming and human activity. Some research suggests that the area of vulnerable land will increase in the coming years. In the Mediterranean, extensive river management, including the building of dams which reduce downstream sediment levels, is endangering well-known deltas such as Egypt’s Nile delta (Figure 1).
River deltas are important to the human geography of the Mediterranean, and have been for millennia. They offer fertile soils for agriculture, freshwater resources and rich biodiversity. They are attractive places for urbanisation, agriculture, industry and recreation. But the human presence in Mediterranean deltas is adding to the damage. Delta erosion and flooding is often made worse by the impacts of high population densities.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
