Satellite images show that erosion and shoreline growth are concentrated at local sites rather than spread evenly along the coast.
Researchers used the CoastSat shoreline-extraction framework to examine satellite imagery of sandy coastlines across England and Wales. They assessed change at 10-metre intervals along the shore, analyzing more than one million transects with statistical methods that identify local and regional patterns.
Shoreline behaviour varied sharply over short distances. Erosion and shoreline growth tended to persist at particular sites, while switches between the two states were uncommon. The researchers say the results show the value of consistent satellite monitoring, while noting that extracting shorelines from satellite images remains uncertain.
How shorelines changed
The analysis covered satellite imagery from 1999 to 2020 and examined sandy coastline change at 10-metre alongshore resolution. It found pronounced spatial variation: similarity in shoreline behaviour declined within roughly a kilometre, suggesting that decadal changes are mainly shaped by small-scale, local processes.
The main long-term pattern of change was stable, while other patterns reflected broader regional and time-related variation. Transitions between erosion and shoreline growth were rare, indicating that sites often retained their existing direction of change over time.
Why local patterns matter
Because shoreline change was strongly localized, national coastal plans may need to be combined with strategies tailored to individual sites. Persistent erosion or shoreline growth could be tracked through continued monitoring, helping coastal managers assess conditions within wider planning frameworks.
The study also supports combining satellite observations with local measurements, computer models and climate projections to inform coastal management across the UK.
Evidence and limits
This was a spatial analysis of satellite imagery using the CoastSat shoreline-extraction framework, covering sandy coastlines in England and Wales from 1999 to 2020. The large, consistently analyzed dataset allowed the researchers to compare shoreline behaviour across the country.
The authors note ongoing uncertainty in satellite-derived shoreline extraction. The study identifies spatial patterns and persistence but does not by itself establish the causes of change. Its findings also apply specifically to the sandy coastline examined, rather than all coastal types.
// Source
Ocean & Coastal Management · 2026 · DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2026.108348
Authors: Nicoletta Leonardi, Pavitra Kumar
Institutions: University of Liverpool, Manchester Metropolitan University
