Recent research by Coombes, Jones, and
Sutherland (2009) demonstrates that beach width (and so
beach carrying capacity) is likely to be impacted by climate
change and sea-level rise, particularly in areas where coastal
squeeze occurs. As this effect is exacerbated where the beach is
constrained by hard defences, which are more typically found
around urban, high-occupancy beaches, it is likely that in the
future beach area will reduce and so too will the perceived
quality of a beach. This may in turn put increased pressure on
more rural beaches, which are often less defended and so able to
adapt to rising sea levels (where backed by low-lying land),
thereby maintaining beach widths that could attract increased
visitor numbers.