Supratidal Land Use Change and Its Morphodynamic Effects along the Eastern Coast of Laizhou Bay during the Recent 50 Years

Abstract

Using nautical charts, topographic maps, high resolution remote sensing images and field observation, this study analyzed the land use change of the supratidal zone and its coastal morphodynamic effects along the eastern coast of Laizhou Bay. The results show that land use along the eastern coast of Laizhou bay has been significantly changed in the recent 50 years. The main evolution trend is the transition from aeolian sandy land, woodland and farmland to aquaculture ponds and residential land since the early 1990s. A belt zone of aquaculture facility parallel to the coastline has been formed and dykes are constructed along the outside of the coastal aquiculture zone. The significant land cover change in the supratidal zone has profoundly modified the boundary conditions of storm surges. The hydrodynamic modeling results show that the ocean dynamics near the coastline are enhanced and caused severe erosion of the coastline, beach and underwater coastal sea slope along the eastern coast of Laizhou Bay over the recent 30 years.