The geographer used GIS to map a coastal zone and found that 65% of a 1200 km² region is vulnerable to erosion. Of that vulnerable area, 40% is densely populated. How many square kilometers of densely populated land are at risk?

Sat, 09 May 2026 03:31:46 +0000

Protecting Coastal Communities: How GIS Mapping Reveals Erosion Risks Coastal zones are dynamic and increasingly vulnerable to environmental threats, especially erosion driven by climate change and rising sea levels. A recent geographer study using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has uncovered critical insights about erosion risk across a 1,200 km² coastline, revealing that nearly two-thirds of the region faces significant vulnerability. Using advanced spatial analysis tools, the GIS-based mapping identified that 65% of the total coastal area—amounting to 780 km² (65% of 1,200 km²)—is at high risk of erosion. This erosion threat poses direct risks not only to natural habitats but also to human settlements located along the shore. Moreover, the analysis revealed a striking fact: 40% of the vulnerable coastal zone is densely populated. Applying this percentage to the eroded area provides a clear picture of human exposure:
40% of 780 km² = 312 km² of densely populated land lies within regions at risk of erosion.