Paulo Baganha, from CESAM/DGEO, is this week’s guest on the ScienceCast podcast, where he shared his research experience on coastal erosion and the risks associated with the Portuguese coastline.
The researcher emphasized the importance of updated and accessible databases, which are fundamental to understanding the evolution of the coastline and supporting territorial management decisions. He recalled that coastal erosion is currently one of the country’s greatest environmental challenges, worsened by climate change, the increasing frequency of storms, and rising sea levels.
Among the projects he coordinates, Space for Shore stands out. Funded by the European Space Agency, it uses satellite images to monitor shoreline retreat at various points across the country. The data revealed significant losses, such as around 2.5 meters per year at Costa da Caparica and 2.1 meters per year between Lagoa de Óbidos and Baleal beach.
Another example is SeaRangTech, installed at Praia de Mira, which uses high-resolution cameras combined with laser technology to monitor coastal morphology in real time and identify hazardous phenomena such as rip currents, thereby increasing the safety of bathers and local communities.
For the researcher, these solutions demonstrate how science and technology can be allies in adapting to climate change, not only helping to protect human lives and infrastructure but also enabling sustainable interventions that strengthen the resilience of the Portuguese coastline.
The full episode is available here.