IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i6p2306-d332957.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Coastal Erosion Affecting Cultural Heritage in Svalbard. A Case Study in Hiorthhamn (Adventfjorden)—An Abandoned Mining Settlement

Author

Listed:
  • Ionut Cristi Nicu

    (High North Department, Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Knut Stalsberg

    (Geological Survey of Norway (NGU), Fram Centre, N-9296 Tromsø, Norway)

  • Lena Rubensdotter

    (Geological Survey of Norway (NGU), Torgard, P.O. Box 6315, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Arctic Geology Department, The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), P.O. Box 156, 9171 Longyearbyen, Norway)

  • Vibeke Vandrup Martens

    (Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), Storgata 2, 0155 Oslo, Norway)

  • Anne-Cathrine Flyen

    (Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), Storgata 2, 0155 Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

Hiorthhamn is an abandoned Norwegian coal mining settlement with a loading dock and a lot of industrial infrastructure left in the coastal zone. In this study, changes in the position of 1.3 km of the Hiorthhamn shoreline, which affect cultural heritage, is described for a time-period spanning 92 years (1927–2019). The shoreline positions were established based on a map (1927), orthophotos (2009) and a topographic survey with differential Global Positioning System (GPS) (summer 2019). Detailed geomorphological and surface sediment mapping was conducted to form a framework for understanding shoreline-landscape interaction. The shoreline was divided into three sectors to calculate the erosion/stability/accretion rates by using the DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System) extension of ArcGIS. The DSAS analysis showed very high erosion in Sector 1, while Sectors 2 and 3 showed moderate accretion and moderate erosion, respectively. Sector 1 is geologically composed of easily erodible sorted beach sediments and protected remains from the mining industry such as wrecks of heavy machines, loading carts, wagons and rusty tracks that are directly exposed to coastal erosion. The all-sector average shoreline erosion rate (EPR parameter) for the 92 years period was −0.21 m/year. The high shoreline erosion rates in Sector 1, together with the high potential damage to cultural heritage, supports the urgent need of continued coastal monitoring and sustainable management of cultural heritage in Hiorthhamn.

Suggested Citation

  • Ionut Cristi Nicu & Knut Stalsberg & Lena Rubensdotter & Vibeke Vandrup Martens & Anne-Cathrine Flyen, 2020. "Coastal Erosion Affecting Cultural Heritage in Svalbard. A Case Study in Hiorthhamn (Adventfjorden)—An Abandoned Mining Settlement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2306-:d:332957
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2306/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2306/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Qiwei Yu & Alexis K. H. Lau & Kang T. Tsang & Jimmy C. H. Fung, 2018. "Human damage assessments of coastal flooding for Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta due to climate change-related sea level rise in the twenty-first century," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 92(2), pages 1011-1038, June.
    2. Rosa Molina & Giorgio Anfuso & Giorgio Manno & F. Javier Gracia Prieto, 2019. "The Mediterranean Coast of Andalusia (Spain): Medium-Term Evolution and Impacts of Coastal Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-24, June.
    3. Sandra Fatorić & Erin Seekamp, 2017. "Are cultural heritage and resources threatened by climate change? A systematic literature review," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 227-254, May.
    4. Antoni G. Lewkowicz & Robert G. Way, 2019. "Extremes of summer climate trigger thousands of thermokarst landslides in a High Arctic environment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Johanna Yletyinen, 2019. "Arctic climate resilience," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(11), pages 805-806, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. James Williamson & Ionut Cristi Nicu, 2020. "Photogrammetric Measurement of Erosion at the Sabbath Point Beothuk Site in Central Newfoundland, Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Rui Zhang & Chang Zhang, 2022. "Classification and Application of Digital Technologies in Landscape Heritage Protection," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Anne Cathrine Flyen, 2023. "A Cultural Landscape Emerges: Analyzing the Evolution of Two Historic North Pole Expedition Bases in Virgohamna, Svalbard, from Trash to a Protected Cultural Heritage Site," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-37, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jinlong Li & Genxu Wang & Chunlin Song & Shouqin Sun & Jiapei Ma & Ying Wang & Linmao Guo & Dongfeng Li, 2024. "Recent intensified erosion and massive sediment deposition in Tibetan Plateau rivers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Shirvani Dastgerdi, Ahmadreza & Sargolini, Massimo & Broussard Allred, Shorna & Chatrchyan, Allison Morrill & Drescher, Michael & DeGeer, Christopher, 2022. "Climate change risk reduction in cultural landscapes: Insights from Cinque Terre and Waterloo," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    3. Kieran Westley & Julia Nikolaus & Ahmad Emrage & Nic Flemming & Andrew Cooper, 2023. "The impact of coastal erosion on the archaeology of the Cyrenaican coast of Eastern Libya," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(4), pages 1-38, April.
    4. Eirini Makopoulou & Alix Varnajot, 2025. "Permafrost degradation-induced risks for nature-based tourism in the Arctic – case from the Yukon," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 178(5), pages 1-9, May.
    5. Chunli Dai & Melissa K. Ward Jones & Jurjen van der Sluijs & Nina Nesterova & Ian M. Howat & Anna K. Liljedahl & Bretwood Higman & Jeffrey T. Freymueller & Steven V. Kokelj & Sindhura Sriram, 2025. "Volumetric quantifications and dynamics of areas undergoing retrogressive thaw slumping in the Northern Hemisphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Francesca Di Turo & Laura Medeghini, 2021. "How Green Possibilities Can Help in a Future Sustainable Conservation of Cultural Heritage in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Xiao, Xiao & Seekamp, Erin & van der Burg, Max Post & Eaton, Mitchell & Fatorić, Sandra & McCreary, Allie, 2019. "Optimizing historic preservation under climate change: Decision support for cultural resource adaptation planning in national parks," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 379-389.
    8. Thirupathi Rao & Siti Indati Mustapa, 2020. "A Review of Climate Economic Models in Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Armand Faganel, 2018. "Global Diversities in Safeguarding the Cultural Heritage," MIC 2018: Managing Global Diversities; Proceedings of the Joint International Conference, Bled, Slovenia, 30 May–2 June 2018,, University of Primorska Press.
    10. Gül Aktürk & Ahmadreza Shirvani Dastgerdi, 2021. "Cultural Landscapes under the Threat of Climate Change: A Systematic Study of Barriers to Resilience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-19, September.
    11. Claudia Patricia Maldonado-Erazo & José Álvarez-García & María de la Cruz del Río-Rama & Amador Durán-Sánchez, 2021. "Scientific Mapping on the Impact of Climate Change on Cultural and Natural Heritage: A Systematic Scientometric Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-19, January.
    12. Ahmadreza Shirvani Dastgerdi & Giuseppe De Luca, 2025. "Harmonizing Cultural Landscape with Resilience: Climate Adaptation Strategies in the Arno and Hudson River Basins," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-24, July.
    13. Wang Shijin & Qiang Wenli & Liang Qiaoxia, 2023. "Key Pathways to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Three Polar Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-13, January.
    14. Kosanic, Aleksandra & Petzold, Jan, 2020. "A systematic review of cultural ecosystem services and human wellbeing," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    15. Fatorić, Sandra & Seekamp, Erin, 2017. "Evaluating a decision analytic approach to climate change adaptation of cultural resources along the Atlantic Coast of the United States," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 254-263.
    16. Tracey A. Proverbs & Trevor C. Lantz & Gwich’in Tribal Council Department of Cultural Heritage, 2020. "Cumulative Environmental Impacts in the Gwich’in Cultural Landscape," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-22, June.
    17. Shawn M. Chartrand & A. Mark Jellinek & Antero Kukko & Anna Grau Galofre & Gordon R. Osinski & Shannon Hibbard, 2023. "High Arctic channel incision modulated by climate change and the emergence of polygonal ground," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    18. Victoria Sanagustín-Fons & Polina Stavrou & José Antonio Moseñe-Fierro & Francisco Escario Sierra & Guido Castrolla & Cândida Rocha & Ester Bazco Nogueras, 2025. "Cultural Heritage Architecture and Climate Adaptation: A Socio-Environmental Analysis of Sustainable Building Techniques," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-28, May.
    19. Ky Nam Nguyen & Sarah Baker, 2023. "Climate Change Impacts on UNESCO World Heritage-Listed Cultural Properties in the Asia–Pacific Region: A Systematic Review of State of Conservation Reports, 1979–2021," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, September.
    20. Anna Małka, 2021. "Landslide susceptibility mapping of Gdynia using geographic information system-based statistical models," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 107(1), pages 639-674, May.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:6:p:2306-:d:332957. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.