Sefton Coast’s vulnerability to coastal flooding using DEM data

A preliminary analysis of the vulnerability of the Sefton coast to coastal flooding was carried out using a high-resolution DEM and census data from 2011. Results indicate that up to 12,500 people live within areas below the significant dune erosion level. Low-lying areas are clustered in two main locations, the South Formby / Hightown and Southport. High dunes from 15 to 35 m high are common in the central part of the Sefton Coast, including Formby Point and Ainsdale. This highlights the significance of the Sefton dune field system as a potential defence mechanism against coastal erosion and flooding, and the need to consider management schemes that would allow the dunes to adapt to sea level rise and climate change.