Coastal Squeeze
A 'fixed' landward boundary is often associated with habitat loss including infrastructure development (roads, housing industry, ports and harbours etc.). In tidal areas, especially saltmarshes, the landward margin may have been moved seaward as enclosure has taken place. Both of these activities result in a direct loss of habitat.
In areas where relative sea level is rising the rate of isostatic adjustment either reinforces or fails to counteract eustatic change. The term 'coastal squeeze' is applied to the situation where the coastal margin is squeezed between the fixed landward boundary (artificial or otherwise) and the rising sea level. In areas where sediment availability is reduced, the 'squeeze' includes a steepening beach profile and foreshortening of the seaward zones.
Coastal 'squeeze' is most often applied to tidal habitats, mainly in relation to eroding saltmarshes, though the term can be used to describe the loss of other habitats where the landward position is fixed and erosion at the seaward margin is taking place.
