EQ 4: human activity - dubai (unintentional)

what are two examples of economic development in dubai?

oil - has 4 billion barrels of oils in reserves, but depleting and expected to be exhausted in 20 years → reason to diversity its economy to continue to grow
resort to tourism - construction of 3 artificial islands (Palm Jumeirah, The Worlds Islands, Palm Jebel Ali), attracted ~20 million visitors in 2025

how has sea sand dredging impacted the coastal system?

increase in offshore depth, dust plumes

how has sea sand dredging increased offshore depth?

100 million cubic metres of sediment dredged from offshore for Palm Jumeirah
waves have less friction with ocean floor more sediment in suspension accumulates and sink down to form a 2 inch thick layer on the seafloor, destroys ecosystems, reduces biodiversity

how has sea sand dredging caused dust plumes?

aggregate particles too fine to be used are rejected, releasing dust plumes -> more sediment transported in suspension.
dust plumes increase water turbidity, blocking sunlight from reaching seabed -> destroys ecosystems -> reduces biodiversity.

how has human management to protect the artificial islands affected the coastal system?

protective crescent breakwaters around Palm Jumeirah have created areas of low energy and slow water movement behind them -> stagnant water → more pollution as sediments can accumulate

how has economic development impacted longshore drift?

The World caused drastic decrease in wave exposure and reversal of net littoral transport direction from NE-ward to SW-ward, resulted in accretion in SW and erosion in NE -> change shape profile of beaches
some beaches lose up to 10,000 - 15,000m of sand per year