Rising sea levels, driven by climate change, are the primary cause of increased coastal erosion in the U.S.

While storm surge, human activity, and natural sediment movement all contribute to coastal erosion, rising sea levels are the most significant long-term driver of erosion. As sea levels rise due to melting ice and thermal expansion of water, coastal areas are submerged more frequently, leading to the loss of land and increased erosion. Storm surge can exacerbate this, but it is the gradual rise in sea levels that causes the ongoing erosion. Human activity, such as development and construction along the coast, can also accelerate erosion, but it is largely a result of climate change-induced sea level rise.