Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management, 2005:

"Sea erosion is a natural phenomenon of beaches. Beaches respond to environmental factors such as annual variations in the amount of sand washed down from rivers, changes in the geometry of river delta channels, and changes in the weather, especially prevailing winds, severe storms and tropical cyclones. The “active beach system” extends from well back in the dune system to seaward of the intertidal zone. As environmental conditions change, the beach profile changes as sand is moved onshore or offshore seeking an equilibrium profile. The movement of sand may appear as beach erosion, dune build-up or the formation of nearshore sand bars. These changes are commonly temporary, as the beach never achieves a stable profile, due to ever-changing environmental conditions. However, in some cases there may be a trend of ongoing erosion, resulting in long-term shoreline recession.

It is likely that a number of these factors will be influenced by the greenhouse effect, which is associated with increasing levels of certain gases in the earth's atmosphere trapping heat and increasing the temperature of the earth. This has the potential to change the general circulation of the atmosphere, and elevate the sea level. While the likely impact of the greenhouse effect is unclear, and world opinion regarding the magnitude of the climatic changes and sea level rise varies widely, the greenhouse effect has the potential to increase the frequency and intensity of storms and cause coastal recession rates to accelerate." 

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