Light beacon on the seawall promenade in Stanley Park, Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, North America

Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), hauled out at Los Frailes, Cabo Pulmo National Park, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Galle Lighthouse at dawn, Galle, Old Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site, South Coast, Sri Lanka, Asia

Battery and ruins of the fort of Portobelo, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Colon Province, Republic of Panama, Central America

Heermann's gulls (Larus heermanni), at breeding colony on Isla Rasa, Baja California, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North Anerica

Man kneeeling to take a photo of an adult female green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), coming ashore to nest on Isla Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Killer whales (Orcinus orca), off Isla Carmen, Baja California Sur, Mexico, North America

Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America, North America

View over beach to the old fortified city, Ulcinj, Haj-Nehaj, Montenegro, Europe

Galle, South Coast, Sri Lanka, Asia

Adult California gray whale (Eschrictius robustus), near boat in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, Mexico, North America

Ong Lang beach, island of Phu Quoc, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Kommos beach in summer, Matala, Crete island, Greek Islands, Greece, Europe

Portland Bill Lighthouse, Isle of Portland, Dorset, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Guadalupe fur seals (Arctocephalus townsendi), at new haul out on Las Animas Island, Baja California Sur, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

Aerial view of rows of beach umbrellas with a lifeguard tower on an sandy beach, Sicily island, Italy, Mediterranean Sea, Europe

An adult female green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), coming ashore to nest on Isla Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Mexico, North America

View of lifeguard watch tower and golden beach near Puerto Morelos, Caribbean Coast, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, North America

Cabo Carvoeiro lighthouse, Costa da Prata, Silver Coast, Peniche, Atlantic Ocean, Portugal, Europe

The Lifeguard Lookout Station on The Beach at Deauville, Calvados, Cote Fleurie, Deauville, Normandy, France, Europe

Umbrellas and yacht, Psili Ammos, Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece

View of beach, lifeguard tower and the Atlantic Ocean at sunrise, Corralejo Natural Park, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

Cabo Carvoeiro lighthouse, Costa da Prata, Silver Coast, Peniche, Atlantic Ocean, Portugal, Europe

Cabo Carvoeiro lighthouse, Costa da Prata, Silver Coast, Peniche, Atlantic Ocean, Portugal, Europe

The castle and coastline, Aci Castello, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

The castle and coastline, Aci Castello, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

Relax Bay beach, Koh Lanta, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, at the westernmost point of the British mainland, west coast, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

White chalk cliff and lighthouse, Beachy Head, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, Europe

View of Playa del Matorral beach, Morro Jable, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

Lighthouse, Cape Tourville, Freycinet National Park, Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania, Australia, Pacific

View of beach and the Atlantic Ocean on a sunny day, Corralejo Natural Park, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

View of beach, surfers and the Atlantic Ocean on a sunny day, Corralejo Natural Park, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

View of beach, surfers and the Atlantic Ocean on a sunny day, Corralejo Natural Park, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

View of Playa del Matorral beach, Morro Jable, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

View of beach, lifeguard tower and the Atlantic Ocean at sunrise, Corralejo Natural Park, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

City wall and Fortress Bokar, Old Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Croatia, Europe

View of beach, lifeguard tower and the Atlantic Ocean, Corralejo Natural Park, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

View of Playa del Matorral beach and town, Morro Jable, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

View of Playa del Matorral beach and town, Morro Jable, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain, Atlantic, Europe

Anchored cliff wall, coast stabilisation, Sandown, Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Fishguard Harbour wall and lighthouse with sea defences, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK

Art Deco Lifeguard hut on South Beach, Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Miami, Florida, United States of America, North America

Old lighthouse in Grand Bassam, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ivory Coast, West Africa, Africa

Art Deco Lifeguard hut on South Beach, Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Miami, Florida, United States of America, North America

Surfers Paradise and Lifeguard Station, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Oceania

People swimming within stinger protection net at Palm Cove, Cairns, North Queensland, Australia, Pacific

Miami Beach, Miami, Florida, United States of America, North America

Concrete sea defences at Beach Bank Caravan Park in Ulrome near Skipsea on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A Second world War lookout post leaning alarmingly and about to tumble over the edge of the cliff near Aldbrough on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. The coast is composed of soft boulder clays, very vulnerable to coastal erosion. This section of coast has been eroding since Roman times, with many villages having disappeared into the sea, and is the fastest eroding coast in Europe. Climate change is speeding up the erosion, with sea level rise, increased stormy weather and increased heavy rainfall events, all playing their part.

A boat ripped off oits moorings and damaged by the extreme storm surge weather in December 2013 in Blakeney on the North Norfolk coast, UK.

Repairing damage caused to the coastal sea defences in Blakeney, Norfolk by the December 2013 storm surge.

The Remains of the Godwin battery on the beach at Kilnsea at the head of Spurn point on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. Initially constructed during the First World War, the Godwin Battery was added to during the Second World War. It comprised of gun emplacements, search light, barracks, officers’ mess, and a hospital. This section of coastline is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. The soft boulder clay cliffs are easily eroded and have been eroding since Roman Times, but recently the climate change impacts of increased stormy weather, increased heavy rainfall events and sea level rise have accelerated the rate of erosion. The average rate of attrition is 1.5metres per year, last year it was 5 metres.

An Oyster farm on South Walney Island, Cumbria, UK.

The Remains of the Godwin battery on the beach at Kilnsea at the head of Spurn point on Yorkshires East Coast, UK. Initially constructed during the First World War, the Godwin Battery was added to during the Second World War. It comprised of gun emplacements, search light, barracks, officers’ mess, and a hospital. This section of coastline is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. The soft boulder clay cliffs are easily eroded and have been eroding since Roman Times, but recently the climate change impacts of increased stormy weather, increased heavy rainfall events and sea level rise have accelerated the rate of erosion. The average rate of attrition is 1.5metres per year, last year it was 5 metres.

The lighthouse on Walney Island, Cumbria, UK.

Storm waves breaking over the sea wall at Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Am Buachaille sea stack on the coast south of Sandwood Bay, Sutherland, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

A house in Wells Next the Sea with a flood gate to protect against storm surge coastal flooding, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Combatting coastal erosion on a beach on the outskirts of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific

People dodging storm waves breaking over the sea wall at Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Am Buachaille sea stack on the coast south of Sandwood Bay, Sutherland, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Am Buachaille sea stack on the coast south of Sandwood Bay, Sutherland, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Tiny Red Goby (Pleurosicya sp) Two resting on coral. Mabul Island, Borneo, Malaysia (RR)

Avalanche protection defences above Iceland's most northerly town, Siglufjordur, Iceland, Polar Regions

A small pod of killer whales (Orcinus orca) off the coast of South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean

A flood evacuation sign in a caravan park in Kinmel bay that is susceptible to coastal flooding, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

Shishmaref, a tiny island inhabited by around 600 Inuits, between Alaska and Siberia in the Chukchi Sea, United States of America, North America

A 2nd World War bunker on the beach at Cley, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Large rocks placed on the shore of the west coast of Walney Island, to prevent coastal erosion, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Caps on old Tin mine shafts at St. Agnes in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Lifeboat station and bay, Lizard Point (rr)

Climber on a sea cliff climb on Baggy Point near Croyde in north Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Am Buachaille sea stack on the coast south of Sandwood Bay, Sutherland, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Shishmaref, a tiny island inhabited by around 600 Inuits, between Alaska and Siberia in the Chukchi Sea, United States of America, North America

Construction of wave return wall, Penarth, Cardiff, Wales, UK

Climber on a sea cliff climb on Baggy Point near Croyde in north Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A pumping station at Talacre on the North Wales coast keeping the reclaimed salt marsh dry by pumping, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

A pumping station at Talacre on the North Wales coast keeping the reclaimed salt marsh dry by pumping, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

A couple setting up camp on the beach at St. Ives, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, Europe

A pumping station at Talacre on the North Wales coast keeping the reclaimed salt marsh dry by pumping, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

Sea defence made from Queen Coch shells, South Water Cay, Belize (rr)

Killer whale (Orcinus orca). Mother and calf. Gulf of California. (A4 only).

Climber on a sea cliff climb on Baggy Point near Croyde in north Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Housing on the outskirts of Cairns that is vulnerable to sea level rise, Queensland, Australia, Pacific

Climber on a sea cliff climb on Baggy Point near Croyde in north Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Sea defence made from Queen Coch shells, South Water Cay, Belize (rr)

Sea defence made from Queen Coch shells, South Water Cay, Belize (rr)

Jetty and sea defence made from Queen Coch shells, South Water Cay, Belize

Lifeboat station and bay, Lizard Point (rr)

Climbers on a sea cliff climb on Baggy Point near Croyde in north Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Repairing the sea wall damaged and breached by storms on the coast road near Barrow in Furness, between Rampside and Baycliff, Cumbria, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Climber on a sea cliff climb on Baggy Point near Croyde in north Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Caucasian father and son standing by Lost Lake, Hood River, Oregon, United States

Multi-ethnic friends at beach

Multi-ethnic friends at beach

Caucasian mother applying sunblock to nose of daughter

Caucasian woman sitting in cabana on beach