Half of the world's beaches could disappear by the end of the century, study finds

By Drew Kann, CNN

Updated 1609 GMT (0009 HKT) March 2, 2020

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<strong>Ocean City, Maryland. </strong>Ocean City's beach is an important economic driver for the local economy, but the city has had to spend millions of dollars in recent years to dredge up sand to keep up with the quickening pace of erosion.
Photos: Climate crisis threatens favorite beaches worldwide
Ocean City, Maryland. Ocean City's beach is an important economic driver for the local economy, but the city has had to spend millions of dollars in recent years to dredge up sand to keep up with the quickening pace of erosion.
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<strong>Barceloneta Beach, Barcelona. </strong>This man-made beach in the heart of Barcelona, Spain, draws millions of visitors each year, but strong storms and rising seas have reduced the size of the beach significantly.
Photos: Climate crisis threatens favorite beaches worldwide
Barceloneta Beach, Barcelona. This man-made beach in the heart of Barcelona, Spain, draws millions of visitors each year, but strong storms and rising seas have reduced the size of the beach significantly.
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<strong>Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro. </strong>This iconic Brazilian beach has been hit hard by a series of extreme storm surge events that have damaged the beach and sent sand spilling into surrounding streets.
Photos: Climate crisis threatens favorite beaches worldwide
Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro. This iconic Brazilian beach has been hit hard by a series of extreme storm surge events that have damaged the beach and sent sand spilling into surrounding streets.
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<strong>Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. </strong>Surfers Paradise has dealt with erosion problems for years, but the cost of beach nourishment is expected to climb steeply as sea levels rise.