Who we are

We are a 100% Welsh Government funded organisation, monitoring coastline evolution for the protection of the people of Wales. Our data, which is 100% freely available informs Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) about the coastline's seasonal and long-term changes.

Learn more ABOUT us

PURPOSE

To monitor coastal change to inform sustainable risk management decisions

VISION

The vision for 2026 is to be a role model monitoring centre that provides an accessible platform of understandable coastal process data

MISSION

Delivering a dynamic evidenced programme, optimising access to coastal process data and engaging stakeholders

VALUES

Our values, developed by our team, are at the core of all our decisions. Click here

Mission

Do you want to help monitor the coastline? Get involved with Citizen Science!

Learn more about the WCMC's CoastSnap sites.

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How do we monitor the coastline?

The 3D interactive map below (provided by USW) shows an example model created from measuring the cliffs at Penarth. By comparing multiple surveys over time we can see changes and learn about the natural process, their scale and speed, which inform our management decisions.

From our Instagram - @walescoastalmonitoringcentre

(Click on an image for more details)

@walescoastalmonitoringcentre and @walescoastpath

CoastSnap is a global citizen science project, that has recently been introduced to Wales by the Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre in partnership with Wales Coast Path. Your photos, taken at our installations, will help provide data regarding how climate change is impacting our beaches. There is a QR code at each site which takes you directly to the WCMC webpage where you can submit the photo. There are currently 18 sites across the Welsh coastline, including sites in every coastal County.
- September 26 2023

Ysgol Gynradd Gatholig Santes Helen @sthcpsbarry

#ewenny #narberth ⁩Which coastal defence is the best?
- Jul 03 2023

All Saints Church in Wales Primary School @allsaintsps

Year 6 WCMC digital workshop #how much would it cost to run a light bulb? Online Data Tables and Graphs 💡👩‍💻🧑‍💻
- June 29 2023

Barry Island Primary School @BarryPSIsland

#Derw had a fantastic morning with Gwyn and Ben from @WalesMonitoring looking at coastal erosion/climate change concerns in our locality and globally 🌍 #ethicalinformedcitizens
- June 09 2023

Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre @WalesMonitoring

Lovely day surveying at Porthcawl yesterday ☀️ #survey #WCMC Diwrnod hyfryd yn arolygu ym Mhorthcawl ddoe ☀️#arolwg
- May 18 2022

Barry Island Primary School @BarryPSIsland

A great afternoon carrying out experiments, creating realistic landscape sketches and predicting sea level rise right on Whitmore Bay #Derw @WalesMonitoring
- June 15 2023

Gladstone Barry @gladstonebarry

Exploring climate change further with the support of Gwyn and Ben from Coastal Monitoring @WalesMonitoring 😊
- June 14 2023

Gladstone Barry @gladstonebarry

Year 6 exploring the rise in sea level due to thermal expansion and storm surge #ClimateChange
@WalesMonitoring
- June 12 2023

Gladstone Barry @gladstonebarry

@WalesMonitoring Today’s outdoor learning experience - exploring the effects of Climate Change - Activity 1 Sea Defences
- June 12 2023

Ysgol Gynradd Gatholig Santes Helen @sthcpsbarry

#Narberth and #Ewenny have loved having @WalesMonitoring
in learning all about Climate Change and how we can prevent it!
- Jan 17 2023