Natural barriers can help protect coastal areas from which of the following?

Natural barriers, such as dunes, mangroves, and coral reefs, play a significant role in protecting coastal areas from rising sea levels and storms. These features act as a buffer, absorbing wave energy and reducing the impact of storm surges during extreme weather events.

For example, mangroves can stabilize shorelines and reduce erosion, while coral reefs dissipate wave energy, thereby protecting the land behind them. As sea levels rise due to climate change, these natural barriers can help mitigate some of the damage that would otherwise occur from higher water levels and more intense storms. Their presence is crucial for maintaining the integrity of coastal ecosystems and safeguarding human settlements along the shoreline.

Other options, such as all forms of pollution, record low temperatures, and earthquake damage, do not directly relate to the protective functions of natural barriers in coastal areas. Natural features primarily address issues that are linked with marine and atmospheric forces rather than terrestrial pollutants, temperature variations, or geological events like earthquakes.