Coastal Research Library – serie

This book explores the Sundarbans eco-region from a trans-boundary perspective, examining the cross-country interaction that helps planners to develop more efficient coastal zone planning for the delta. The dynamic ecosystem of the Sundarbans is considered the largest coastal delta in the world. It is located in the Bay of Bengal and spans across Bangladesh and West Bengal (India).Featuring chapters by experts from a range of fields, it addresses (i) risk factor analyses, and the geohydrological, climatic, natural, socio-economic, and anthropological factors related to the Sundarbans; (ii) strategies for sustainability in natural resource management in trans-boundary Sundarbans, cutting across political boundaries; (iii) improved agriculture, fisheries, and forestry practices and their impacts on the socio-economy for livelihood security; and (iv) a future road map for improvements.This book will be of value to those working in academia, as well as to experts and professionals in coastal zone planning and management.

This open access peer-reviewed volume was inspired by the UNESCO UNITWIN Network for Underwater Archaeology International Workshop held at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia in November 2016. Content is based on, but not limited to, the work presented at the workshop which was dedicated to 3D recording and interpretation for maritime archaeology. The volume consists of contributions from leading international experts as well as up-and-coming early career researchers from around the globe. The content of the book includes recording and analysis of maritime archaeology through emerging technologies, including both practical and theoretical contributions. Topics include photogrammetric recording, laser scanning, marine geophysical 3D survey techniques, virtual reality, 3D modelling and reconstruction, data integration and Geographic Information Systems.The principal incentive for this publication is the ongoing rapid shift in the methodologies of maritime archaeology within recent years and a marked increase in the use of 3D and digital approaches. This convergence of digital technologies such as underwater photography and photogrammetry, 3D sonar, 3D virtual reality, and 3D printing has highlighted a pressing need for these new methodologies to be considered together, both in terms of defining the state-of-the-art and for consideration of future directions. As a scholarly publication, the audience for the book includes students and researchers, as well as professionals working in various aspects of archaeology, heritage management, education, museums, and public policy. It will be of special interest to those working in the field of coastal cultural resource management and underwater archaeology but will also be of broader interest to anyone interested in archaeology and to those in other disciplines who are now engaging with 3D recording and visualization.

This book describes an easy to apply methodology to determine the scenic value of a coast. As one of the most critical aspects of beach user choice, the determination of coastal area scenic quality is of primordial importance. This book is, therefore, an extremely useful tool for any coastal lovers, being them users, teachers, researchers, or managers.In particular, this work is the first book to present a semi-quantitative analysis of coastal scenery based on more than 4,000 interviews about people’s desired coastal imaginary. Twenty-six parameters can be used to identify any coastal scene, which have then been sub-divided into five attribute categories, weighted and subjected to fuzzy logic mathematics to obtain a decision number (D). This number D represents the coastal scenery at that point, and Five D classes are then presented (from I-excellent, to V-poor). Heritage areas, like National Parks should lie in Class I, which infers top scenic quality.Overa time span of a decade or so, the authors of this book have assessed more than 900 global locations using the technique given in this book. One of the main aims of this method is to point out how scenic areas may be improved by judicious intervention relating to parameters, mainly anthropogenic, chosen for assessment.The content of this book opens perspectives for analysis of the potential for coastal tourism development in natural areas and for landscape quality improvement in current coastal tourist developed areas.“In a very comprehensive way, this book reviews the main concepts about coastal scenery and through the vast global work experience of the authors, presents different methodologies, as well as introducing a novel methodology, using parameter weightings and fuzzy logic mathematics.”Carlos Pereira da Silva, CICS.NOVA, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal“Our lives will be greatly enriched by finding beauty,but we can use help in defining the many ways beauty can be manifested. This book can help us by informing us of the ways landscapes can be viewed and described from many viewpoints to place our own understanding in better perspective.”Karl Nordstrom, Geography Department, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA “How do we define and quantify a coast’s scenic value? This is the book. It begins by defining coastal scenery, then reviews the approaches to quantifying it, followed by a new fuzzy logic approach and examples. It finishes with a chapter on how to manage these attractive landscapes, many of which are being overrun and ruined by development. This is a must read for researchers who wish to evaluate and managers who wish to maintain this valuable yet intangible coastal resource.”Andrew Short, Coastal Studies Unit, Sydney University, Australia

This book focuses on the global threats to coastal environments from invasive, non-native species and examines how these alien biological species adversely alter landscapes and socioeconomic conditions as well as the psychological attitudes and perceptions of local inhabitants and tourists. Designed for the professional or specialist in marine science, coastal zone management, biology, and related disciplines, this volume appeals to those not only working directly with invasive flora and fauna species, but also those individuals involved in a wide array of coastal related fields. Examples and case studies of coastal invasive species are drawn from many different geographic areas worldwide, including North and South America, Europe, Oceania, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

This book is intended as a conceptual roadmap to show how some of the numerous pieces of complex coastal systems intersect and might interact under changing future environmental regimes. It is addressed to a non-technical but environmentally literate audience that includes the lay public, policy makers, planners, engineers and academics interested in the causes and consequences of global changes as they are likely to affect coastal systems. The book also outlines some strategies for anticipating and responding to the challenges that lie ahead.The purpose is not to offer a technical treatise on how to build better numerical models or to provide the cognoscenti with new scientific details or theories. Quite on the contrary the authors aim to provide a holistic, easy-accessible overview of coastal systems and therefore use a writing style that is non-technical, nonmathematical and non-jargonized throughout. Wherever scientificterms are required to avoid ambiguity, a clear and simple definition is presented and those definitions are repeated in the glossary. The authors aim to communicate with all who care about the future of coastal environments.In Part 1, they present some underlying general “big picture” concepts that are applicable to coastal processes and coastal change worldwide. Part 2 reviews some of the more important physical, ecological and societal causes and outcomes of coastal change. A selection of case studies of some prominent and highly vulnerable coastal regions is presented in Part 3. Some strategies for facilitating and supporting collaboration among the global scientific community to enhance future coastal resilience are outlined in Part 4.

This book focuses on the worldwide threats to mangrove forests and the management solutions currently being used to counteract those hazards. Designed for the professional or specialist in marine science, coastal zone management, biology, and related disciplines, this work will appeal to those not only working to protect mangrove forests, but also the surrounding coastal areas of all types. Examples are drawn from many different geographic areas, including North and South America, India, and Southeast Asia. Subject areas covered include both human-induced and natural impacts to mangroves, intended or otherwise, as well as the efforts being made by coastal researchers to promote restoration of these coastal fringing forests.

This book describes the entire coast and beaches and barrier systems of Australia. Within these systems are the full range of wave through tide-dominated beaches and barriers ranging from cheniers to massive transgressive dune systems together with a range of onshore and longshore sand transport systems.

This book describes the entire coast and beaches and barrier systems of Australia. Within these systems are the full range of wave through tide-dominated beaches and barriers ranging from cheniers to massive transgressive dune systems together with a range of onshore and longshore sand transport systems.

This book uses five decades of map data, air photos, and medium to high-resolution satellite imagery to track the expansions of aquaculture and the loss of both estuarine and mangrove land covers in Ecuador. The results are staggering. In some regions, Ecuador has lost almost 50% of its estuarine space and approximately 80% of its mangrove forest. The current estuarine land cover bears no resemblance to the historic estuarine land cover. The analysis is complete from 1968 to 2014. The analysis covers all the major estuaries of mainland Ecuador. The research expands beyond purely land cover into the land use of the estuaries and the implications of the land cover transitions. The author lived in Ecuador's estuarine environments for almost two years studying this area. During this time he conducted mapping workshops with local residents, conducted 100 interviews with local actors, conducted six group discussions with fisherfolk syndicates, conducted eight presentations, worked ona shrimp farm. He was employed by the Ministry of the Environment on a Prometeo fellowship for one-year researching estuarine health and worked on mangrove replanting projects in the estuaries. In addition to the remote sensing data, the author provides a contextual framework to the analysis. It is not just hard numbers that are presented, but a remote sensing analysis tied to local actors that tell a coherent almost 50 -year estuarine story at the national, provincial, and local scales The book is intended for researchers, academics, graduate students, NGOs, and government actors including those who work in development, environment, and policy implementation. It is suitable supplemental reading for students in courses related to the coastal zone, land use change, and remote sensing. The electronically supplementary material includes all the related data to underpin the analysis as well as all the resulting GIS files.

This book uses five decades of map data, air photos, and medium to high-resolution satellite imagery to track the expansions of aquaculture and the loss of both estuarine and mangrove land covers in Ecuador.

South Florida is frequently cited as the part of the United State of America as most susceptible to the devastation accompanying sea level rise. Several scholarly studies have shown the negative impact of coastal location in Florida on housing values. Are the residents of South Florida concerned? Is susceptibility to sea level rise actually affecting the housing market in terms of demand, the availability of home mortgages, or house prices? Are people living at particular risk from sea level rise aware of this risk and more open to new information about climate change? Do they support policies and laws to mitigate the pace and extent of climate change? Answers to these questions are not only of general interest, but they are also key to our understanding of the human dimensions of this problem. This book describes the results of a detailed survey in which respondents viewed a local map displaying flooding to their own community that would result from a Category 3 hurricane in 2033. It discusses political party identification and ideology that has an overwhelming impact in shaping views about sea level rise and climate change. This book has enormous implications for the effectiveness of communicating risk information. The text is important if we, as a nation, are to design communication strategies that will lead to broader policy to combat or mitigate this risk.

South Florida is frequently cited as the part of the United State of America as most susceptible to the devastation accompanying sea level rise. Several scholarly studies have shown the negative impact of coastal location in Florida on housing values. Are the residents of South Florida concerned? Is susceptibility to sea level rise actually affecting the housing market in terms of demand, the availability of home mortgages, or house prices? Are people living at particular risk from sea level rise aware of this risk and more open to new information about climate change? Do they support policies and laws to mitigate the pace and extent of climate change? Answers to these questions are not only of general interest, but they are also key to our understanding of the human dimensions of this problem. This book describes the results of a detailed survey in which respondents viewed a local map displaying flooding to their own community that would result from a Category 3 hurricane in 2033. It discusses political party identification and ideology that has an overwhelming impact in shaping views about sea level rise and climate change. This book has enormous implications for the effectiveness of communicating risk information. The text is important if we, as a nation, are to design communication strategies that will lead to broader policy to combat or mitigate this risk.

This open access volume provides for the first time a comprehensive description and scientific evaluation of underwater archaeological finds referring to human occupation of the continental shelf around the coastlines of Europe and the Mediterranean when sea levels were lower than present. These are the largest body of underwater finds worldwide, amounting to over 2500 find spots, ranging from individual stone tools to underwater villages with unique conditions of preservation. The material reviewed here ranges in date from the Lower Palaeolithic period to the Bronze Age and covers 20 countries bordering all the major marine basins from the Atlantic coasts of Ireland and Norway to the Black Sea, and from the western Baltic to the eastern Mediterranean. The finds from each country are presented in their archaeological context, with information on the history of discovery, conditions of preservation and visibility, their relationship to regional changes in sea-level and coastal geomorphology, and the institutional arrangements for their investigation and protection. Editorial introductions summarise the findings from each of the major marine basins. There is also a final section with extensive discussion of the historical background and the legal and regulatory frameworks that inform the management of the underwater cultural heritage and collaboration between offshore industries, archaeologists and government agencies. The volume is based on the work of COST Action TD0902 SPLASHCOS, a multi-disciplinary and multi-national research network supported by the EU-funded COST organisation (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). The primary readership is research and professional archaeologists, marine and Quaternary scientists, cultural-heritage managers, commercial and governmental organisations, policy makers, and all those with an interest in the sea floor of the continental shelf and the human impact of changes in climate, sea-level and coastal geomorphology.

This open access volume provides for the first time a comprehensive description and scientific evaluation of underwater archaeological finds referring to human occupation of the continental shelf around the coastlines of Europe and the Mediterranean when sea levels were lower than present. These are the largest body of underwater finds worldwide, amounting to over 2500 find spots, ranging from individual stone tools to underwater villages with unique conditions of preservation. The material reviewed here ranges in date from the Lower Palaeolithic period to the Bronze Age and covers 20 countries bordering all the major marine basins from the Atlantic coasts of Ireland and Norway to the Black Sea, and from the western Baltic to the eastern Mediterranean. The finds from each country are presented in their archaeological context, with information on the history of discovery, conditions of preservation and visibility, their relationship to regional changes in sea-level and coastal geomorphology, and the institutional arrangements for their investigation and protection. Editorial introductions summarise the findings from each of the major marine basins. There is also a final section with extensive discussion of the historical background and the legal and regulatory frameworks that inform the management of the underwater cultural heritage and collaboration between offshore industries, archaeologists and government agencies. The volume is based on the work of COST Action TD0902 SPLASHCOS, a multi-disciplinary and multi-national research network supported by the EU-funded COST organisation (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). The primary readership is research and professional archaeologists, marine and Quaternary scientists, cultural-heritage managers, commercial and governmental organisations, policy makers, and all those with an interest in the sea floor of the continental shelf and the human impact of changes in climate, sea-level and coastal geomorphology.

The Mesopotamian marshes are important for economic, social, and biodiversity values and have been home to indigenous human communities for millennia. They are regarded as a legendary site.This multi-authored book contains chapters written by world-renowned experts in their field. Both basic and applied information are made available, making the book a must-have for a wide spectrum of users. For example, an understanding of the natural and the social aspects of the marshes, as described here, is an obvious prerequisite for a pest management plan in this area. Scholars interested in wetlands can use this book as a guide to compare different wetlands areas in Asia. The bibliography section contains valuable references to the marsh areas and research in the field.This book serves as an up-to-date comprehensive source of information on different aspects of the southern marshes of Iraq and is aimed at academic scholars, environmentalists, and decision makers.

The Mesopotamian marshes are important for economic, social, and biodiversity values and have been home to indigenous human communities for millennia. They are regarded as a legendary site.This multi-authored book contains chapters written by world-renowned experts in their field. Both basic and applied information are made available, making the book a must-have for a wide spectrum of users. For example, an understanding of the natural and the social aspects of the marshes, as described here, is an obvious prerequisite for a pest management plan in this area. Scholars interested in wetlands can use this book as a guide to compare different wetlands areas in Asia. The bibliography section contains valuable references to the marsh areas and research in the field.This book serves as an up-to-date comprehensive source of information on different aspects of the southern marshes of Iraq and is aimed at academic scholars, environmentalists, and decision makers.

This volume incorporates theoretical and practical knowledge through case studies and reviews to serve as a baseline of information for coastal ecosystem research, and discusses the impacts of pollution, industrialisation, agriculture and climate change on coastal ecosystem biogeochemistry and biodiversity.

This volume incorporates theoretical and practical knowledge through case studies and reviews to serve as a baseline of information for coastal ecosystem research, and discusses the impacts of pollution, industrialisation, agriculture and climate change on coastal ecosystem biogeochemistry and biodiversity.

South Florida continues to attract new residents despite its susceptibility to sea-level rise. This book explores the views of real estate agent with respect to how prospective homebuyers assess the risk of flooding. It reports on their observations as to whether house prices are stagnant or falling in coastal areas vulnerable to flooding, and their conclusions after working with prospective homebuyers as to whether coastal south Florida is a good place to find a home or, alternatively, a risky investment in a place that will eventually be submerged by rising seas. The book reports on a 2020 survey of real estate agents and concludes that it is not clear that the housing market has integrated flood risk either into reduced demand for housing or in reduced prices for houses susceptible to flooding. These conclusions have important implications for understanding how the risks of climate change and sea-level rise are reflected in the housing market both now and in the near-term future.

South Florida continues to attract new residents despite its susceptibility to sea-level rise. This book explores the views of real estate agent with respect to how prospective homebuyers assess the risk of flooding. It reports on their observations as to whether house prices are stagnant or falling in coastal areas vulnerable to flooding, and their conclusions after working with prospective homebuyers as to whether coastal south Florida is a good place to find a home or, alternatively, a risky investment in a place that will eventually be submerged by rising seas. The book reports on a 2020 survey of real estate agents and concludes that it is not clear that the housing market has integrated flood risk either into reduced demand for housing or in reduced prices for houses susceptible to flooding. These conclusions have important implications for understanding how the risks of climate change and sea-level rise are reflected in the housing market both now and in the near-term future.

The coasts cover a diverse range of ecosystems within marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments. They are some of the most heavily populated and visited areas and are also some of the most threatened natural habitats. Coastal zones are critically important not only to the people who live there but for the health of the planet. Many world estuaries and coast environments are under tremendous stress in response to global warming and the increased anthropogenic forcing. Warmer waters, rising sea levels, tropical cyclones, storm surges and flooding, and coastal erosion are just some of the elements impacting coastal communities worldwide and transforming these environments. Coastal hazards such as storm events with associated storm surges are increasing in frequency and intensity, as are marine heatwaves that devastate coral reefs. Human activities like sewage discharge, overfishing, navigation channel dredging, land reclamation, the construction of shipping ports and marine plastics are also responsible for coastal pollution and degradation.Therefore, a good understanding of the current state of coastal environments and lessons learnt from these human influences is extremely valuable to restore and protect these habitats and ecosystems from further environmental degradation and even catastrophe. In this book, case studies are used to tell a story about how these environments respond to severe human-induced perturbations, and what has gone right and wrong from environmental and resource management point of view. The readership of the book include high level undergraduate Oceanography students and workers from Coastal Engineering and Management.

The coasts cover a diverse range of ecosystems within marine, estuarine, and freshwater environments. They are some of the most heavily populated and visited areas and are also some of the most threatened natural habitats. Coastal zones are critically important not only to the people who live there but for the health of the planet. Many world estuaries and coast environments are under tremendous stress in response to global warming and the increased anthropogenic forcing. Warmer waters, rising sea levels, tropical cyclones, storm surges and flooding, and coastal erosion are just some of the elements impacting coastal communities worldwide and transforming these environments. Coastal hazards such as storm events with associated storm surges are increasing in frequency and intensity, as are marine heatwaves that devastate coral reefs. Human activities like sewage discharge, overfishing, navigation channel dredging, land reclamation, the construction of shipping ports and marine plastics are also responsible for coastal pollution and degradation.Therefore, a good understanding of the current state of coastal environments and lessons learnt from these human influences is extremely valuable to restore and protect these habitats and ecosystems from further environmental degradation and even catastrophe. In this book, case studies are used to tell a story about how these environments respond to severe human-induced perturbations, and what has gone right and wrong from environmental and resource management point of view. The readership of the book include high level undergraduate Oceanography students and workers from Coastal Engineering and Management.

This book focusses at summarizing the main scientific elements of coastal zone management in coastal deltas and areas, but not only limited to that.

This book focusses at summarizing the main scientific elements of coastal zone management in coastal deltas and areas, but not only limited to that. Pollution, environmental impacts, coastal development, and oceanographic principles could be useful for South Asian and European students in marine and coastal science, providing a multidisciplinary vision. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate relationship between humans and the ocean. With contributions from leading scholars, it explores integrated coastal zone management in the Anthropocene era, addressing emerging ecological challenges and urbanization trends. The book emphasizes the importance of marine conservation and sustainable practices while discussing the future of integrated coastal zone management. It highlights the significance of preserving marine biodiversity and showcases the contributions of international collaborations like the "Mare" project. With a vision for a sustainable future, the book inspires readers to become advocates for positive change in our relationship with the ocean. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and environmentalists, offering insights to foster a deeper appreciation and awareness of our marine ecosystems.

The open-access proceedings of Coastal Dynamics 2025 compile 231 manuscripts of the works presented at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, between 7th and 11th April 2025. The works are divided in 15 chapters (2 volumes), in accordance with the topic of the sessions where they were presented. The conference theme was “Living with a Dynamic Coast”. Most updated research on the dynamics and changes of the coastal systems include field (remote and in-situ) observations, laboratory experiments, theoretical formulations, and numerical simulations. Recent research and applications concerning coastal waves and currents, interactions between wind, water, sediments and eco-systems, and morphology changes in different morphological environments (with and without structures) such as sandy, rocky, and muddy coasts, inlets, and estuaries are described in this compilation. The extended list of highlights coming out of the conference included the following words: machine learning algorithms; automatic techniques; neural networks, clustering, random forests, multivariate analysis; extensive time/space datasets; stochastic modelling/simulators; model-data hybrid approaches; climate versus seasonal drivers; dune evolution modelling; long-term trending/forecasting; high-resolution; young researchers; satellite/UAV/LIDAR imagery/data; sediment-vegetation-flow interaction under/above water; multi-disciplinary, across-scales processes; nature-based interventions; new field experiments; digital twins; adaptation pathways; climate change impacts; role of infragravity waves; process-based models; small/remote coastal environments; sea-level rise.

The open-access proceedings of Coastal Dynamics 2025 compile 231 manuscripts of the works presented at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, between 7th and 11th April 2025. The works are divided in 15 chapters (2 volumes), in accordance with the topic of the sessions where they were presented. The conference theme was “Living with a Dynamic Coast”. Most updated research on the dynamics and changes of the coastal systems include field (remote and in-situ) observations, laboratory experiments, theoretical formulations, and numerical simulations. Recent research and applications concerning coastal waves and currents, interactions between wind, water, sediments and eco-systems, and morphology changes in different morphological environments (with and without structures) such as sandy, rocky, and muddy coasts, inlets, and estuaries are described in this compilation. The extended list of highlights coming out of the conference included the following words: machine learning algorithms; automatic techniques; neural networks, clustering, random forests, multivariate analysis; extensive time/space datasets; stochastic modelling/simulators; model-data hybrid approaches; climate versus seasonal drivers; dune evolution modelling; long-term trending/forecasting; high-resolution; young researchers; satellite/UAV/LIDAR imagery/data; sediment-vegetation-flow interaction under/above water; multi-disciplinary, across-scales processes; nature-based interventions; new field experiments; digital twins; adaptation pathways; climate change impacts; role of infragravity waves; process-based models; small/remote coastal environments; sea-level rise.

This volume presents biogeochemical research linked to climate change, soil and water acidification, and ecosystem eutrophication, highlighting the impact of human activities on biogeochemical cycles in coastal ecosystems. As human activities increasingly reshape these cycles, many scientists now refer to 'anthropo-biogeochemical cycles' to underscore this influence. Transitional Water Systems (TWS), such as estuaries and lagoons that connect marine and freshwater environments, are especially sensitive to these impacts. Unplanned coastal development disrupts natural processes leading to erosion, habitat loss and ecological degradation. Such development also alters river flows, impacting sediment transport and the migration patterns of aquatic species. Additionally, land-use changes from agriculture, mining, and urbanization contribute to soil erosion and sediment accumulation, affecting both downstream and coastal regions.The book covers these activities and their impacts, and provides recommendations for how effective and sustainable coastal ecosystem management can be achieved through policy recommendations and conservation strategies using integrative modeling and predictive approaches. The primary audience for this book includes academics specializing in climate and environmental studies. Research professionals will also benefit from this comprehensive volume, which consolidates findings on various aspects of marine biogeochemical cycles and the impacts of anthropogenic activities.

This book deals with recent advances in coastal marine environmental management and governance. Various chapters consider new aspects of conservation, assessment of ecosystem health status, environmental survey and protection, frameworks of ocean service and governance, new applications of geo processing and GIS technology, beach management, aquaculture site selection, assessment of water quality (brine disposal and temperature dispersion from nuclear power plants), exploration and management of coastal karst, changing perceptions of dune management, advances in interpretation of sea-level indicators and real time environmental monitoring. New advances in both environmental management and governance are of the utmost importance for sustaining critical coastal marine areas. Offering such a diverse collection of works from coastal scientists around the world, who discuss many techniques and methods at the forefront of management and governance, this publication will be of interest to coastal researchers, coastal zone managers and regulatory agency personnel.

This book is geared for advanced level research in the general subject area of remote sensing and modeling as they apply to the coastal marine environment. The various chapters focus on the latest scientific and technical advances in the service of better understanding coastal marine environments for their care, conservation and management. Chapters specifically deal with advances in remote sensing coastal classifications, environmental monitoring, digital ocean technological advances, geophysical methods, geoacoustics, X-band radar, risk assessment models, GIS applications, real-time modeling systems, and spatial modeling. Readers will find this book useful because it summarizes applications of new research methods in one of the world’s most dynamic and complicated environments. Chapters in this book will be of interest to specialists in the coastal marine environment who deals with aspects of environmental monitoring and assessment via remote sensing techniques and numerical modeling.