Develop from interactions between the winds,waves and currents. These energy flows work with geologicalcharacteristics of the coast (i.e. sediments) to produce distinctive landscapes, including rocky,sandy and estuarine coastlines.
Coastalzones are important as the majority of the world's populationinhabit these regions. Coastal zones are rapidly changing due to the dynamic interaction between oceans and the land.
Characterised by their erosional features. The main erosional processes are: mechanicalwaveerosion,abrasion,weathering,bio-erosion and mass movements by rockfalls,slides and flows.
Wherebeds, layers and rocks are folded into ridges that run parallel to the coast. Usually, concordant coastlines have the same type of rock along its length. Dalmatian and Haffmorphology occurs on these coastlines.
Bands of rock and layers run perpendicular to the coastline. Usually the geologyalternates between strata of hard rock and soft rocks. Headlands and Bays occur at these coastlines as erosion resistance is different between rocks, so they wear away at differentspeeds.
Made of indigenous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks which determineserosion rates. The harder the rock and the more impermeable it is, lower the rate of erosion and coastal recession.
Erosion occurs at the foot of a cliff, creating a notch. Material above the notchcollapses and is washed away. Repeatedcollapsing causes the cliff to retreat further away.
Global warming is causing eustatic sea level change as oceantemperatures become warmer and particles expand, taking up more space in the ocean basin. This causes sea levels to rise.
Can cause sea floor spreading, creating a largerplatform for water to sit on. Tectonic activity also contributes to the shape of oceanbasins. If the ocean basins get smaller, the volume of the oceans decrease and sea level consequently rises.
There is often a conflict between players: conservationists wish to preserve coastal landscapes whilst businesses may alter natural systems for vested interests. Often the needs of locals are left out of decisions.
Climate change may cause a rise in environmentalrefugees from coastal areas, such as those living in Bangladesh and Tuvalu (arguably the most likely countries to face severe flooding).
Sustainablemanagement aims to meet the needs of today without destroying the needs of the future.Sustainable management is designed to cope with futurethreats but implementation can cause conflict.
Regards all aspects of the coastal zone (geographical and politicalboundaries) in an attempt to achieve sustainability. This creates winners and losers as some can achieve effectivemanagement whilst others cannot.