Coasts: form, process and evolution

TLDR

Coasts are among the most rapidly changing places on Earth, and understanding the natural adjustments between coastal landforms and the processes that shape them is essential for effective resource management and geomorphological study. The book details coastal landforms, their responses to shaping processes, and the evolutionary patterns that emerge over thousands of years, illustrated with numerous global examples and a focus on morphodynamics across rocky, reef, sandy, deltaic‑estuarine, and muddy coasts. The text is a well‑illustrated, reference‑rich resource valuable to advanced undergraduates, graduates, environmental scientists, geologists, coastal managers, and planners.

Abstract

Coasts are some of the most rapidly changing places on earth. Understanding the natural adjustments that occur between coastal landforms and the processes that influence them is essential for the better management of coastal resources. Coasts provides a necessary background in geomorphology for those studying coastal systems. It describes the landforms that occur on the coast, their responses to the processes that shape them, and the pattern of evolution that can be determined for different types of coast over thousands of years. Numerous examples from around the world are used to illustrate the variety of environments. Particular attention is paid to coastal morphodynamics, the co-adjustment of process and form, on rocky, reef, sandy, deltaic-estuarine and muddy coasts. This valuable text for advanced undergraduate and graduate students is well illustrated and contains an extensive reference section. It will also be of great interest to environmental scientists, geologists, coastal managers and planners.