The complexity of studying coasts: From forms and processes to management

Coastal environments are characterized by their high dynamism, related to the interaction between marine agents (winds, waves, currents, sea level changes) and continental forms and processes. The present article summarizes the main morphodynamic characteristics of coasts and the resulting environments. Different oscillations of the sea level are considered, depending on their amplitude and frequency: rapid eustatic fluctuations, energetic tsunamis, storm waves and surges, tides and good weather wind waves. Coastal environments are classified in low, sedimentary coasts, including beaches, dunes, barrier islands, lagoons, salt marshes and river mouths, and high, rocky coasts. Management of coastal zones needs a deep knowledge of all the processes involved at the littoral, especially at the local scale, since coastal processes vary rapidly alongshore. At present the integrated coastal management intends to involve different socioeconomic sectors interested in the occupation and use of coasts. Coastal management must include the adaptation of human activities to the natural processes and associated coastal hazards and the protection of coastal values, both of natural and historical-cultural character. Public administrations at different levels should consider the knowledge of the coastal processes at different scales and their potential interaction with human activities in order to design laws and regulations accordingly.

Datos y Recursos

Cite como

Gracia Prieto F.J. The complexity of studying coasts: From forms and processes to management. Universidad de la Rioja. Servicio de Publicaciones, 2022. https://doi.org/10.18172/cig.5451

Clipboard Icon
Recuperado: 09 Nov 2025 23:59:34
RIS BibTeX

Metadatos
Descargar
DCAT-AP/NTI-RISP

Información básica
Tipo de recurso Artículo
Fecha de creación 05-11-2024
Fecha de última modificación 05-11-2024
Mostrar histórico de cambios
Identificador de los metadatos 2e58e6d2-0117-5d90-9393-01c148273308
Idioma de los metadatos Español
Temáticas (NTI-RISP)
Categoría del conjunto de alto valor (HVD) Observación de la Tierra y medio ambiente
Categoría temática ISO 19115 biota
URI de palabras clave
Información bibliográfica
Nombre del autor Gracia Prieto, F.J.
Nombre del editor Universidad de la Rioja. Servicio de Publicaciones
Identificador alternativo DOI: 10.18172/cig.5451
Identificador del autor
Email del autor javier.gracia@uca.es
Web del autor
Procedencia
Declaración de linaje
Perfil de Metadatos
Notas sobre la versión
Versión