Coastal classification. Coastal areas climate. The movement of the sea. Sea level changes. Sea cliffs. Submerging coasts. Beaches. Coastal dunes. Deltas. The coast in intertropical regions. Ice dominated coasts. Shore protection projects.
Enzo Pranzini, La forma delle coste. Geomorfologia costiera, impatto antropico e difesa dei litorali. Zanichelli, Bologna, Novembre 2004, pp. 245.
Learning Objectives
Capability of coastal processes analysis and beach erosion causes assessment. Shore protection and coastal management strategies design.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Lectures, Laboratory
Type of Assessment
Oral test
Course program
The form of the coast
Land-sea interface. Coastal classification.
Coastal areas climate
Land-Sea-Atmosphere thermal contrast. Island climate. Coastal climate in the Low, Mid and High latitudes.
The movement of the sea
Wave generation and propagation. Wave diffraction and refraction. Wave measurement. Tides.
Sea level changes
Eustatic variations and their causes. Holocene transgression. Future scenarios.
Vertical movement along the coast (tectonic and isostasy).
Sea cliffs
Cliff profile, wave notch and shore platforms. Human impact on rocky coasts. Cliff stabilization.
Submerging coasts
Fiords, skärgard and drumlin coast. Rias. Estuarine morphology. Tidal flats. Human impact on submerging coasts.
Beaches
Sediment source, sediment size, beach profile. Barrier island, spits, tombolos. Sediment budget. Inlet stabilization.
Coastal dunes
Dune formation and geographical distribution. Human impact on dunes. Dune defence and reconstruction.
Delta
Delta shape and classification, Human impact on deltas.
The coast in intertropical regions
Coral reef origin, classification and distribution. Mangroves. Human impact on tropic coast.
Ice dominated coasts
Sea ice. Permafrost action on the coast, Ice dominated coast morphology.
Shore protection
Seawall, rip-rap, revetments. Groins.Submerged and permeable groins. Detached breakwaters. Island platforms. Beach planform control. Artificial nourishment. Drained beaches. Innovative and experimental shore protection projects.
Harbour impact on coastal dynamics.
Beach erosion causes removal.