COASTLINES: Sverdrup et al, Chapter 9; omit sections 9.9 and 9.10; be sure to read about National Marine Sanctuaries

Students should be able to

1. discuss the causes of sealevel changes

2. describe types of coastlines

3. very specifically describe the features of a beach and a barrier island

4. discuss how water movements along coastlines affect sediment location

5. discuss and describe the characteristics of estuaries – mode of formation and water circulation

6. discuss selected impacts that humans have had along coastlines

7. impact of National Marine Sanctuaries

SEA LEVEL CHANGES

Global: eustatic; water volume changes or changes in shape of ocean basins

Local: tectonic changes or isostatic changes

CLASSIFICATION OF COASTS

Erosional (rocky shores as example) vs. depositional (barrier islands and deltas as examples)

 BEACHES

Physical features: backshore, foreshore, offshore; berm, beach face, longshore bars

Erosion vs. deposition on beaches: summer vs. winter; longshore processes

Water circulation: longshore current; rip currents

Human interaction: dams, seawalls, jetties, groins, breakwaters, replenishment/renourishment

BARRIER ISLANDS

Ocean Beach, dunes, barrier flats, salt marsh, creeks or lagoon

Salt Marsh: zoning of salt tolerant plants; unusual sediment; high marsh vs. low marsh

Migration of barrier islands with sealevel changes

ESTUARIES

Classification by mode of formation: coastal plain, fjord, bar-built, tectonic

Classification by circulation patterns: consider important forces and salinity changes horizontally and vertically; well mixed, salt wedge, fjord

HUMAN INTERACTIONS ALONG COASTLINES

· Attempts to control sediments along beaches: seawalls, jetties, groins, etc.

· Reduction in area of wetlands

· Coastal water quality issues

· Plastics

· Oil spills