Coastal environments and global change - 1. edición

"The coastal zone is one of the most dynamic environments on our planet and is much affected by global change, especially sea-level rise. Not only do coastal environments harbour valuable ecosystems, but they are also hugely important from a societal point of view. This book, which draws on the expertise of 23 leading international coastal scientists, provides an up-to-date account of coastal environments and past, present and future impacts of global change. The first chapter outlines the key principles that underpin coastal systems and their behaviour. This is followed by a discussion of the boundary conditions, including sea-level change, geology, sediments, storms, waves, tides and coastal groundwater, that control and drive coastal change. The majority of the book consists of a discussion of the main coastal environments (beaches, dunes, barriers, salt marshes, mangroves, tidal flats, estuaries, tidal inlets, coral reefs, deltas, and rocky and glaciated coasts), and how these are affected by global change. The final chapter highlights strategies for coping with and adapting to coastal change." --Publisher's description.