This book describes critical environmental issues that face coastal ocean and Great Lakes areas, including eutrophication, habitat modification, hydrologic and hydrodynamic disruption, exploitation of resources, toxic effects on ecosystems and humans, introduction of nonindigenous species, global climate change and variability, and shoreline erosion and hazardous storms. These issues can be approached through science activities (including research, monitoring, and modeling) discussed in this book and through coordination among federal agencies.
This book contains most of the papers presented at the 7th International Conference on Environmental Problems in Coastal Regions . The conference provides a forum for the discussion of problems that are related to coastal regions, which are increasingly being affected by population growth and industrial and tourism activities. The pressure of these developments generates social, ecological and economic problems, the solution of which requires an interdisciplinary approach. Effective strategies for the management of coastal areas should therefore consist of dynamic and integrated solutions in order to control their environmental quality. The contributions included in this book are listed in the following sections: Ecology and the Coastal Environment; Coastal Deterioration; Management of Risk; Water Quality Issues; Sediment Transport; Coastal Dunes
This volume deals with problems related to monitoring, analysis and modelling of coastal regions, including sea, land and air phenomena. Bringing together papers presented at the Sixth International Conference on Environmental Problems in Coastal Regions, the book focuses on ecological and environmental problems and the issues of water quality. The book will be essential to researchers, engineers and professionals involved in the field of Coastal Environmental quality and the related challenges to monitoring and controlling Oil Spills. Topics of interest include: Remote Sensing; Ecology and the Coastal Environment; Water Quality Issues; Wetlands; Sediment Problems; Coastal Restoration; Atmospheric Aspects; Sea States Forecasting; Modelling of Trajectory and Fate of Spills; Bioremediation; Detection, Prevention and Clean-up Measures; Erosion Problems; Management of Risk; Preservation of Pristine Coastal Areas; Estuarial Problems; Floods; Climate Change and the Coastal Environment.
This book assesses the dimensions of our scientific knowledge as it applies to environmental problems in the coastal zone. The volume contains 10 papers that cover different aspects of science, management, and public policy concerning the coastal zone. A consensus is presented on several key issues confronting science for developing a more holistic approach in managing this region's intense human activities and important natural resources.
Coastal Management: Global Challenges and Innovations focuses on the resulting problems faced by coastal areas in developing countries with a goal of helping create updated management and tactical approaches for researchers, field practitioners, planners and policymakers. This book gathers, compiles and interprets recent developments, starting from paleo-coastal climatic conditions, to current climatic conditions that influence coastal resources. Chapters included cover almost all aspects of coastal area management, including sustainability, coastal communities, hazards, ocean currents and environmental monitoring. - Contains contributions from a global pool of authors with a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, making this an authoritative and compelling reference - Presents the appropriate tools used in monitoring and controlling coastal management, including innovative approaches towards community participation and the implementation of bottom-up tactics - Includes case studies from across the world, allowing for a thorough comparison of situations in both developing and developed countries
Coastal Zone Management: Global Perspectives, Regional Processes, Local Issues brings together a vast range of interdisciplinary data on coastal zones in a concise, yet exhaustive format that will be useful to students, researchers, and teachers. The book contains several focused sections, all of which include individual chapters written by subject experts with considerable experience in their fields of research. Each chapter presents the latest research and status of its focus, with a concluding endnote on future trends. Topics covered in the book include the sea level and climate changes, evolution of coastlines, land-use dynamics and coastal hazards mitigation and management. The global coast has faced the force of both climate hange and natural disasters, which continue to result in the loss of human life and degradation of quality of the coastal environment. Coastal Zone Management: Global Perspectives, Regional Processes, Local Issues provides the latest developments and key strategies to tackle this in a single comprehensive volume. It is an essential reference for scientists and researchers well-read on coastal zones, as well as those new to the subject. - Presents a unique compilation of contributed chapters, including a focus on methodology, case studies, stategy, and policy, acting as a one-source reference for students, teachers, researchers and administrators. - Discusses challenges at local levels in order to help interpret regional processes that have global ramifications. - Provides a database for scientists working on research topics related to coastal zone management.
"In recent years, it has become increasingly important to study the behaviour of coastal areas, and to be able to model such regions under normal and extreme conditions. The poor environmental quality in these regions, due to pollution and other problems, has been the cause of serious international concern, with many of the worst affected areas being densely populated or the sites of major industrial development. Computer models, in combination with sensing equipment and experimental sampling techniques, have helped in the prevention of natural and man-made disasters, by providing adequate means for the study of the behaviour of water, ground and air systems. Computer models are also used for the determination and assessment of a situation once a disaster has occurred, thus aiding the optimization of the resources available from remedial action. However, it is clear that further study into environmental problems, using efficient and reliable modelling and analysis tools, is essential in order to maintain and improve on existing methods." "This book will be of particular interest to people involved in environmental studies and environmental modelling."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for-and in many cases is already affecting-a broad range of human and natural systems. The compelling case for these conclusions is provided in Advancing the Science of Climate Change, part of a congressionally requested suite of studies known as America's Climate Choices. While noting that there is always more to learn and that the scientific process is never closed, the book shows that hypotheses about climate change are supported by multiple lines of evidence and have stood firm in the face of serious debate and careful evaluation of alternative explanations. As decision makers respond to these risks, the nation's scientific enterprise can contribute through research that improves understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change and also is useful to decision makers at the local, regional, national, and international levels. The book identifies decisions being made in 12 sectors, ranging from agriculture to transportation, to identify decisions being made in response to climate change. Advancing the Science of Climate Change calls for a single federal entity or program to coordinate a national, multidisciplinary research effort aimed at improving both understanding and responses to climate change. Seven cross-cutting research themes are identified to support this scientific enterprise. In addition, leaders of federal climate research should redouble efforts to deploy a comprehensive climate observing system, improve climate models and other analytical tools, invest in human capital, and improve linkages between research and decisions by forming partnerships with action-oriented programs.
An overview of the coordination of various requirements for coastal-zone use is provided in this book, offering examples and best practice. Although it focuses on European coastal zones, it also considers global and historical developments. Questions at the end of each chapter enable readers to test their understanding.
As coastal populations burgeon, problems of erosion, pollution and coastal change are becoming ever more serious and necessitate scientifically informed management strategies. This authoritative new study discusses the causes of, and possible solutions to, some of the more pressing problems at the coast, against a background of the natural geomorphological and ecological workings of coastal environments. A holistic approach to the understanding of coastal problems is suggested, which integrates geomorphology, ecology and society through a consideration of the basic processes at work. Coastal problems are caused by both human and natural impacts, often working in conjunction with each other; thus drawing on their wide experience of temperate and tropical coasts the authors consider all types of coastal problems, ranging from those produced entirely naturally to those where the human impact dominates. Extensive use is made of case studies drawn from around the world, from beach erosion along the Nigerian coast to the recovery of the Vietnamese mangroves from war damage. A major theme of the book is that, given recent downgrading of predictions of future sea level rise, it is the distinctive geomorphological, ecological and societal aspects of each coast which are the vital factors. 'Coastal Problems' brings together material vital to any attempts to understand and manage our coasts and will be of interest to all those concerned with the environment and its management.
