Coast
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2008-06-25T15:41:20Z
Juliancolton
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/84.69.229.0|84.69.229.0]] to last version by ClueBot (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
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[[Image:Genipabu-Natal.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Atlantic Ocean]]: The East Coast of [[Brazil]].]]
[[Image:A44.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Pacific Ocean]]: The [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]] of [[New Zealand]].]]
[[Image:Santagadea.JPG|right|thumb|200px|[[Atlantic Ocean]]: The [[Bay of Biscay]] coast near [[Tapia de Casariego]], [[Spain]].]]
[[Image:Andaman.jpg|200px|thumb|[[Indian Ocean]]: coasts of the [[Andaman Islands]] in the [[Bay of Bengal]].]]
The '''coast''' is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the [[ocean]]. A '''coastline''' is properly a line on a map indicating the disposition of a coast, but the word is often used to refer to the coast itself. The adjective coastal describes something as being on, near to, or associated with a coast.
Coast is a specific term, and is applied to that part of an island or continent that borders an ocean or its [[saltwater]] tributaries. A [[pelagic]] coast refers to a coast which fronts the open ocean, as opposed to a more sheltered coast in a [[Headlands and bays|gulf]] or [[Headlands and bays|bay]]. A [[shore]] on the other hand, can refer to parts of the land which adjoin any large body of water, including oceans (sea shore) and [[lake]]s (lake shore). Similarly, the somewhat related term [[Stream bed|bank]] refers to the land alongside or sloping down to a [[river]] (river bank) or of a body of water smaller than a lake. ''Bank'' is also used in some parts of the world to refer to an artificial ridge of earth intended to retain the water of a river or [[pond]]. In other places this may be called a [[levee]].
While many scientific experts might agree on a common definition of the term "coast", the delineation of the inland extents of a coast differ according to [[jurisdiction]], with many scientific and government authorities in various countries differing for economic and social policy reasons. This is usually because defining lands as part of a coast may be seen to have environmental implications which would prevent development or attach regulations to their use.
==Environmental importance==
The coast and its adjacent areas on and off shore is an important part of a local [[ecosystem]] as the mixture of fresh water and [[salt]] water in [[estuary|estuaries]] provides many nutrients for marine life. Salt [[marsh]]es and [[beach]]es also support a diversity of [[plant]]s, [[animal]]s, and [[insect]]s crucial to the [[food chain]].
Like the ocean which shapes them, coasts are a dynamic environment with constant change. The earth's natural processes, particularly [[sea level rise]], [[wave]]s and various [[weather]] phenomena, have resulted in the [[erosion]], [[Accretion (geology)|accretion]] and reshaping of coasts as well as [[flood]]ing and creation of [[continental shelf|continental shelves]] and drowned river valleys ([[ria]]s).
The high level of [[biodiversity]] creates a high level of biological activity, which has attracted human activity for thousands of years. Due to extraordinary population growth in the 20th century, tremendous pressures have been placed on the planet’s ecosystems. With a larger population we must provide more housing, energy, and food. The problem exists both in the concentration of people in coastal areas and their sheer numbers. In the Mancote Mangroves of [[St. Lucia]], harvesting mangrove for timber and clearing for fishing drove the mangrove forests to dangerously low levels. This disruption resulted in a loss of habitat and spawning ground for marine life that was unique to the area. These mangrove forests also helped to stabilize the coastlines. St. Lucia was faced with a huge mess and fortunately have been able to make great conservation efforts since the 80’s that has partially restored the ecosystem functioning.
==Human impacts==
{{further|[[Marine debris]]}}
Coasts also face many environmental challenges relating to human-induced impacts. The human influence on [[climate change]] is thought to be a contributing factor of an accelerated trend in [[sea level rise]] which threatens coastal habitat as natural systems struggle to adapt faster. Human development of coastal land, particularly for recreational or industrial uses are similarly threatened by sea level rise, but also contribute to [[aesthetic]] problems of land use and reduced natural coastal habitat.
Pollution is an ongoing concern along coasts with [[Marine debris|garbage and industrial debris]] littering [[beach]]es and sometimes entire coasts, requiring government agencies to make frequent use of [[beach cleaner]]s and other volunteer cleanup efforts. The [[transport]]ation of [[petroleum]] in [[tanker (ship)|tankers]] is a major hazard both for the open ocean and along coasts, particularly when large [[oil spill]]s occur. Another major hazard for coastal marine life is the large number of small oil spills created by large and small vessels powered by petroleum which flush [[bilge]] water directly into the ocean.
Both the terms coast and coastal are often used to describe a geographic location or region. For example, New Zealand's [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]], or the [[East Coast of the United States|East]] and [[West Coast of the United States|West Coasts of the United States]].
[[Image:Marbleheadcoastline.jpg|thumb|200px|A settled coastline in [[Marblehead, Massachusetts]].]]
A large part of the global population inhabits areas near a coast, partly to take advantage of marine resources such as fish, but more importantly to participate in seaborne trade with other nations. Many of the world's major cities that have developed in recent centuries were built on or near good [[harbour]]s and have large [[port]] facilities to take advantage of marine transportation. Jurisdictions which are [[landlocked]] and have no coast are often at an economic disadvantage with overseas trade being more difficult; sometimes being forced to go to extravagant measures such as building [[canal]]s to permit ocean-going vessels to travel inland.
Coasts, especially those with [[beach]]es and warm water are also an important draw for [[tourists]]. In many [[island nation]]s such as those of the Mediterranean, South Pacific and Caribbean, tourism by those who come to enjoy the coast is central to the economy. Coasts are popular destinations because of recreational activities such as [[swimming]], [[fishing]], [[surfing]], [[boating]], and [[Sunlight#Sunbathing|sunbathing]]. [[Growth management]] can be a challenge for coastal [[local government|local authorities]] who often struggle to provide the [[infrastructure]] required by new residents seeking [[seachange (demography)|seachange]] [[lifestyles]].
Many tourists and residents also enjoy the salt air by the sea coast which some consider to have health benefits. Coastal weather is heavily influenced by the ocean and while this can sometimes result in dangerous storms such as [[Nor'easter]]s and [[hurricane]]s, the coastal climate is often cooler and more temperate than corresponding inland areas. Consequently tourists from areas experiencing extremely warm and humid weather seek coastal areas for these reasons.
Fisheries have lost much of their capacity to produce fish due to habitat degradation, and over-fishing. Overharvesting, [[trawling]], [[bycatch]] and [[climate change]] are among some of the major pressures on fisheries. Since the growth of the global fishing enterprise since the 1950’s, intensive fishing has gone from a few concentrated areas to encompass nearly all fisheries. Not only is over fishing a problem but the technology involved creates even greater destruction. Trawling, or bottom dragging, is used for catching shrimp and other bottom dwelling species. This scraping of the ocean floor is devastating to coral, sponges and other long-lived species that do not recover quickly. This destruction alters the functioning of the ecosystem and can permanently alter species composition and biodiversity. Bycatch is the result of capturing unintended species in the course of fishing. Of this unintended catch most is discarded back into the ocean and dies from injuries or exposure. Bycatch represents approximately ¼ of all marine catch. In the case of shrimp capture, the amount of bycatch is five times larger than the amount of shrimp caught.
The coast is often a crucial defensive frontier, both for warding off military invaders but also smugglers and illegal migrants. [[Coastal defenses]] have thus long been erected in many nations. Most coastal countries also have a [[navy]] and some form of [[coast guard]].
==Types of coast==
An emergent coastline is a coastline which has experienced a fall in sea level, because of either a global sea level change, or local uplift. Emergent coastlines are identifiable by the coastal [[landform]]s, which are above the high tide mark, such as [[raised beach]]es. Alternatively, a submergent coastline is a coastline which has experienced a rise in sea level, due to a global sea level change, local [[subsidence]], or [[isostatic rebound]]. Submergent coastlines are identifiable by their submerged, or "drowned" landforms, such as [[ria]]s (drowned valleys) and [[fjord]]s.
A concordant coastline is a coastline where bands of different rock types run parallel to the shore. These rock types are usually of alternating [[resistance (geology)|resistance]], so the coastline forms distinctive landforms, such as coves. A discordant coastline is a type of coastline formed when rock types of alternating resistance run perpendicular to the shore. Discordant coastlines feature distinctive landforms because the rocks are [[erosion|eroded]] by [[ocean]] [[waves]]. The less resistant rocks erode faster, creating [[inlet]]s or [[headlands and bays|bays]]; the more resistant rocks erode more slowly, remaining as [[headlands and bays|headlands]] or outcroppings.
== Coastal landforms and features ==
[[Image:Accreting coast Image6.svg|thumb|center|500px|Coastal landforms. The feature shown here as a bay would, in Britain, be called a cove. That between the cuspate foreland and the tombolo is a British bay.]]
*[[headlands and bays|Bay]]
*[[Headlands and bays|Cape]]
*[[Cove]]
*[[Headlands and bays|Gulf]]
*[[Headlands and bays|Headland]]
*[[Peninsula]]
===Cliff erosion===
*[[Cave]]
*[[Cliff]]
*[[Natural arch]]
*[[stack (geology)|Stack]]
*[[Stump]]
*[[Wave cut cliff]]
*[[Wave cut notch]]
*[[Wave cut platform]]
===Rivers on the coastline===
*[[River delta|Delta]]
*[[Estuary]]
===Coastal features formed by sediment===
*[[Beach]]
*[[Beach cusps]]
*[[Boondock]]
*[[Dune|Dune system]]
*[[Mud flat]]
*[[Raised beach]]
*[[Ria]]
*[[Shoal]]
*[[Spit (landform)|spit]]
*[[Surge channel]]
*[[Tombolo]]
===Coastal features formed by another feature===
*[[Lagoon]]
*[[Salt marsh]]
===Other features on the coast===
*[[Concordant coastline]]
*[[Discordant coastline]]
*[[Fjord]]
*[[Island]]
*[[Island arc]]
*[[Machair (geography)|Machair]]
==Coastal processes==
*[[Attrition]]
*[[Current (water)|Currents]]
*[[Denudation]]
*[[deposition (sediment)|Deposition]]
*[[Erosion]]
*[[Flooding]]
*[[Longshore drift]]
*[[Saltation (geology)|Saltation]]
*[[Sea level change]]
:*[[eustatic]]
:*[[isostatic]]
*[[Sedimentation]]
:*[[sediment transportation]]
:*[[solution]]
:*[[sub-aerial processes]]
:*[[Suspension (chemistry)|suspension]]
*[[Tide|Tides]]
*[[Wave|Waves]]
*[[Weathering]]
==Wildlife==
===Animals===
[[Animals]] living along the coast vary enormously, some live along coasts to nest like [[puffins]], [[sea turtles]] and [[rockhopper penguin]]s. [[Sea snails]] and various kinds of [[barnacle]]s live on the coast and scavenge on food deposited by the sea. Most coastal animals are used to humans in developed areas, such as [[dolphin]]s and [[seagulls]] who eat food thrown for them by tourists. Since the coastal areas are all part of the [[littoral zone]], there is a profusion of marine life found just off-coast.
There are many kinds of [[seabirds]] on the coast. [[Pelican]]s and [[cormorant]]s join up with [[tern]]s and [[oystercatcher]]s to forage for fish and shellfish on the coast.
===Plants===
Coastal areas are famous for their [[kelp]] beds. [[Kelp]] is a fast growing [[seaweed]] that grows up to a [[metre]] a day. [[Coral]]s and [[anemone]]s are true animals, but live a similar lifestyle as plants do.
==See also==
*[[Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation]]
*[[Coastal erosion]]
*[[Coastal management]]
*[[Reef|Coral reefs]]
*[[Earth science]]
*[[Engineering geology]]
*[[Geography]]
*[[Geology]]
*[[Geomorphology]]
*[[How Long Is the Coast of Britain? Statistical Self-Similarity and Fractional Dimension]]
*[[Lake]]
*[[Land reclamation]]
*[[List of countries by length of coastline]]
*[[List of places on land with elevations below sea level]]
*[[List of U.S. states by coastline]]
*[[Marine biology]]
*[[Marine debris]]
*[[Marine life]]
*[[Nautical chart]]
*[[NOAA]]
*[[Ocean]]
*[[Pole of inaccessibility]]: the locations farthest from any coastline.
==References==
*Burke, Lauretta A., Yumiko Kura, Ken Kassem, Carmen Revenga, Mark Spalding, and Don McAllister. "Coastal Ecosystems." Pilot Analysis of Global Ecosystems. 2001. World Resources Institute. 15 May 2007 <http://pdf.wri.org/Page_coastal.pdf>.
*Tundi Agardy and Jacqueline Alder. “Coastal Systems.” Ecosystems and Current Well-being: Current State and Trends. 2005. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 11 May 2007 <http://maweb.org/documents/document.288.aspx.pdf
*United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, World Bank, World Resources Institute. “Taking Stock of Ecosystems.” World Resources 2000-2001. Pg 69-86. World Resources Institute Washington D.C.
*United Nations Development Programme, United Environment Programme, World Bank, World Resources Institute. “Village By Village.” World Resources 2005. Pg 144-151. World Resources Institute Washington D.C.
*United Nations Development Programme, United Environment Programme, World Bank, World Resources Institute. “Threats to Coastal Ecosystems. World Resources 1996-97. World Resources Institute. 22 May 2007 <http://pubs.wri.org/pubs_content_text.cfm?ContentID=799>
==External links==
*[http://www.ukcoastguide.co.uk/ UK Coast Guide]
*[http://www.wildcoast-usa.com/ Preserving the coasts]
* [http://nosdataexplorer.noaa.gov/nosdataexplorer/ NOS Data Explorer] - A portal to obtain NOAA National Ocean Service data
[[Category:Coastal geography]]
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[[fr:Côte (géographie)]]
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[[pt:Costa (geografia)]]
[[ru:Побережье]]
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