Defining Coasts

Coasts I: Systems and Processes

In this course, Dr Chris Spencer (University of the West of England) explores coastal systems and processes. In the first module, we think about how the coast should be defined, its key roles as a defence, habitat and resource, and the conceptualisation of the coast as a system. The second module then considers the importance of waves and tides within the coastal system, outlining their drivers and how they influence coastal processes and morphology. In the third module, we turn to coastal sediment, examining its major sources and the transportation and deposition processes which affect it. We conclude with a fourth module on erosion and weathering, looking at the three main types of cliff weathering - mechanical, biological and chemical - and processes of mass movement.

Defining Coasts

In this module, we think about how coasts should be defined and understood, focusing on: (i) why it is better, in terms of both understanding and management, to conceptualise the coast as a zone, rather than simply a border between the land and sea (ii) the three key roles of the coast – as a defence against wave and tidal energy, a habitat for plant and animal species, and a resource for human development (iii) the tendency for major settlements to be located close to the coast, and the reasons for this (iv) the importance of seeing the coast as a system comprising components, inputs and outputs.