About this Research Topic
The interaction between land and sea is controlled by a number of processes that are in general driven by the equilibrium between environmental forcing components (e.g. hydrodynamic - waves, currents, surges), atmospheric (e.g. winds) and terrestrial (e.g. catchment land cover) and sediment dynamics. In the context of the Anthropocene epoch, the equilibrium in many coastal regions is now often altered by the influence of human activities. Successive human activities globally influence (indirectly) these forcing components, helping magnify the negative impact of extreme meteorological events and sea level rise. Directly, human activity can also influence a number of processes at a local scale within and between the catchment, the sea and the coast. For example, misplaced engineered infrastructure inside these naturally dynamic environments can accentuate disequilibrium, destabilizing shores and deltas. Development in catchments can promote rapid runoff, inducing sometimes-dramatic effects on downstream urbanized areas, the socio-economy as well as on coastal resources and ecosystems.
This Research Topic aims to assemble research and review papers that focus on the dynamics of shores and deltas in peril under present conditions as well as in the future context of sea-level rise, climate change and adaptation strategies under various scenarios. The emphasis of the papers should be on:
1) Analysis and interpretation of the morphodynamic behaviour of coastal areas influenced by human activities that have altered the natural interaction between the sea, rivers and sediments;
2) Analysis and interpretation of the impacts of storms (and associated surges, strong winds) on coastal systems and deltas, including beach/cliff erosion, inundation of the hinterland, alteration of coastal ecosystems, socio-economic impacts;
3) Evaluation of the positive or negative effect of mitigation activities carried out to reestablish natural dynamics, including societal and management aspects;
4) Historical and future evolution of coastal areas and deltas to identify critical hotspots;
5) Evaluation of the impact of climate change on shores and deltas, for example, increased inundation, alteration in sediment dynamics, and temperature and acidification effects on ecosystems.
The works that will be considered for publication should include direct measurements of system behavior, e.g., field observations, surveys, interviews, as well as using remote sensing platforms that can provide valuable data to understand the dynamics of altered shores and deltas. Works including a multidisciplinary perspective are especially encouraged (ecology, biology, meteorology, climatology, socio-economy, geography, policy, history, sedimentology and geomorphology, coastal engineering, numerical modeling).
This Research Topic aims to assemble research and review papers that focus on the dynamics of shores and deltas in peril under present conditions as well as in the future context of sea-level rise, climate change and adaptation strategies under various scenarios. The emphasis of the papers should be on:
1) Analysis and interpretation of the morphodynamic behaviour of coastal areas influenced by human activities that have altered the natural interaction between the sea, rivers and sediments;
2) Analysis and interpretation of the impacts of storms (and associated surges, strong winds) on coastal systems and deltas, including beach/cliff erosion, inundation of the hinterland, alteration of coastal ecosystems, socio-economic impacts;
3) Evaluation of the positive or negative effect of mitigation activities carried out to reestablish natural dynamics, including societal and management aspects;
4) Historical and future evolution of coastal areas and deltas to identify critical hotspots;
5) Evaluation of the impact of climate change on shores and deltas, for example, increased inundation, alteration in sediment dynamics, and temperature and acidification effects on ecosystems.
The works that will be considered for publication should include direct measurements of system behavior, e.g., field observations, surveys, interviews, as well as using remote sensing platforms that can provide valuable data to understand the dynamics of altered shores and deltas. Works including a multidisciplinary perspective are especially encouraged (ecology, biology, meteorology, climatology, socio-economy, geography, policy, history, sedimentology and geomorphology, coastal engineering, numerical modeling).
Keywords: coastal storms, coastal erosion, coastal flooding, coastal anthropization, socio-economic impact
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
