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Coastal Systems in a Changing World

Module description

The coastal zone represents the interface between the land and the sea; it is an area that is highly dynamic and of interest to scientists, engineers and managers. Coastal systems are incredibly valuable from various perspectives.

They host a broad range of ecosystems that provide key services such as carbon sequestration, provision of habitat for various organisms, filtering and detoxification of pollutants and protection against storm impacts. At the same time, these environments host large urbanized settings and the coast is clearly a popular site for settlement. To illustrate, 23% of the global population is currently living within 100 km of the coast and less than 100 m above sea level. Coasts have always been vulnerable but are now increasingly threatened by both natural and human-related pressures, including climate change and associated sea level rise.

This module is designed to give you an overview of the underlying processes that control the evolution of coastal landscapes and how they will respond to climatic changes and anthropogenic disturbances. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module has the following aims:

• To provide you with an in-depth understanding of the processes that control the evolution of coastal systems, and the impacts of environmental change
• To introduce you to the spatial and temporal scales associated with coastal morphodynamic behaviour and the links between processes and the emergence of landscape patterns
• To introduce you to different techniques in the field of coastal morphodynamics, and further develop your skills in analysing and interpreting data.
• To further develop your skills in the dissemination of scientific research in an accessible and engaging way through the use of audio-visual material.

The coursework in this module will allow you to develop your 1) ability to work in a team; 2) written communication skills; 3) quantitative and technical expertise; and 4) critical thinking skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Describe and explain the (bio)physical feedbacks that operate in the coastal zone
• 2. Recognize the key landforms in different coastal settings
• 3. Describe in detail the key factors that determine the vulnerability and resilience of coastal systems

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Illustrate and discuss the contested and provisional nature of knowledge and understanding
• 5. Assess the nature of change within physical environments
• 6. Discuss reciprocal relationships between physical and human environments

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Communicate ideas, principles and theories effectively and fluently
• 8. Develop a sustained and reasoned argument
• 9. Formulate and evaluate questions and identify and evaluate approaches to problem-solving
• 10. Identify, acquire, evaluate and synthesise data from a range of sources

Syllabus plan

The content of this module will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Introduction to coastal systems
• Physical processes in the coastal zone
• Feedbacks between hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics, morphological change and vegetation
• Modelling approaches for coastal (eco)systems
• Morphodynamics of tidal basins, estuaries, deltas, beaches and coastal wetlands
• Critical assessment of management practices

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Mainly through directed and other reading of primary science literature. Details will be provided during lectures and practicals. In addition, the following texts may be useful for introductory reading:

• Masselink, G., & Gehrels, R. (Eds.). (2014). Coastal environments and global change. John Wiley & Sons.
• Davidson-Arnott, R., Bauer, B., & Houser, C. (2019). Introduction to coastal processes and geomorphology. Cambridge University Press.

Key words search

Coastal systems; landscape dynamics; environmental change; biophysical interactions; numerical modelling; data analysis