Estuarine and Coastal Geology and Geomorphology

Abstract

[Extract] Coastal geodiversity, the geological and geomorphological processes and landforms of estuaries and coasts, is of vital importance as providing not only protection from marine processes such as storm waves but also the foundations for sustaining the integrity and biodiversity of ecosystems along our shores. Since the characteristics and functioning of coastal and estuarine ecosystems are addressed in subsequent volumes of the treatise, it is important now to contextualize coastal geodiversity as a key component in our understanding of how estuaries and coasts function, be it in relation to sandy beaches, tidal mud flats, or rocky coasts and in a range of latitudes from the tropical to polar shores. This volume, thus, sets out to capture some of the wide range of coastal geodiversity and set it within a framework that will be of relevance to the subsequent volumes of this treatise. In spite of this, we are aware that not all coastal contexts are represented here, and in future editions of the treatise we intend to take the opportunity to fill any gaps identified.