Instructor: Dr. Larry Ward
Four Credits

Summary: Geomorphological, physical, and sedimentological processes that shape coastal and estuarine systems and associated deposits will be reviewed. We will study the geomorphology of rocky coastlines, barrier island coastlines, sandy beaches, salt marshes, estuaries, and the inner shelf on various time scales, linking sedimentation and erosion processes with the dynamics of glaciations, tides, waves, and river runoff. In addition, resultant depositional environments will be discussed. Laboratories will emphasize hands-on observational work. Lectures will be augmented with field trips and cruises. This is an interdisciplinary course for upper level undergraduate and graduate students in Earth Sciences and marine-related disciplines.

Topics

Major Processes That Shape Coastal Regions
Sea Level Fluctuations, Tides and Waves
Sediment Transport
Non-cohesive (theory, bedforms and bedload)
Cohesive (theory, bed erosion and transport)
Resuspension
Biological-Sedimentological Interactions
Storm Impacts
Coastal Systems and Inner Shelf
Large Scale Coastal Systems (Depositional and Erosional) - Characteristics and Controls
Tectonics, Climate, and Hydrographic Regime
Glaciations
Intermediate and Small Scale Coastal Systems - Characteristics and Controls
Barrier Islands
Tidal Inlets
Rocky Coastline
Small Scale Systems
Beaches With Their Features, Erosional/Depositional Cycles (Do They Work)
Coastal Engineering - What Is It, Who Wants It, Who Needs It
New England's Coastline - Putting It All Together In Our Backyard
Estuarine Systems (Bays, Rivers, Tidal Flats, and Marshes)
Formation
Features (Sediment Distribution, Turbidity, Chlorophyll and Nutrient Maximums
Sedimentology - Processes, Sediment Sources and Budgets
Coastal Stratigraphy (will be applied to each depositional system listed above)
Classic Depositional Models and What They Reveal

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