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For other uses, see Coast (disambiguation).
Atlantic Ocean: The East Coast of Brazil.
Atlantic Ocean: The East Coast of Brazil. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld
Pacific Ocean: The West Coast of New Zealand.
Pacific Ocean: The West Coast of New Zealand. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions Naming To New Zealanders the term 'The Coast' generally refers to the West Coast of the South Island, and 'Coasters' to those that live there New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island
Atlantic Ocean: The Bay of Biscay coast near Tapia de Casariego, Spain.
Atlantic Ocean: The Bay of Biscay coast near Tapia de Casariego, Spain. Cantabrian Sea redirects here Not to be confused with Biscay Bay Newfoundland and Labrador or Biscayne Bay. Tapia de Casariego ( Eonavian: Tapia) is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
Indian Ocean: coasts of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal.
Indian Ocean: coasts of the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface The Andaman Islands are a group of islands in the Bay of Bengal, and are part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory of India. The Bay of Bengal is a bay that forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean.

The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the ocean. An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. A coastline is properly a line on a map indicating the disposition of a coast, but the word is often used to refer to the coast itself. The adjective coastal describes something as being on, near to, or associated with a coast.

Coast is a specific term, and is applied to that part of an island or continent that borders an ocean or its saltwater tributaries. A pelagic coast refers to a coast which fronts the open ocean, as opposed to a more sheltered coast in a gulf or bay. Any water in the sea that is not close to the bottom is in the pelagic zone. Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment A shore on the other hand, can refer to parts of the land which adjoin any large body of water, including oceans (sea shore) and lakes (lake shore). A shore or shoreline is the fringe of land at the edge of a large body of water such as an Ocean, Sea, or Lake. A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the Similarly, the somewhat related term bank refers to the land alongside or sloping down to a river (river bank) or of a body of water smaller than a lake. A stream bed is the channel bottom of a Stream or River or creek the physical confine of the normal water flow "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there Bank is also used in some parts of the world to refer to an artificial ridge of earth intended to retain the water of a river or pond. A pond is a body of water smaller than a Lake, both being examples of Terrain features Although the term pond is universally used to describe waterbodies that In other places this may be called a levee. Dike (constructionEmbankmentA levee, levée, dike (or dyke) embankment, floodbank or stopbank is a natural or artificial

While many scientific experts might agree on a common definition of the term "coast", the delineation of the inland extents of a coast differ according to jurisdiction, with many scientific and government authorities in various countries differing for economic and social policy reasons. In Law, jurisdiction (from the Latin ius iuris meaning "law" and dicere meaning "to speak" is the practical Authority This is usually because defining lands as part of a coast may be seen to have environmental implications which would prevent development or attach regulations to their use.

Contents

Environmental importance

The coast and its adjacent areas on and off shore is an important part of a local ecosystem as the mixture of fresh water and salt water in estuaries provides many nutrients for marine life. An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants animals and micro-organisms( Biotic factors in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical ( Salt is a Dietary mineral composed primarily of Sodium chloride that is essential for Animal life but toxic to most land plants An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open Salt marshes and beaches also support a diversity of plants, animals, and insects crucial to the food chain. In Geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of Wetland which is subject Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Food chains, also called food networks and/or trophic networks, describe the feeding relationships between species within an Ecosystem.

Like the ocean which shapes them, coasts are a dynamic environment with constant change. The earth's natural processes, particularly sea level rise, waves and various weather phenomena, have resulted in the erosion, accretion and reshaping of coasts as well as flooding and creation of continental shelves and drowned river valleys (rias). Sea-level rise is an increase in Sea level. Multiple complex factors may influence this change A wave is a disturbance that propagates through Space and Time, usually with transference of Energy. The weather is a set of all the phenomena occurring in a given Atmosphere at a given Time. Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind Accretion is a process by which material is added to a Tectonic plate. A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land a deluge The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each Continent and associated Coastal plain, which is covered during interglacial periods such A ria is a Landform, often referred to as a drowned river valley.

The high level of biodiversity creates a high level of biological activity, which has attracted human activity for thousands of years. Biodiversity is the variation of Life forms within a given Ecosystem, Biome or for the entire Earth. Due to extraordinary population growth in the 20th century, tremendous pressures have been placed on the planet’s ecosystems. With a larger population we must provide more housing, energy, and food. The problem exists both in the concentration of people in coastal areas and their sheer numbers. In the Mancote Mangroves of St. Lucia, harvesting mangrove for timber and clearing for fishing drove the mangrove forests to dangerously low levels. Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. This disruption resulted in a loss of habitat and spawning ground for marine life that was unique to the area. These mangrove forests also helped to stabilize the coastlines. St. Lucia was faced with a huge mess and fortunately have been able to make great conservation efforts since the 80’s that has partially restored the ecosystem functioning.

Human impacts

Further information: Marine debris

Coasts also face many environmental challenges relating to human-induced impacts. The human influence on climate change is thought to be a contributing factor of an accelerated trend in sea level rise which threatens coastal habitat as natural systems struggle to adapt faster. Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given region experiences Sea-level rise is an increase in Sea level. Multiple complex factors may influence this change Human development of coastal land, particularly for recreational or industrial uses are similarly threatened by sea level rise, but also contribute to aesthetic problems of land use and reduced natural coastal habitat. Aesthetics or esthetics ( also spelled æsthetics) is commonly known as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values sometimes called

Pollution is an ongoing concern along coasts with garbage and industrial debris littering beaches and sometimes entire coasts, requiring government agencies to make frequent use of beach cleaners and other volunteer cleanup efforts. A beach cleaner is a vehicle that drags a sifting device over Beach sand to remove rubbish and other foreign matter The transportation of petroleum in tankers is a major hazard both for the open ocean and along coasts, particularly when large oil spills occur. Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit For the fictional character see Oil Slick (Transformers. An oil spill is the release of a Liquid Petroleum Hydrocarbon into Another major hazard for coastal marine life is the large number of small oil spills created by large and small vessels powered by petroleum which flush bilge water directly into the ocean. The bilge is the lowest compartment on a ship where the two sides meet

Both the terms coast and coastal are often used to describe a geographic location or region. For example, New Zealand's West Coast, or the East and West Coasts of the United States. Naming To New Zealanders the term 'The Coast' generally refers to the West Coast of the South Island, and 'Coasters' to those that live there The East Coast of the United States, also known as the "Eastern Seaboard" or "Atlantic Seaboard" refers to the easternmost coastal states in the central and northern The " West Coast " " Western Seaboard " or " Pacific Seaboard " are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the Western United States

A settled coastline in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
A settled coastline in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States.

A large part of the global population inhabits areas near a coast, partly to take advantage of marine resources such as fish, but more importantly to participate in seaborne trade with other nations. Many of the world's major cities that have developed in recent centuries were built on or near good harbours and have large port facilities to take advantage of marine transportation. A harbor or harbour (see spelling differences) or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the Weather or are stored ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo Jurisdictions which are landlocked and have no coast are often at an economic disadvantage with overseas trade being more difficult; sometimes being forced to go to extravagant measures such as building canals to permit ocean-going vessels to travel inland. A landlocked country is commonly defined as one enclosed or nearly enclosed by land Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways

Coasts, especially those with beaches and warm water are also an important draw for tourists. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel In many island nations such as those of the Mediterranean, South Pacific and Caribbean, tourism by those who come to enjoy the coast is central to the economy. An island country is a Country that is wholly confined to an Island, several islands an Island group or several island groups and has no territory on Coasts are popular destinations because of recreational activities such as swimming, fishing, surfing, boating, and sunbathing. Swimming is the movement by humans or animals through Water, usually without artificial assistance For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. Surfing is a surface water sport in which the participant is carried along the face of a breaking wave, most commonly using a Surfboard, although wave-riders Boating, the leisurely activity of traveling by Boat typically refers to the Recreational use of boats whether Power boats sail boats, or Sunlight, in the broad sense is the total spectrum of the Electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. Growth management can be a challenge for coastal local authorities who often struggle to provide the infrastructure required by new residents seeking seachange lifestyles. Growth management is a set of techniques used by government to ensure that as the population grows that there are services available to meet their demands Local governments are administrative offices that are smaller than a State. Infrastructure typically refers to the technical structures that support a society such as Roads Water supply, Wastewater, Power grids A seachange (or sea change) is an abandonment of city living in favour of a perceived 'easier life' in rural coastal communities The term lifestyle was originally coined by Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler in 1929

Many tourists and residents also enjoy the salt air by the sea coast which some consider to have health benefits. Coastal weather is heavily influenced by the ocean and while this can sometimes result in dangerous storms such as Nor'easters and hurricanes, the coastal climate is often cooler and more temperate than corresponding inland areas. A nor'easter (also northeaster; see below is a macro-scale Storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada. A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center and numerous Thunderstorms that produce strong winds and Flooding Consequently tourists from areas experiencing extremely warm and humid weather seek coastal areas for these reasons.

Fisheries have lost much of their capacity to produce fish due to habitat degradation, and over-fishing. Overharvesting, trawling, bycatch and climate change are among some of the major pressures on fisheries. Trawling is a method of Fishing that involves pulling a large Fishing net through the water behind one or more boats Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given region experiences Since the growth of the global fishing enterprise since the 1950’s, intensive fishing has gone from a few concentrated areas to encompass nearly all fisheries. Not only is over fishing a problem but the technology involved creates even greater destruction. Trawling, or bottom dragging, is used for catching shrimp and other bottom dwelling species. This scraping of the ocean floor is devastating to coral, sponges and other long-lived species that do not recover quickly. This destruction alters the functioning of the ecosystem and can permanently alter species composition and biodiversity. Bycatch is the result of capturing unintended species in the course of fishing. Of this unintended catch most is discarded back into the ocean and dies from injuries or exposure. Bycatch represents approximately ¼ of all marine catch. In the case of shrimp capture, the amount of bycatch is five times larger than the amount of shrimp caught.

The coast is often a crucial defensive frontier, both for warding off military invaders but also smugglers and illegal migrants. Coastal defenses have thus long been erected in many nations. In some jurisdictions the terms sea defense and coastal protection are used to mean respectively defence against flooding and erosion Most coastal countries also have a navy and some form of coast guard. A coast guard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea

Types of coast

An emergent coastline is a coastline which has experienced a fall in sea level, because of either a global sea level change, or local uplift. Emergent coastlines are identifiable by the coastal landforms, which are above the high tide mark, such as raised beaches. Definition A raised beach or a marine terrace is an emergent coastal Landform. Alternatively, a submergent coastline is a coastline which has experienced a rise in sea level, due to a global sea level change, local subsidence, or isostatic rebound. In Geology, Engineering, and Surveying, subsidence is the motion of a surface (usually the Earth's surface as it shifts downward relative to Post-glacial rebound (sometimes called continental rebound, isostatic rebound, isostatic adjustment or post-ice-age isostatic recovery) Submergent coastlines are identifiable by their submerged, or "drowned" landforms, such as rias (drowned valleys) and fjords. A ria is a Landform, often referred to as a drowned river valley. A fjord or fiord (fjɔːd|fiːɔːd or fiːɔːd is a long narrow Inlet with steep sides created in a valley carved by glacial activity.

A concordant coastline is a coastline where bands of different rock types run parallel to the shore. These rock types are usually of alternating resistance, so the coastline forms distinctive landforms, such as coves. Geological resistance is a measure of how well Minerals resist erosive factors and is primarily based on hardness, Chemical reactivity and cohesion A discordant coastline is a type of coastline formed when rock types of alternating resistance run perpendicular to the shore. Discordant coastlines feature distinctive landforms because the rocks are eroded by ocean waves. Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. A wave is a disturbance that propagates through Space and Time, usually with transference of Energy. The less resistant rocks erode faster, creating inlets or bays; the more resistant rocks erode more slowly, remaining as headlands or outcroppings. An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water often leading to an enclosed body of water such as a sound, bay, Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment

Coastal landforms and features

Coastal landforms. The feature shown here as a bay would, in Britain, be called a cove. That between the cuspate foreland and the tombolo is a British bay.
Coastal landforms. The feature shown here as a bay would, in Britain, be called a cove. That between the cuspate foreland and the tombolo is a British bay.

Cliff erosion

Rivers on the coastline

Coastal features formed by sediment

Coastal features formed by another feature

Other features on the coast

Coastal processes

Wildlife

Animals

Animals living along the coast vary enormously, some live along coasts to nest like puffins, sea turtles and rockhopper penguins. Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment A cove is a circular or Oval Coastal Inlet with a narrow entrance Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment A peninsula is a piece of land that is nearly surrounded by Water but connected to Mainland via an Isthmus. A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter In Geography and Geology, a cliff is a significant vertical or near vertical rock exposure "Natural Bridges" redirects here for the US National Monument see Natural Bridges National Monument. A stack is a geological Landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock in the sea near a coast A wave-cut platform, or shore platform is the narrow flat area often seen at the base of a Sea cliff or along a large lake shore caused by the action of the A delta is a Landform where the mouth of a River flows into an Ocean, Sea, Estuary, Lake or another river An estuary is a semi-enclosed Coastal body of Water with one or more Rivers or Streams flowing into it and with a free connection to the open The boondocks is a remote usually brushy rural area or a term for a remote city or town that is considered unsophisticated In physical Geography, a dune is a Hill of Sand built by Aeolian processes. Mudflats (also tidal flats, tide flats, etc are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers Definition A raised beach or a marine terrace is an emergent coastal Landform. A ria is a Landform, often referred to as a drowned river valley. A shoal or sandbar (also called sandbank) is a somewhat Linear Landform within or extending into a body of Water, A spit is a deposition Landform found off Coasts. At one end spits connect to land while at the far end they exist in open water A surge channel is a narrow inlet on a rocky shoreline As waves strike the shore water fills the channel and drains out again as the waves retreat A tombolo is a deposition Landform such as a spit or bar which is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land A lagoon is a body of comparatively shallow salt or Brackish water separated from the deeper Sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank, coral A salt marsh is a type of Marsh that is a transitional intertidal between land and salty or Brackish water (e concordant coastline occurs where the bands of differing rock types run parallel to the Coast. A discordant coastline occurs where bands of differing rock type run Perpendicular to the Coast. A fjord or fiord (fjɔːd|fiːɔːd or fiːɔːd is a long narrow Inlet with steep sides created in a valley carved by glacial activity. An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant A volcanic arc is a chain of volcanic islands or Mountains formed by Plate tectonics as an oceanic Tectonic plate subducts under This article is about a geographic landform For the TV series see Machair (TV series The Gaelic word machair or machar refers to a fertile A current, in a River or Stream, is the Flow of Water influenced by Gravity as the water moves Downhill to reduce its Denudation is the process by which the removal of material through means of Erosion and Weathering, leads to a reduction of elevation and relief in landforms and Deposition is the geological process by which material is added to a Landform or land mass Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land a deluge Longshore drift (sometimes known as shore drift, LSD or littoral drift) is a geological process by which Sediments such as sand For definition and other use disambiguation see Saltation In Geology, saltation (from Latin, saltus, "leap" Sea-level rise is an increase in Sea level. Multiple complex factors may influence this change Mean sea level (MSL is the average (mean height of the Sea, with reference to a suitable reference surface Isostasy (Greek isos = "equal" stásis = "standstill" is a term used in Geology to refer to the state of gravitational equilibrium between the Sedimentation describes the motion of Molecules in Solutions or particles in suspensions in response to an external force such as gravity In geology transportation refers to the movement of eroded debris whether by Rivers Glaciers Wind or Ocean currents and In Chemistry, a solution is a Homogeneous Mixture composed of two or more substances In Chemistry, A suspension is a Heterogenous fluid containing Solid particles that are sufficiently large for Sedimentation. Characteristics A tide is a repeated cycle of sea level changes in the following stages Over several hours the water rises or advances up a beach in the flood A wave is a disturbance that propagates through Space and Time, usually with transference of Energy. Weathering is the decomposition of earth rocks, Soils and their Minerals through direct contact with the planet's Atmosphere. Puffin describes any of four Auk species (or alcids) in the Bird genus Fratercula (Latin little brother — probably a reference Sea turtles ( Superfamily Chelonioidea) are Turtles found in all the world's oceans except the Arctic Ocean. The Southern Rockhopper Penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome, is a Species of Penguin. Sea snails and various kinds of barnacles live on the coast and scavenge on food deposited by the sea. A barnacle is a type of Arthropod belonging to infraclass Cirripedia in the subphylum Crustacea, and is hence distantly related to Most coastal animals are used to humans in developed areas, such as dolphins and seagulls who eat food thrown for them by tourists. Dolphins are Marine mammals that are closely related to Whales and Porpoises There are almost forty species of dolphin in seventeen genera. Gulls (often informally Seagulls) are birds in the family Laridae Since the coastal areas are all part of the littoral zone, there is a profusion of marine life found just off-coast. Littoral refers to the coast of an ocean or sea or to the banks of a river lake or estuary

There are many kinds of seabirds on the coast. Seabirds are Birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment Pelicans and cormorants join up with terns and oystercatchers to forage for fish and shellfish on the coast. A pelican is a large water Bird with a distinctive pouch under the beak belonging to the Bird family Pelecanidae. The Bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 Species of cormorants and shags. Terns are Seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily (Sterninae of the gull family Laridae (van Tuinen et al "Oystercatchers" is also a novel by Susan Fletcher. The oystercatchers are a group of Waders they form the family

Plants

Coastal areas are famous for their kelp beds. Kelp are large Seaweeds ( Algae) belonging to the Brown algae and classified in the order Laminariales Kelp is a fast growing seaweed that grows up to a metre a day. Kelp are large Seaweeds ( Algae) belonging to the Brown algae and classified in the order Laminariales Seaweed is a loose colloquial term encompassing macroscopic Multicellular, benthic marine Algae. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Corals and anemones are true animals, but live a similar lifestyle as plants do. Corals are Marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small Sea anemone –like Polyps typically in colonies of many Anemone ( A-ne-mó-ne, from the Gr Άνεμος wind is a Genus of about 120 Species of flowering plants in the

See also

References

External links

Dictionary

coast

-noun

  1. The shoreline or oceanfront.

-verb

  1. (intransitive) To glide along without adding energy.
  2. (intransitive, nautical) To sail along a coast
  3. Applied to human behavior, to make a minimal effort, to continue to do something in a routine way. This implies lack of initiative and effort.
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