OVERVIEW OF CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE DEGREE AND TYPES OF HAZARDS INHERENT IN COASTAL TERRITORIES

Abstract

The article provides a brief overview of approaches to classifying the degree of danger of natural phenomena and the types of possible hazards for coastal territories. It is shown that some approaches are universal and can be applied to almost any category of the coast to improve decision-making tools when planning the development and modernization of coastal infrastructure, including in Russia. Such approaches can be considered as a methodological basis for a simple assessment of the hazards inherent in the coastal environment in a changing climate. The paper also considers the system of comprehensive classification of coastal areas, which uses as a basis a geological classification, which is superimposed on the main dynamic forces and processes acting in the coastal environment and on the geological framework itself. Using this methodology, a total of 113 typical coastal environments were identified, and attempts were made to keep the number of typical environments as low as possible, while maintaining the usefulness of the classification system considered from the point of view of decision support. This system allows for practical classification by collecting data on the ground and using remote sensing of the Earth, or mainly using remote means. The system includes the following components: geological and chemical structure, wave parameters, tidal characteristics, flora/fauna, sediment balance and storm climate. Each common coastal system has a specific combination of these variables. The geological plan includes the following categories: coastal plain; barrier; islands; rocky coast; coral islands; tidal inlet / spit / estuary.