Abstract
Scientific research on sediment dynamics in the coastal zone and along the littoral zone has evolved considerably over the last four decades. It benefits from a technological revolution that provides the community with cheaper or free tools for in situ study (e.g., sensors, gliders), remote sensing (satellite data, video cameras, drones) or modelling (open source models). These changes favour the transfer of developed methods to monitoring and management services. On the other hand, scientific research is increasingly targeted by public authorities towards finalized studies in relation to societal issues. Shoreline vulnerability is an object of concern that grows after each marine submersion or intense erosion event. Thus, during the last four decades, the production of knowledge on coastal sediment dynamics has evolved considerably, and is in tune with the needs of society. This editorial aims at synthesizing the current revolution in the scientific research related to coastal and littoral hydrosedimentary dynamics, putting into perspective connections between coasts and other geomorphological entities concerned by sediment transport, showing the links between many fragmented approaches of the topic, and introducing the papers published in the special issue of Water on “Sediment transport in coastal waters”.
Highlights
On a global scale and over long periods, dissolved and particulate elemental fluxes are essential to improve our knowledge of geochemical cycles [1,2,3,4], in particular the carbon cycle, which plays a major role for the climate
At a local or regional scale, the geomorphodynamics of river basins and coastal zones resulting from erosion, transport and deposition of particles, and the associated transport of nutrients and contaminants, require investigating sediment transport [7,8,9,10,11]
As research funding is increasingly driven by policy, sediment dynamics has become a field of finalized research, which can benefit from this new economy of knowledge. Scientific research in this area is constantly evolving in its objectives, methods, approaches, and relationship to society. In such context of very rapid evolution, this paper reviews recent changes to put into perspective connections between coasts and other geomorphological entities concerned by sediment transport, past and current research tracks, new methods and new tools
Summary
On a global scale and over long periods, dissolved and particulate elemental fluxes are essential to improve our knowledge of geochemical cycles [1,2,3,4], in particular the carbon cycle, which plays a major role for the climate. Sediment transport in coastal waters must be studied with consideration of other domains for closure purpose The approach of these questions has recently evolved on two levels (which we will review): tools and methods, and societal emergency. Scientific research in this area is constantly evolving in its objectives, methods, approaches, and relationship to society In such context of very rapid evolution, this paper reviews recent changes to put into perspective connections between coasts and other geomorphological entities concerned by sediment transport, past and current research tracks, new methods and new tools. It aims to show the links between many fragmented approaches of the same scientific field. It introduces the 12 papers published in the special issue of Water devoted to this theme in 2016–2017
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