Coastal Zone Area Research Articles

Assessing impact of land uses on land salinization in the Yellow River Delta, China using an integrated and spatial statistical model

Intensification of agriculture and industry in salinized areas poses a risk of secondary salinization. Thus, comprehensive and spatially explicit assessments are needed to assist government in developing ecologically sound policies. Few assessments have comprehensively quantified the impacts of multiple anthropogenic activities on salinization as environmental interferences and salinity autocorrelation are largely neglected. This study tried to perform such an assessment by identifying the nature of human impacts on salinization from three aspects in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) of China. A versatile GIS-based spatial autoregression (SAR) was applied to nine selected explainable variables in six sub-region models. Sub-region model was verified as an effective tool of normalizing environmental interferences because more useful spatial information was provided compared to the whole region model. GIS-SAR model fit better and performed better in quantifying human activities, compared to the conventional ordinary least square regression (OLSR) model, as SAR can deal with spatial autocorrelation in soil salinity. Among the well-defined key determinants, oil exploitation and saline aquaculture were aggregative to salinization but only in originally highly saline sub-regions, such as coastal zone and Gleyic Solonchaks (coastal saline moisture soil) area. Two agricultural activities, crop plantation and fertilization, were mainly ameliorators in most sub-regions. The most effective salinization alleviation occurred in moderately saline sub-regions, such as floodplain and Salic Fluvisols (saline moisture soil) area, which benefitted from the development of agroforests and farm ponds. The SAR sub-region model is spatially explicit for spotting the hazardous areas and some suggestions were also provided for the policy makers.

1996-2006年美国海岸带土地利用/土地覆被变化时空动态研究<br>Spatial-Temporal Dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover Change From 1996 to 2006 in the Coastal Zone, USA

人类活动深刻影响着美国海岸带地区，其中一个很重要的方面表现为多时空尺度的土地利用/覆被变化。本文基于NOAA Coastal Services Center提供的1996年、2001年和2006年土地覆被数据，将美国本土海岸带分为五个子区域：五大湖沿岸区(LC)、西海岸区(WC)、墨西哥湾海岸区(GC)、东北海岸区(NC)和东南海岸区(SC)，对其土地利用/土地覆被变化的时空特征进行研究。结果表明，研究期内美国海岸带地区林地持续大幅减少同时在SC和GC湿地数量明显下降，而且1996-2001年较2001-2006年土地面积变化更为剧烈。除了在WC最主要的三种用地类型为林地、草地和耕地，其他4个子区则均为林地、湿地和耕地。自1996-2001年到2001-2006年，土地变化幅度明显放慢，用地结构较稳定，其中美国西海岸用地结构最稳定。林地和草地的相互转化在海岸带区域比较普遍，在SC还发生了明显的湿地与林地间的相互转换。美国海岸带的土地利用程度整体较高，其中以LC数值最高、人类活动程度最强，而WC则最小。 Human activities have impacted on the coastal zone profoundly; one of the most important aspects was the land use and land cover change that happening on multi-spatial-temporal scales. In this paper, based on the land cover data in 1996, 2001 and 2006 derived from NOAA Coastal Services Center, the spatial-temporal characters of land use and land cover change in USA’s coastal zone were studied. It’s divided into five sub-regions which are: Great Lakes Coast (LC), West Coast (WC), Gulf Coast (GC), Northeast Coast (NC) and Southeast Coast (SC). Statistical methods and GIS techniques were used to analyze the spatial-temporal characters of LUCC. We found that, there’re extensive land-use activities accompanied with substantial shrinkage of forest area in all the five sub-regions as well as significant decreasing of wetland in SC sub-region, and the change of land areas in 1996-2001 was more dramatic than in 2001-2006. Forest land, wetland and cultivated land were the dominant land use types in most area of coastal zone in USA, however, the grassland spread much wide in WC sub-region. From 1996-2001 to 2001-2006, the changing speed was mitigated markedly, therefore the land cover structure was relatively stable in coastal areas and WC was the most stable. Interchanges between forest and grassland were much common process in coastal zone; moreover, interchanges between wetland and forest were significant in SC sub-region. The land use degree was high overall coastal zone in USA and, from the perspective of land use degree index, LC sub-region has the most intensive human activities while WC sub-region, the least.

Spatial-temporal land use change and landscape response in Bohai Sea coastal zone area

Spatial-temporal land use change and landscape response in Bohai Sea coastal zone area

Coastal risk management: How to motivate individual economic decisions to lower flood risk?

Coastal flood risk is defined as a product of probability of event and its effect, measured in terms of damage. The paper is focused on coastal management strategies aimed to decrease risk by decreasing potential damage. We review socio-economic literature to show that total flood damage depends on individual location choices in the housing market and on individual flood risk awareness. Low flood risk awareness leads to inefficient spatial developments and increased flood risk. We show that personal experience, risk communication, financial instruments like insurance from flooding and technical instruments like building on high elevations, are factors that increase individual risk awareness. Evidence that these factors indeed affect housing prices and land use patterns is provided. We discuss proactive instruments that can be used in coastal zone management in the Netherlands to increase individual risk awareness. We argue that policy-makers may create incentives giving individuals a possibility to make location choices that lead to less total flood risk in the coastal zone area.

EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL COMUNITÁRIA E A CONSERVAÇÃO DO LITORAL BRASILEIRO: A EXPERIÊNCIA DO LABORATÓRIO DE EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL EM ÁREAS COSTEIRAS - CENTRO DE CIÊNCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS DA TERRA E DO MAR – CTTMAR/UNIVALI

Beaches and other coastal ecosystems were always considered recreational places with high aesthetic value. In Brazil these ecosystems were the first places that had attracted the formers Environmental Educators’ attention. The huge relation between researchers and study subjects, approached marine environmental researchers as oceanographers and biologists for educational activities, aimed to environmental conservation. These activities since 1980’s had consolidated important projects along all Brazilian coastline, so that, most of them with great community involvement, attaining national expression. These examples state the great historical binding among Environmental Education (E.E.) and environmental workers, which stills exists until now. Despite the law advances, the Environmental Education is being introduced at the Brazilian college, with a historical delay. The insertion in to basic and highschool educational system generally makes part of widespread initiatives, without support of formal projects and also theoretical and methodological background. Within this scenario highlights the importance of social function of University as into the academic knowledge development, as than into technical support for insertion of E.E. into the highschool and basic levels. This responsibility withstands with the great lack of graduating courses in E.E. in Brazil and a needing of carrying out E.E. into the academic place such as knowledge field, researching subject and teaching. In this point of view, the Environmental Education Laboratory – Laboratorio de Educacao Ambiental / LEA – of UNIVALI, located at the Center of Technological Science of Earth and Sea (CTTMar), is helping out the insertion of E.E. into the University curriculum. At the present it’s working out within courses at the environmental sciences area, producing and spreading out experiments and pedagogic practices in E.E. at the coastal zone and performing of partnerships with community based social movements, and social groups, such as Environmental NGO’s, and also city halls in to the center-north area of Santa Catarina state coastal zone.

Transition from common to private coasts: Consequences of privatization of the coastal commons

Privatization is often viewed to provide positive stimulus for the economy that can lead to the betterment of society. But when the appropriate governance systems are not functionally in place, the unwanted effects of privatization can have deleterious consequences. This paper highlights the consequences of undesirable privatization and the emergent unwanted privatization tendencies of the coastal commons, particularly in the developing countries such as the Philippines. The lack of coherent policies, standards, and weak enforcement of policies in leasing the coastal commons (e.g. various unregulated aquaculture) in the Philippines in particular, have resulted to alarming displacement, deprivation and marginalization of fishing and farming communities and have degraded many coastal zone areas. In addition, poorly planned coastal tourism and housing development projects in the foreshore areas, inappropriate reclamation of coastal areas, illegal usurpation of indigenous people’s rights over ancestral domain areas, and conversion of fishing and fish farming zones into ecotourism zones further aggravated this scenario. Equitable access to resources is of paramount importance to afford concerned stakeholders greater participation in terms of developing greater capacity for coastal communities to engage and demand for improved coastal governance – an important facet of public administration often identified as one of the challenges in managing the commons. Co-management with an Ecosystem-Based Management approach as core operational mechanism provides opportunities to enhance policy formulation and implementation, secure community safety nets, and facilitate the creation of a level-playing environment that help to prevent the unwanted effects of privatization.

Changes in dissolved silica mobilization into river systems draining North America until the period 2081–2100

Dissolved silica (DSi) is an important control on algae abundance and species composition both in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Although continental and global budgets for DSi exist, understanding of the spatial variability of DSi cycles needs to be improved on those scales. In this study, an empirical model of DSi mobilization into river systems is extrapolated on a 1.4 km 2 grid to North America. To analyze changes in DSi mobilization patterns, DSi mobilization is estimated regionally for present day runoff and a runoff projection ensemble for the period 2081–2100. The model predicts present day annual DSi fluxes for the monitored area within 6% of the calculated fluxes. Possible biases by processes not directly represented by applied geodata are discussed (e.g. land use and ecosystem influences) and found to be only minor on the regional scale. Uncertainty of the results is discussed based on a literature review. The projected DSi-mobilization rates at high latitudes for the present day conditions may be overestimated. However, the projected change rate for the period 2081–2100 might even be underestimated, due to e.g. increased thawing in certain permafrost regions, which was not included in the model. The present DSi mobilization into North American rivers is estimated to 44.4 Mt SiO 2 a − 1 . This equals an average specific flux of 2.26 t SiO 2 km − 2 a − 1 . Applying the future runoff projection ensemble increases the specific DSi flux by 12.8%. For the present day conditions only 9% of the total area contributes to 50% of the DSi flux into river systems. This underscores the large regional differences on the North American continent. Analyses of tributary areas of distinct regional seas and coastal zones result in DSi mobilization increases of up to 68.3% for the Canadian Archipelago Basin tributary area. While in general a large increase at high latitudes is projected, in southern North America, slight decreases in DSi mobilization predominate. The highest DSi mobilization decrease of 13.3% is projected for the tributary rivers of the Gulf of California.

Mesoscale structure of copepod assemblages in the coastal transition zone and oceanic waters off central-southern Chile

In the Humboldt Current System, the region off central-southern Chile has relatively high eddy kinetic energy, generating an extensive coastal transition zone (∼600 km offshore) in which coastally derived eddies are recurrent features. This energy might promote strong exchanges of water, biogeochemical properties, and plankton between the coastal upwelling band and the adjacent oceanic zone. In this study, the mesoscale structure of epipelagic copepod assemblages and its relationship to environmental variability and the eddy field in the coastal transition zone and oceanic areas off Concepción (34–39°S, 73–84°W) were investigated. Zooplankton samples were collected during cruises of opportunity carried out during the 2006 coastal upwelling season and the oceanographic conditions were derived from satellite data on sea surface height, temperature, and chlorophyll a. The use of cluster analyses and indicator species revealed two main copepod assemblages: (i) species with a mainly coastal distribution, the maximum in total abundance being found nearshore and (ii) species with a mainly oceanic distribution (beyond ∼500 km from the coast), where a secondary maximum was observed. Both types of assemblages, however, included species widely distributed in the coastal transition zone. An ordination analysis identified sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a as the main factors affecting the distribution of most species and the clustering of stations resembled the distribution of these variables. Some of the large calanoid species that are common in shelf waters were more abundant within nearshore eddies rich in chlorophyll a and other cyclonic eddies far offshore; however, the eddy field alone did not explain the copepod mesoscale distribution. Altogether, the wide distribution of shelf/slope copepod species in this region suggests that physical and biological mechanisms might be acting to extend the productive area of the coastal upwelling zone.

Spatial distribution features and environment effect of heavy metal in intertidal surface sediments of Guanhe estuary, Northern Jiangsu Province

In northern Jiangsu coastal zone area, Guanhe River is the biggest river and has the best navigation conditions among rivers which flow into the Yellow Sea. The grain sizes show gradual increase from the high intertidal zone to lower intertidal zone. The heavy metal values have slight changes along both sides of the river mouth, but show an evident change perpendicular to the tidal flat. In the latter case, they show a good correlation with grain size fluctuation, that is, the heavy metal values gradually decline when the grain size increases from the high intertidal zone to the lower intra-tidal zone. Analyses of the heavy metal elements show that on the Guanhe estuary surface sediment, the content of the elements Hg, As and Cu is above background values; Pb and Zn contents are rather close to the background values; and Cd content is less than the background values. The element Hg comes out to be harmful in a medium level to ecological environment, while the elements of Cr, As, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd fall in a safe range of MPL. On the whole, Guanhe estuary tidal flat is not very harmful to the ecology in terms of the heavy metals.

大規模砂浜を有する沿岸域の土砂管理

In this research, the Ishikawa-ken area of Kaetsu coastal zone and Enshu-nada coastal zone are selected as the coastal zone where a large-scale sandy beach is left, and sedimentation control of those zones is examined in order to recover the continuity of overall movement of earth and sand, and the following plans are proposed:1) An efficient countermeasure based on sand recycling by shipping and natural carrying system due to waves and currents in the Ishikawa-ken area of Kaetsu coastal zone.2) An effective countermeasure based on natural carrying power due to Tenryu river flow and a sand bypass by trucking for short distance in Enshu-nada coastal zone.

A Comparative Study of Two Multiresolution Methods for the Mapping of a Large Coastal Zone Area from a Synthetic Aperture Radar Image

The problem which worries us in this study is the mapping of an Atlantic coastal zone from a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image of very great size. It is known that reducing the size of very great size images by the multiresolution techniques allows to resolve problems of slowness when such images are processed with a weak capacity computer. However, reducing the size of an image causes a loss of information. In this study, the technique of reducing images by the Burt's method and the technique of wavelets by the Haar's method are compared, using as an example, an unsupervised classification of a SAR ERS-1 image on the Cameroonian Atlantic coast. The loss of information of the image is estimated as it is reduced, for each of these methods. This loss of information shows itself by an alteration of the ground's occupation area of the various classes resulted from the unsupervised classification. An extrapolation of the results is then made to allow a valuation of the ground's occupation surfaces on the original image which was not able to be processed because of its very great size. Within the framework of this study, the method of the Haar's wavelets offers a better stability of the results compared with the Burt's method and it allows to have a good valuation of the real ground's surfaces of the various classes of the image.

The Role of Desalination in Meeting Water Supply Demands in Western Asia

The increasing gap between the supply and demand for water in the Economic and Social Commission of Western Asia (ESCWA) member countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen) can be attributed to the limited availability of surface water, mining of fossil groundwater sources, and water pollution mainly of shallow aquifers, deficient institutional structure, poor management processes, and inapt allocation of financial resources. The non-sustainable use of natural water resources to meet the escalating water demand has also contributed to the depletion and deterioration of water quality and quantity. To meet water supply shortages in the domestic sector, water desalination has been entrenched as a viable option for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which includes the following countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. The objective of the paper is to investigate the role of water desalination in meeting the water demands in the ESCWA member countries. The significant role of desalination is highlighted with emphasis in evaluating not only its production trends, processes, and costs, but also its capacity in the provision of water demands. Water desalination has become a major and staunch water source for a number of large urban centers. For such countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar and the coastal zone areas of Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia, desalination represents one of the most feasible and strategic alternative options for their current and future domestic water supply requirement. Given the high consumption rate from this source and its high production cost, fundamental efforts must be integrated and invested in both research and development programs to implement comprehensive conservation measures that would lead to a reduction in the consumption rates. Parallel to these achievements, efforts should be directed within the context of integrated management of water resources, to identify alternative potential water resources, to meet future water challenges.

The Application of Remote-Sensing Techniques To Create a Black Sea Coastal Response Strategy for Oil Spill Response

ABSTRACT The application of remote satellite imaging, coupled with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology has been used to create coastal maps enhanced with environmental information. The use of such techniques for oil spill response requires the development of practical applications to assist responders with real-time decision making. In a joint effort with regional navies for Black Sea spill contingency planning, the U.S. Navy has developed methods by which a quick, accurate, and economical application of existing technology can be used to produce data rich maps for a large area of interest. This combines various existing techniques to create practical applications and usable documents for oil spill planners and responders. Existing environmental data on a selected area of the Black Sea coastal zone was collected and this information was sorted, harmonized and transposed onto a rectified multispectral satellite image of the area in a GIS format. Multispectral analysis was performed on the image to locate environmentally distinct zones. The resulting multi-layered GIS map provides a useful representation of coastal environmental sensitivities, and in many ways surpasses conventional GIS systems. The satellite image provides an accurate and real-time map of the area while the multispectral data precisely locates common ecosystems, such as wetlands and forests. This allows for the rapid prioritization of coastal areas and the ability to pinpoint specific areas for protection. The resulting process provides emergency responders the ability to quickly and efficiently create a data rich GIS. This system will provide reliable, timely information for protection strategies, identifying environmental and public risks, and offer a basis by which to measure spill impacts and recovery techniques, especially in areas where environmental reference data is limited.

The Option to Discharge Industrial or Sewage Effluent to the Marine Environment

The utilisation of the ocean for the disposal of domestic or industrial waste is a controversial subject with different views and perceptions by the public, the scientific community and developers. With extensive developments, increased stresses are exerted on the coastal zone areas. Disposal of wastes will have effect on the environment (land, atmosphere or ocean) and it is the responsibility of the scientific community and the authorities to minimise detrimental effects to the environment. The ocean as a disposal medium is an inappropriate medium to dispose of persistent toxic materials, however, the assimilative capacity of the sea is enormous for certain substances providing:Impact assessments to determine the influence of disposal to the marine environment should be compared to similar assessments of the environment to be influenced by alternative disposal options.Social and economic considerations should also form an integral part of such an assessment.Water quality criteria should be clearly defined and scientifically sound to provide the basis for the design of outfalls as well as for monitoring the short and long-term impacts.Authorised control and effective legislation should be available to enforce quality requirements and remedial actions to be taken.

A Proposal of the Purification System for the Coastal Environment Utilizing Wave Energy

Recently, the problems of environment becomes one of the biggest problems for human in the world. Even in the area of offshore and coastal zone, we can see a lot of problems of contamination of sea water, mud and shore. In order to improve such contamination, we should not use the electric power generated by the fuel, coal or nuclear power plant, because such plant causes another and more serious “pollution”. Fortunately, we can use the natural energy resources in ocean, such as wave energy. Consequently, authors proposes to utilize wave energy for the improvement of the coastal environment efficiently. Wave power device “the Mighty Whale” which was designed and tested by authors should be used for the generation of air power, and it rotates an air turbine and an air compressor to generate the compressed air. The compressed air is storaged in the tank which is installed on the sea bottom, and air pipe line is connected from the tank to the shore for the aeration. It makes sea water to be left-lettresh efficiently.Authors introduce out line of this concept and propose to utilize the system for the environmental problems at the offing and coastal zone.

Egyptian approach towards appropriate use of coastal zones on the Red Sea

Environmental management and appropriate use of coastal zones in Egypt is one of the major challenges facing Egypt. This is a natural outcome of its strategic geographical location straddling both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea which constitute two of the major enclosed coastal seas in the world. Therefore, the problem of the protection of the marine environment in the Egyptian coastal zones has received an early and serious concern by the Egyptian authorities Being a major tourist and recreation area and due to its exceptional ecological and aesthetic value, and as a result of a number of environmental pressures including rapid development and oil pollution, a development plan for the South Sinai coastal zone area was proposed within an integrated Environmental Management Plan of the Egyptian coastal zones along the Red Sea. Accordingly, the Gulf of Aqaba coast has been zoned into tourism development areas, protected areas, and National Parks. This will of course ensure that representative, economic and biologically important systems are set aside to guarantee the sustainability of the tourism developments in this unique area. Due to the repeated and lasting occurrence of oil pollution on the shoreline of the gulf which endanger both the high coral diversity and mangroves which are equally valuable and in need of protection, oil pollution combating arrangements are being established at the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba. This paper aims to illustrate the Egyptian approach in the coastal zone management, with special emphasis on the coastal zones of South Sinai adjacent to the Gulf of Aqaba.

沿岸域と港湾空間利用計画手法の展望

沿岸域と港湾空間利用計画手法の展望

Evaluation of Reclamation Work on Coastal Zone Area

In plannig multipurpose reclaimed lands from the national economic viewpoint, we can evaluate the benefits of these lands by the total amount of “Willingness To Pay”(i. e.“bid price”) to acquire the lot of each facility that stands on. On the other hand, the cost of reclamation work corresponds to the total amount of resources lost by reclamation. We can further evaluate the social effects of reclamation work by comparison between total amount of these benefits and costs.

Transport and Water Quality Modelling in the Southern North Sea in Relation to Coastal Pollution Research and Control

Mathematical modelling techniques are used to quantify the transport in the southern part of the North Sea of pollutants originating from various inputs. Special attention was given to the anthropogenic increase in local concentrations of nutrients (N, P) and heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr) and their potential impact on marine organisms. A depth-averaged hydrodynamic model is used to calculate tidal and wind driven velocities and water levels. By averaging, residual flows are calculated, forming the basis for advective transports in a water quality model. Dispersive transports are derived from a comparison of simulated and observed salinity distributions. Water mass distributions and age functions for various inflowing water types are determined with the model. Transports of nutrients and heavy metals in the southern part of the North Sea are calculated using annual pollution inputs for 1980. Although interactions with bottom sediments are not considered, the calculated and measured concentrations show good similarities. The water quality in the Dutch coastal zone and German Bight area is shown to be highly determined by local pollution loads from the rivers Rhine, Weser and Elbe respectively. Comparison of simulated concentrations for 1980 with those resulting from simulations with estimated natural river inputs, shows that more than 50% of nutrients and heavy metal concentrations originate from human activities in large coastal zone areas. From toxicological information and standards, it is concluded that Cd, Hg and Cu are substances that need special attention in pollution research and control for the Dutch coastal waters.

Recreational behavior of onshore and offshore oil industry employees in Newfoundland, Canada

Abstract This paper discusses the results of surveys of oil industry employees in Newfoundland, Canada, working both onshore and offshore on rigs and supply boats. The surveys reveal the different recreational behavior of respondents compared to local residents, and the unique and restricted environments in which they live and work while offshore. The analysis covers the leisure time activities both offshore and onshore, and the effects of the relocation to Newfoundland upon the recreational behavior of the sample. Conclusions discuss the significance of relocation upon recreation behavior, and implications for planning, provision, and operation of leisure opportunities in coastal zone areas affected by hydrocarbon development.