9 - 11 April 2013, Gran Canaria, Spain
Organisers
University of Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Spain
Wessex Institute of Technology, UK
University of Parthenope, Italy
Description
Following the success of the first two conferences on Coastal Processes held in Malta in 2009 and Naples in 2011, it has been decided to reconvene the meeting in Gran Canaria.
Coastal regions present a complex dynamic web of natural and human related processes. Although coastal zones are narrow areas extending a few kilometres on either side of the shoreline, and occupying a small strip of ocean and land, they play a very important role as they account for nearly a quarter of all oceanic biological production, which in turn supplies approximately 80% of the world's fish. About 60% of the human population live in the coastal zone, and around 70% of big cities are placed in this narrow area. Concomitantly, more than 90% of the pollutants generated by human economic activities end up in the coastal zone.
The unstoppable demand of the coast for recreational and tourism activities has increased the need for shore and beach protection, as well as the construction of artificial beaches, ports and harbours. Most coastlines are subjected to the direct impact of wind waves, swell and storm wave activity. As a result, wind waves and wave driven currents are the dominant mechanisms controlling littoral sand transport and determining the nearshore morphology. In addition, many other physical phenomena, such as tides and associated currents, long waves and storm surges, amongst others, can play a significant role in the dynamic behaviour of the coastal zone.
Due to its great socio-economic importance, the physical aspects of the coastal processes have been of concern for decades, but recent advances in a number of areas, including satellite remote sensing, are giving rise to significant progress in this field. In particular, the use of satellite and imaging systems has significantly enhanced the monitoring and understanding of coastal processes.
Conference Topics
- Wave modelling
- Hydrodynamic modelling
- Effects of climate change in coastal zones
- Coastal defences
- Energy recovery
- Sediment transport and erosion
- Pollution and water quality
- Planning and beach design
- Coastal morphology
- Coastal processes and navigation
- Coastal processes and GIS
- Bio-physical coastal processes
- Remote sensing
- Systems approach
- Coastal zone management
- Impact and recovery from tsunamis
- Impact of storms and extreme events
- Ecosystems modelling
- Coastal lagoons
- Coastal oceanography
- Socio-environmental issues
View the conference website, which has full details about the conference objectives, topics and submission requirements at: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/13-conferences/coastal-processes-2013.html
