GES2150

Coastal geomorphology and management

Associate Professor Jim Peterson

4 points
* 2.5 hours per week on average (2 lectures and 1 lecture and 2-hour practical in alternate weeks)
* Second semester
* Clayton
* Prerequisites: A first-year sequence in geography, or permission of the head of department

Objectives To introduce students to the nature of environmental (in)stability on coasts and the application of coastal science to planning and management.

Synopsis Coastal changes since the end of the last glacial stage have been great and much interest centres on the nature of environmental stability and the relative role of catastrophic events, natural change and fluctuation, and of economic development in determining the pattern of geographical variation in coastal landform evolution. Studies of such topics lead to an assessment of the importance of an understanding of the nature of environmental stability to modern resources management in the coastal zone.

Assessment Written (1500 words): 20%
* Examinations (2 hours): 50%
* Practical work/fieldwork: 30%

Prescribed texts

Bird E C F Coasts 3rd edn, ANU Press, 1984 or
Bird ECF Beach management Wiley, 1996 or
Viles H and Spencer T Coastal problems Edward Arnold, 1995

Recommended texts

Bird E C F Coastline changes: A global review Wiley, 1985
Bird E C F The coast of Victoria MUP, 1993
Bird E C F Submerging coasts Wiley, 1993
Carter R W E Coastal environments Academic Press, 1988
Davies J L Geographical variation in coastal development Longman, 1980
Thom B G (ed.) Coastal geomorphology in Australia Academic Press, 1985