On the Coast: Coastline Classification
There is no single, universally agreed upon system of classifying coastlines. Given the large number and variety of classification approaches, oceanographers often gravitate towards the method they consider to be most useful in studying coastal zone...
On the Coast: Defining the Coast
There is no universally accepted definition of coast. It is essentially a boundary between the land and the sea, but it's a broad zone rather than a single line.
On the Coast: Human Impact on Coastlines
Like a sparkling ribbon pressed between land and ocean, the coast draws people to it the world over. In the United States, almost eighty percent of the population lives in coastal counties. Unfortunately, most human impact on coastlines is negative.
Coastline Threats
Explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau talks about threats to the world's coastlines, focusing on the disproportionate percentage of population that lives in coastal areas.
On the Coast: Impact of Geologic Activity on Coastal Zones
Exposure to varying amounts of geologic activity is one of the major reasons why each of the United States coastal zones is so distinct.
On the Coast: Protecting the Coastal Environment
Given the extensive use of the coast by humans, the task of protecting the coastal environment is enormously challenging.