Living Together: Estuaries: Productivity and Vulnerability
Estuaries and wetlands are among the most productive areas anywhere, literally teeming with life. But these environments are often threatened by nutrient discharge from agricultural or farm land, as well as the building of homes or other forms of de...
Living Together: Coral Reefs: Structures and Communities
Sometimes referred to as the rain forest of the sea, coral reefs are home to a diverse array of producers, consumers and scavengers. Collectively, these comprise a dynamic ecosystem that is, in every sense of the word, a community.
Due West: Aliso Creek
Aliso Creek, located in Orange County, California, has a consistent beach pollution problem due to rapid development of the upstream environment. As the watershed has been largely paved over, the water is prevented from soaking in and filtering natu...
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...
Look Out Below: Impact of Rising Sea Level
Sea level is rising about two millimeters per year. For those people and structures located along shorelines, this could eventually be a serious problem.
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.
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.
Dirty Water: Global Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
Many scientists are convinced that there is a connection between global climate change and the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Those who believe that global warming is a real and serious problem often cite sea level rise as one reason ...
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.