Challenges in Estuarine and Coastal Science

Coastlines play an important role as interfaces between land and sea. The creation and alterations of these zones depend on many factors, including natural weather phenomena such as ocean waves, longshore and rip currents, and high and low tides. Furthermore, temperature, wind, ice, rainfall, and floodwater runoffs are factors that shape transition zones between river valleys, deltas, estuaries, and coasts through cycles of deposition, weathering, and erosion of sediments, sand, and rocks. In short, coasts are dynamic geographical systems that are constantly changing (Barbier et al., 2011; De Battisti, 2021). In recent decades, increased anthropogenic activities, climate change, global warming, and extreme storm and flooding occurrences have impacted coastal zones. More specifically, increased sea-level rise, land clearance, pollution, and waste disposal are among those events that have a devastating effect not only on coastal landforms and aquatic life and ecosystem health but also on human coastal...