Coastal Morphodynamics and Ecosystem Dynamics

The shape of the land and the processes that mold the land are mutually interconnected and change together as a complex system. The coupled suites of mutually-inter-dependent hydrodynamic, biologic and anthropogenic processes, seafloor and landscape morphologies interact to cause time-dependent sequences of change. In many cases it is moving water or air (currents, waves, winds) that redistribute the material. The new land configurations in turn then alter the directions, intensities and gradients of the moving water or air. In other cases, it is biological rather than physical processes that build or degrade morphologic features such as coral reefs or coastal marshes. There is constant feedback among the multiple components of the system.