Klemas, V., 2013. Airborne remote sensing of coastal features and processes: an overview.

Coastal ecosystems tend to be spatially complex and exhibit high temporal variability. Observing them requires the ability to monitor their biophysical features and controlling processes at high spatial and temporal resolutions, which can be provided by airborne remote sensors. High-resolution satellite data are now also available, yet the finer resolution and frequent, flexible overflights offered by airborne sensors can be more effective in a range of coastal research and management applications, such as wetlands mapping, coastal bathymetry, and tracking coastal plumes, salinity gradients, tidal fronts, and oil slicks. The airborne imagery is also useful for the interpretation of satellite data. This article reviews estuarine and coastal remote sensing applications that require the high spatial and temporal resolutions provided by airborne sensors.

Lidz, B.H. and Zawada, D.G., 2013. Possible return of Acropora cervicornis at Pulaski Shoal, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida.

Seabed classification is essential to assessing environmental associations and physical status in coral reef ecosystems. At Pulaski Shoal in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, nearly continuous underwater-image coverage was acquired in 15.5 hours in 2009 along 70.2 km of transect lines spanning ∼0.2 km². The Along-Track Reef-Imaging System (ATRIS), a boat-based, high-speed, digital imaging system, was used. ATRIS-derived benthic classes were merged with a QuickBird satellite image to create a habitat map that defines areas of senile coral reef, carbonate sand, seagrasses, and coral rubble. This atypical approach of starting with extensive, high-resolution in situ imagery and extrapolating between transect lines using satellite imagery leverages the strengths of each remote-sensing modality. The ATRIS images also captured the spatial distribution of two species once common on now-degraded Florida−Caribbean coral reefs: the stony staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis, a designated threatened species, and the long-spined urchin Diadema antillarum. This article documents the utility of ATRIS imagery for quantifying number and estimating age of A. cervicornis colonies (n = 400, age range, 5–11 y) since the severe hypothermic die-off in the Dry Tortugas in 1976–77. This study is also the first to document the largest number of new colonies of A. cervicornis tabulated in an area of the park where coral-monitoring stations maintained by the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute have not been established. The elevated numbers provide an updated baseline for tracking revival of this species at Pulaski Shoal.

Poulos, S.E.; Plomaritis, T.A.; Ghionis, G.; Collins, M.B., and Angelopoulos, C., 2013. The role of coastal morphology in influencing sea level variations induced by meteorological forcing in microtidal waters: examples from the Island of Crete (Aegean Sea, Greece).

Sea surface variations due to strong (northerly) onshore winds are compared over three different geomorphological settings of the essentially tideless (tidal range < 10 cm) northern coast of Crete (southern Aegean Sea): (i) an open beach zone; (ii) a beach zone with the same offshore characteristics as the previous zone, but protected by a shore-parallel reef; and (iii) a pocket beach located in the cove of a semienclosed gulf. Even though the three beach zones are exposed to similar meteorological forcing (strong northerly winds with speeds > 10 m s⁻¹), they developed different water level variations depending on the local morphological conditions. The beach zone situated in the semienclosed gulf experienced a 3.3 times larger offshore sea surface rise (10 cm) than the unprotected open beach. The presence of the reef, on the third beach, caused a 2.7 times higher increase of the nearshore sea surface elevation (i.e., up to 24.5 cm) than the nearshore sea surface rise (9 cm) measured at the nearby unprotected open coast that experiences similar offshore hydrodynamic conditions. The sea surface variations in the offshore zone are induced primarily by wind forcing and, secondarily, by barometric pressure fluctuations: their corresponding ratios vary from 3.2 ∶ 1 in the unprotected open beach, to 2.2 ∶ 1 in the pocket beach located in the semienclosed gulf. Sea surface rise within the nearshore zone is controlled mainly by the wave set-up, due to breaking waves; this, at the open coast, is about 1.3 times larger than the wind set-up. Finally, the presence of the reef amplifies sea surface rise along the shoreline, which can easily exceed 0.4 m (15 times the offshore sea surface rise).

Austin, M.J.; Scott, T.M.; Russell, P.E., and Masselink, G., 2013. Rip current prediction: development, validation, and evaluation of an operational tool.

This contribution details the development, validation, and evaluation of an operational rip current prediction tool. Field measurements of rip current dynamics from a macrotidal beach in the southwest U.K. collected over 87 tidal cycles indicate that the rip currents are highly dynamic over a range of temporal and spatial scales. The morphology of the lower intertidal beach face provides the primary spatial control of the rip currents, whereas the variation in the pattern of wave dissipation due to the tidal translation of the surf zone at spring-neap and semidiurnal frequencies is the principle temporal control. The Lagrangian drift pattern associated with the rip currents displays three key behaviors: rotation, alongshore, and exit. Rotation and exit are observed under moderate conditions, whereas strong alongshore-directed currents prevail during energetic conditions. An operational regional wave model is used to force a two-dimensional horizontal (2D-H) nonstationary model for coupled wave propagation and flow to predict the rip current speed and behavior. The model is calibrated using measured Eulerian field data, and the resultant circulation patterns are validated against measured Lagrangian data. The model was run for a 2-month hindcast period, and the flow speed and behavioral output were combined to allocate a rip current hazard rating. The model performance was evaluated against beach lifeguard incident statistics; 64% of recorded incidents occurred under predicted high-risk conditions, and 36% occurred during medium-risk conditions. The rip hazard prediction model was subsequently run in forecast mode to provide an example of operational-type output.

Hepcan, S.; Coskun Hepcan, C.; Kilicaslan, C.; Ozkan, M.B., and Kocan, N. 2013. Analyzing landscape change and urban sprawl in a Mediterranean coastal landscape: a case study from Izmir, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to analyze and interpret landscape change and urban sprawl in a coastal landscape of Turkey, in the province of Izmir, by remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems technologies with data spanning a 42-year period (1963–2005). Landscape change was analyzed from CORONA and ASTER images taken in 1963 and 2005, respectively. A postclassification algorithm for change detection was applied using ERDAS software. The results revealed significant changes in land cover and urban fabric during the period from 1963 to 2005. The built-up area increased from 8.18% to 28.88%, primarily at the expense of agricultural land. Agricultural land declined from 13.65% to 5.19% of the total area and was mostly isolated on the peripheries of the study area, which had a very patchy and scattered configuration. The urban fabric evolved on a linear path from a rural, low-density settlement character to an urban, high-density development. The compact urban form in 1963 transformed into urban sprawl by 2005, primarily along the area's transportation network and the coastline around Izmir Bay, Turkey. To minimize further urban sprawl and to maintain natural habitats, an ecologically sustainable growth strategy is required. For this purpose, landscape planning with special emphasis on developing spatially connected landscapes would be useful because the current urban master-planning process lacks a sustainable ecological vision.

Ari Güner, H.A.; Yüksel, Y., and Ç evik, E.Ö., 2013. Longshore sediment transport—field data and estimations using neural networks, numerical model, and empirical models.

This work suggests an alternative approach, namely, the use of an artificial neural network (ANN), for the estimation of longshore sediment transport (LST). The ANN technique provides a powerful utility for input–output mapping if there is sufficient data and can be useful for modeling processes about which adequate knowledge of physics is limited, such as sediment transport. A feed-forward network was developed to predict the LST from a variety of causative variables. The best network was selected after testing many alternatives. The network was validated by experimental and field data. In addition, the ANN method was applied to the case study area (Karaburun, Turkey), located on the SW coast of the Black Sea. The accuracy of the ANN predictions was evaluated against the measured LST rate at Karaburun and compared with two well-known empirical formulas (CERC formula, Kamphuis formula), and a numerical model (LITPACK). The average, net, annual LST rate for the study area was determined based on the morphological volume differences between the surveys. The volume differences were obtained from the accretion at the secondary breakwater of the harbor located at the western end of the 4-km sandy beach. The harbor acted as a total trap, and the beach surveys were extended to an adequate depth. The measured net LST rate was 72,000 m³/y, and the calculated rates were 370,000, 77,000, 83,000, 85,000, and 80,000 m³/y based on the CERC formula (K_sig  =  0.39), the modified CERC formula (K_sig  =  0.08), the Kamphuis formula, the LITPACK computer program, and the ANN. All methods employed in this study estimated the LST rates well, except the CERC formula. The CERC formula overestimated the LST rate by a factor of five; nevertheless, with the adjustment of the empirical K_sig value (0.39) to 0.08, the fit to the observed data improved significantly. The Kamphuis formula produced results similar to those predicted by the field data. This confirms the use of the Kamphuis formula in conditions of low-wave energy with breaker heights of less than 1 m, which correspond to the study area's wave condition.

Parcharidis, I.; Kourkouli, P.; Karymbalis, E.; Foumelis, M., and Karathanassi, V., 2013, Time series synthetic aperture radar interferometry for ground deformation monitoring over a small scale tectonically active deltaic environment (Mornos, Central Greece).

This study deals with the estimation of subtle ground deformation at millimetric accuracy over the broader area of the Mornos River delta in Central Greece and its spatio-temporal distribution for the period between 1992 and 2009 through Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PSI). The results showed that the majority of the scatterers, which show subsidence, are located within the delta plain with mean subsidence rates throughout the delta varying between −7.2 and 0.7 mm/y. An attempt is made to highlight the geographic distribution, the amplitude, and the causes of the observed delta plain subsidence. The positive correlation between the thickness of the fine-grained Holocene deltaic deposits and the subsidence rates reveals that the main cause is the natural compaction of sediments. The highest subsidence is observed at Bouka Karahassani village, which corresponds to the area of the most recently abandoned river mouth, which is intensely eroded by marine processes. Apart from the dominance of fine sediments in the study area, subsidence may also be attributed to submarine gravitational mass movements along the steep slopes of the prodelta as well as to the reduction of sediment load after the dam construction in 1979. The NW part of the delta seems to have been affected by aseismic slip along a NE-SW trending normal fault buried beneath the alluvial deposits of the Skala torrent fan.

Hajisamae, S.; Ruangchuay, R., and Kwanthong, N., 2013. Can wave breaking walls in shallow coastal areas serve as habitat for aquatic organisms?

This study aimed to assess the impact of a small-sized wave breaking wall constructed from concrete poles settled close to the shoreline on the community structure of aquatic fauna. Macroepifauna was collected directly from pole surfaces. Fish, shrimps, macrobenthos, and zooplankton were collected in October 2009, February 2010, and June 2010 at three different sites: inside the wall, outside the wall, and a control site. It was found that this hard structure played a large role in the recruitment and settlement of macroepifauna. Balanus spp. was the most dominant taxa attached on surface of the pole (48.6%), followed by Perna viridis (44.2%) and Brachiodonthes sp. (5.2%). For other organisms, a significant difference was found only in the abundance of macrobenthos at different sites (p < 0.05) with greater abundance at the control site. There was no significant impact by the wall on abundance of fish, shrimp, and zooplankton (p > 0.05) on the species richness of all organisms (p > 0.05). It is also evident that the season has a significant impact on the abundance of fish (p < 0.005) and shrimp (p < 0.005) and the species richness of fish (p < 0.05). This seasonal impact was clearly detected by cluster dendrogram and quantified by analysis of similarity. It is therefore crucial to acknowledge further the role of this structure, not only as coastal protection, but also in recruitment, succession, assemblages, and community structure of stocks in the vicinity of this habitat.

Kankara, R.S.; Mohan, R., and Venkatachalapathy, R., 2013. Hydrodynamic modelling of Chennai coast from a coastal zone management perspective.

A thorough knowledge of hydrodynamic conditions of coastal waters is a primary requirement for understanding and resolving environmental management issues. The present study is aimed at characterizing the hydrodynamic regime of Chennai coastal waters through field investigations and numerical modelling. To this end, time series oceanographic data on tide, current, and wind were collected for 15 days each during SW monsoon and NE monsoon seasons. The data analysis revealed that tides were semidiurnal in nature and that the ratio of diurnal (O₁, K₁) and semidiurnal (M₂, S₂) constituents was 0.19 and 0.24 for the two respective seasons. The average current was 17 cm/s N during SW monsoon and 10 cm/s S during NE monsoon. A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model was also set up and validated with the field data successfully. The model results of water level and current were compared with field observations for both seasons and found to be satisfactory. The correlation was 0.89 and 0.99 for surface elevation and 0.56 and 0.73 for current speed. The relative mean absolute error (RMAE) and index of agreement (IoAd) were also computed for both seasons. The RMAE and IoAd analysis revealed that model validation was found to be “excellent” for water level and “very good” for current.

Lee, H.J.; Park, J.Y.; Lee, S.H.; Lee, J.M., and Kim, T.K., 2013. Suspended sediment transport in a rock-bound, macrotidal estuary: Han estuary, eastern Yellow Sea.

The Yellow Sea is fringed with deltas and estuaries on the Chinese and Korean coasts, respectively. The Korean estuaries, rock bound on the ria coast, are represented by the Han estuary, the largest in the eastern Yellow Sea. To reveal the relationship between extensive tidal flats and major channels in the Han estuary, suspended sediment transport was observed from the water column down to the bottom boundary layer. Transecting channels and deploying benthic tripods were accomplished at a number of critical sites during different spring tides, mostly under the fair-weather conditions of dry seasons in 2006–08. The hydrodynamic measurements unraveled the role of macrotidal currents in estuarine suspended transport. According to lateral momentum analyses, cross-channel flows were governed by two forces: rotation and surface slope. The estimations of suspended flux and lateral momentum balance elucidated that, of the two candidate channels, the Yeomha Channel dominantly supplied riverine muds to the adjacent vast Ganghwa tidal flats. The other larger channel, Sukmo, was found to displace muds up the channel to the Han River mouth. Another offshore major channel, Jangbong, revealed small suspended flux, reflecting no substantial mud input of offshore origin into the Han estuary. This study may be timely in that most Korean estuaries have artificially developed and are facing various environmental problems.

Zhang, W.; Feng, H.C.; Zheng, J.H., Hoitink, A.J.F.; Van Der Vegt, M.; Zhu, Y., and Cai, H.J., 2013. Numerical simulation and analysis of saltwater intrusion lengths in the Pearl River delta, China.

In recent years, large-scale saltwater intrusion has been threatening the freshwater supply in the metropolitan cities surrounding the Pearl River delta (PRD). Therefore, a better understanding of the saltwater intrusion process in this region is necessary for local water resource management. In this paper, a one-dimensional flow and salinity model of the Pearl River networks was established to improve our understanding of saltwater intrusion problems in deltas. The model has high spatial resolution, discretized into 328 reaches and 5108 cross-sections, and the time step is 300 seconds for the hydrodynamic model and 30 seconds for the salinity model on the basis of the Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy condition. The model is calibrated and validated against the field measurements of the water surface elevation, discharge, and salinity at around 40 gauges in 2005 and 2001, respectively. The estimated results are in reasonable agreement with the observational data, suggesting that the model is sufficiently robust to simulate the movement of flow and salinity in the Pearl River networks. The simulated 0.5 parts per thousand salinity isohaline in the Pearl River networks displays a shape similar to “S” and slanting to the right, indicating that the maximum saltwater intrusion length occurs at the Humen outlet. In 2005, the saltwater intrusion lengths intruded far upstream at an average length of 32.4 km from the eight outlets, which is nearly two times that in 2001. Four representative upstream flows were also simulated to acquire quantitative knowledge of the response of the saltwater intrusion to discharges. Finally, historical data were collected to compare the situations of saltwater intrusion in the river networks in the 1960s and 2005. The result implies that the abrupt change in topography due to intensive dredging campaigns in the river networks is probably the most crucial factor leading to the saltwater intrusion outbreaks in large areas of the PRD in recent years.

Wu, W.; Zhang, M.; Ozeren, Y., and Wren, D., 2013. Analysis of vegetation effect on waves using a vertical 2D RANS model.

A vertical two-dimensional (2D) model has been applied in the simulation of wave propagation through vegetated waterbodies. The model is based on an existing model, SOLA-VOF, that solves the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with the finite difference method on a staggered rectangular grid and uses the volume of fluid method to capture the free surface. The model is enhanced in this study by adding the drag and inertia forces in the momentum equations to account for the vegetation effects, implementing the subgrid-scale model for turbulence closure, and incorporating wave-maker, sponge layer, and bottom friction in boundary conditions. The model was first validated using measurement data collected from the literature and then applied to simulate wave propagation in flumes covered by rigid and flexible model and live vegetation. The considered live vegetation species are Spartina alterniflora (smooth cord grass) and Juncus roemerianus (needlegrass rush), which are commonly distributed on coastlines. The model is able to reproduce wave attenuation through the vegetation zone observed in the experiments. The drag coefficients are calibrated in the vertical 2D RANS model and the analytical model based on the wave energy equation and linear wave theory, and the calibrated values in the two models are reasonably close.

Naidu, V.S.; Sukumaran, S.; Dubbewar, O., and Reddy, G.S., 2013. Operational forecast of oil spill trajectory and assessment of impacts on intertidal macrobenthos in the Dahanu region, west coast of India.

A two-dimensional model has been developed and applied to the hypothetical spills of crude oil in the Dahanu area on the west coast of India. An attempt has also been made to quantify the intertidal macrobenthic biomass and population affected in the region. Data on tides and currents were collected at Dahanu during October and November 2008. The currents recorded at a relatively offshore location show that the midcurrents were stronger than the bottom currents. The currents at a nearshore location were influenced by the Dahanu creek currents. Offshore currents were relatively stronger than the nearshore currents. The model calibration results of hydrodynamics show that the circulation was almost in agreement with the observations except in the creek zone. An oil spill model was run for two weather conditions, viz., postmonsoon and monsoon. An instantaneous crude oil spill of 500 tons (534 m³) was considered. The results show that the spill would move offshore in the presence of postmonsoonal winds. However, during the monsoon, the spill would move toward the coast. According to the positions of the occurrence, the spill would reach the coast within 13 to 28 hours from the time of spill. The coastline stretches an affected range from 2.1 to 2.8 km. The estimated affected macrobenthic biomass and population would be 109.2 to 145.6 kg and 1.9 to 2.5 × 10⁷, respectively. The major species affected would be polychaetes.

Staszak, L.A. and Armitage, A.R., 2013. Evaluating salt marsh restoration success with an index of ecosystem integrity.

In concept, ecological restoration will improve ecosystem characteristics of degraded habitats, but in practice, restoration success assessments typically target vegetation communities. We sought to determine if estuarine emergent marsh restoration projects (Galveston Bay, Texas) that had successfully achieved permit-mandated plant coverage were comparable to reference sites at an ecosystem level. We used a Rapid Assessment Method developed specifically for this habitat (Galv-RAM) to compare restored (ages 5–15 y) and reference marshes. Thirteen biotic and abiotic characteristics were used to calculate an ecosystem index score, whereby a pristine habitat would score 100%. The average Galv-RAM ecosystem index score for reference marshes (81%) was typical for urbanized estuaries. Restored marshes scored 75%, indicating that they were relatively well developed, although there was substantial variability in ecosystem index scores among sites. Discriminant function analysis revealed that reference sites had more benthic epifauna (periwinkles, fiddler crabs); epifauna were virtually absent from restored sites. Overall, Galv-RAM scores did not vary with restored marsh age, but some individual features changed over time: older restored sites tended to have higher plant diversity and belowground plant biomass than younger restored sites. The ultimate goal of coastal wetland restoration is to improve the integrity of the regional wetland landscape by augmenting many different ecosystem functions. Therefore, although not all measured variables scored optimally in all restored sites, each of the sites had relatively high ecological value and contributed to the integrity of a larger scale matrix of wetland habitat.

Arena, F.; Malara, G.; Barbaro, G.; Romolo, A., and Ghiretti, S., 2013. Long-term modelling of wave run-up and overtopping during sea storms.

This paper is concerned with the determination of the return period of a sea storm in which response (run-up or overtopping) of a coastal structure exceeds a fixed threshold. The method is based on long-term statistical analysis of the sea states interacting with the structure and on practical formulas proposed in the past decades for determining response of coastal structures. The proposed methodology accounts for nonstationarity of sea states in time domain by the equivalent triangular storm model, which allows us to determine closed-form solutions of the return period of a storm where maximum significant wave height is larger than a fixed threshold. In this paper the analytical solution is supplemented by a practical application pertaining calculation of the response of a coastal structure. A rubble-mound breakwater is supposed to be placed at a known water depth, and then, starting from offshore significant wave height data, the return period of a given response threshold is calculated.

Huang, Y-C.; Tseng, Y-P, and Yiap, L-C., 2013. Image recovery of the resurrected seashore city—New Orleans.

New Orleans and its touristic image were devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Efforts to rebuild the city and its image began immediately after the crisis. This study sought to understand the image of New Orleans as perceived by domestic tourists after several crises (e.g. Hurricane Katrina, BP oil spill). This study was designed to measure different components of the touristic image of New Orleans, and to identify the determinants that influence those components. The results of this study show that the touristic images of New Orleans were still appealing to both repeat visitors and nonvisitors. City government should focus in strengthening its core tourism products (e.g. an abundance of great Jazz music, distinctive New Orleans style Creole and Cajun dishes, and great attractions), which play the crucial roles in attracting the tourists, while improving those concerns that were perceived negatively, like the safety and cleanliness of the city. The tourism industry of New Orleans has overcome the odds, and the city retains a positive overall image, in which its' touristic image, as perceived by visitors was more favorable than that afforded it by nonvisitors. In addition, this study found that affective images of the city had a greater effect on the overall impression than did cognitive images; hence, New Orleans marketers should maintain or reinforce visitors' affective attachment of New Orleans to keep this seashore city as a preferred traveling destination.

Liu, Y.; Li, M.; Mao, L.; Cheng, L., and Li, F., 2013. Toward a method of constructing tidal flat digital elevation models with MODIS and medium-resolution satellite images.

The terrain of tidal flats often varies remarkably over space and time, but few existing methods are capable of producing fine–spatiotemporal resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) for tidal flats. This research aims to fill the knowledge gap and propose a 6-step method to construct tidal flat DEMs by incorporating both moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer and medium-resolution satellite images. The six steps include: waterline extraction, water level simulation, height assignment, median filtering, waterline point fusion, and interpolation to DEMs. A case study was conducted at the Dongsha sandbank—one of the largest sandbanks among the radial tidal sand ridges of Jiangsu Province, China. The resultant DEMs were compared with the light detection and ranging–based DEMs for vertical accuracy assessment. The results show that the proposed method successfully shortens the temporal resolution of DEMs to 3 months, while retaining high spatial resolution and vertical accuracy. An additional analysis of seasonal sediment change for tidal flats based on the proposed method shows that the sediment deposition in the Dongsha sandbank apparently has a semiannual cycle—the tidal flats are deposited in winter and eroded in summer. All of these findings are valuable references for researchers and local authorities to conduct research on the evolution of tidal flats and to boost environmental management, coastal protection, and economic exploitation.

Wu, G.-W. and Yang, G.-P., 2013. Distributions of dissolved carbohydrates in the Yellow Sea and the northern East China Sea in early winter.

Carbohydrates are the largest identified fraction of dissolved organic carbon and play important roles in biogeochemical cycling in the ocean. Seawater samples were collected from the Yellow Sea (YS) and the northern East China Sea (ECS) during November–December 2009 to study the spatial distributions of total dissolved carbohydrates (TCHO) constituents, including dissolved monosaccharide (MCHO) and polysaccharide (PCHO). Average concentrations of MCHO and PCHO in the surface water were 11.0 and 39.8 μmol C/L, and their contributions to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were 4.8% and 17.5%, respectively. Both MCHO and PCHO displayed similar distribution patterns; consequently, a significant correlation was found between them. However, MCHO and PCHO did not display correlation with chlorophyll a in the seawater, suggesting that phytoplankton biomass was not the sole factor controlling the distribution of carbohydrates in the study area. The riverine input had a significant influence on the distribution of carbohydrates, and therefore higher concentrations of TCHO were found near the Changjiang River mouth. The carbohydrate enrichments in the near-bottom waters were found at some stations, suggesting that there might be important sources of carbohydrate in the deep waters or bottom sediments.

Shaha, D. C.; Cho, Y.-K., and Kim, T.-W., 2013. Effects of river discharge and tide driven sea level variation on saltwater intrusion in Sumjin River estuary: An application of finite-volume coastal ocean model.

Salinity intrusion is one of the major problems in the Sumjin River Estuary (SRE). An unstructured-grid finite-volume coastal ocean model (FVCOM) was used to investigate the influence of different river discharges and tide driven sea level variation on salinity intrusion in the SRE. The variation of salt intrusion was predicted according to the variation of sea level driven by tide along the open boundary and the river discharge upstream. The model simulation results are in qualitative agreement with the available field data. The model provided a skilled reproduction of the observed temporal and spatial variability in salinity. The ebb flow is seaward from upstream to the mouth of the SRE. The river discharge is a dominant factor affecting salinity intrusion in this estuarine system during the wet season. A power law function has been established between the distance of salt intrusion and river discharge. The salt intrusion length responding to constant river discharges generally follows a power law of −0.14. In contrast, the salt intrusion length shows a better relationship with intratidal sea level variation at low river discharge. This model result allows us to predict salt intrusion in an estuary according to the variation of sea level and river discharge with climate change.

Fourcy, D. and Lorvelec, O., 2013. A new digital map of limits of oceans and seas consistent with high-resolution global shorelines.

We present a vector map of the limits of oceans and seas intended to be integrated into a geographic information system (GIS). This map is based on the document S-23 titled “Limits of Oceans and Seas” and published by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). The third edition of this document, published in 1953, still serves as an official reference. The realization of this map from a text containing numerous ambiguities, disused place-names, or imprecise coordinates required important documentary investigations. This was made possible through the use of online resources such as map libraries, satellite imageries, geographic names databases, and institutional geoportals. The main innovations of our map are its accuracy, its precision of about 10 s of meridian arc, and its consistency with the Global, Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Shoreline database and with satellite images such as Land Satellite and moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer. All remaining uncertainties for the drawing of limits are presented in the results. Although based on an IHO document, our map does not possess any official status. Nevertheless, we hope that our map will facilitate and encourage more detailed spatial analyses related to oceans and seas. This map is freely available for noncommercial use.

Schygulla, C. and Peine, F., 2013. Nienhagen Reef: abiotic boundary conditions at a large brackish water artificial reef in the Baltic Sea.

This paper briefly describes the abiotic boundary conditions at the artificial reef area in Nienhagen on the coast of the German Baltic Sea. This reef, the largest man-made reef in the Baltic Sea (about 4 ha), was built in autumn 2003 by the state research institute for agriculture and fisheries (LFA) in 12 m water depth. The artificial reef area in the Mecklenburg Bight was mainly constructed to enhance fish populations, especially for the commercially important Baltic cod population. Reef monitoring of abiotic factors (temperature, salinity, O₂, pH) started in 2003 and is still in progress, complemented by sediment sampling. The reef rises from the seafloor, up to 3 m at the central structures and between 1 and 2 m in the outer regions. The reef units were chosen for their long life and high stability and for the creation of cavity systems and hideaways for juvenile organisms. The used concrete material was composed in a special way to reach neutral pH values, with regard to the surrounding waterbody, on the surfaces of the structures. The reef units were placed on a strong marl layer with a thin sediment layer of sand and gravel. The grain size distribution and sediment composition within the reef area has changed compared with the surrounding areas since the installation of the reef units.

The Associate Editors of the Journal of Coastal Research have the responsibility of conducting the review process, including the selection of reviewers, evaluation of manuscripts in the light of review comments, and making recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief concerning the ultimate disposition of manuscripts. Authors of potential articles in the Journal of Coastal Research will find significant representation of their specialties on the Editorial Board. Because we also frequently receive reviews from specialists outside of our own board, we acknowledge with thanks the following reviewers who have vetted papers submitted to the Journal. Their interest and cooperation are appreciated.