Houston, J.R., 2023. Measured fate of beach nourishment sand. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 407–417. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The fate of sand placed over a 20-year period in one of the largest series of beach nourishment projects ever conducted in the United States is determined by using direct measurements of elevation vs. distance from dunes to closure depth. Four projects placed 11.25 million m³ of sand from 1998–2017 on a 28.8-km-long shoreline at Panama City on Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast. Profile measurements were available in 1996 following Hurricane Opal and in 2018 after Hurricane Michael, one of the largest hurricanes to strike the United States, which came ashore only 30 km from Panama City beaches. The profiles were about 300 m apart within the project template and extended down to closure depth. After about 20 years, 87 ± 3% of the nourishment sand remained on profiles. Some sand used for nourishment was dredged within closure depth along a 3.6-km section and resulted in sand loss of 4% ± 1% as sand partially refilled the dredged holes. About 9% ± 3% was lost to longshore transport out of the project area. Calculations based on the equilibrium profile concept used in U.S. beach nourishment design predicted beaches should have widened 30.9 m ± 0.9 m and profiles raised 0.69 m ± 0.10 m due to the measured volume of sand remaining on profiles from the start of beach nourishment in 1998 to November 2018 after Hurricane Michael. The measured change in beach width was 32.4 m ± 4.0 m, and the rise was 0.66 m ± 0.05 m. The rise of 0.66–0.69 m is comparable to the 0.81 m mean sea-level rise by the year 2100 projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for its worst-case temperature scenario.

Simons, A.L.; Aulerich, N.; Carlson, H.; Chandra, I.; Chancellor, J.; Gemayel, G.; Gillett, D.J.; Levene, D.; Line, J.; Nichol, G.; Patel, H., and Zhu, S., 2023. Using zeta diversity in describing the health of soft sediment benthic macroinvertebrates in the Southern California Bight. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 418–430. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Ecological assessments of marine sediments have often focused on measures derived from the taxonomic, and sometimes functional, diversity of individual assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs). These assemblages are linked by a variety of ecological processes, demonstrating a need to describe groupings of them using regional measures of diversity. Here the use of zeta diversity is demonstrated, as a novel generalization of diversity measures, in assessing the health of regional groupings of BMI assemblages in the sediments of nearshore habitats such as estuaries and embayments. Using 1203 samples of BMI assemblages found in Southern California Bight (SCB), a model was constructed using three orders of zeta diversity, which accounted for up to 86% of regional variation in the mean health of assemblages, as described by the Benthic Response Index. Also investigated was the use of zeta diversity in assessing the relative likelihood of models of community assembly for regional groupings of BMIs, with niche assembly found to be likelier in both nearshore and offshore habitats.

Asensio-Montesinos, F.; López-Rodríguez, F., and Anfuso, G., 2023. Marine litter impacting beaches and mangrove forests: a characterization and assessment within the archipelago of Jambelí, Ecuador. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 431–441. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Litter abundance and composition were assessed at 13 sites in the Jambelí Archipelago, El Oro Province, Ecuador. The sites consisted of five beaches, which accounted for 82% of the total litter items, and eight mangrove forests, which accounted for the remaining 18%. Plastic was the most represented material on beaches and mangroves. Litter items were attributed to ocean-based sources, beach users, and aquaculture-related activities developed in the study area. Caps and lids, single-use plastics, rope, and strings were the most common items. A few sites presented similar litter composition because of their proximity and their connection through tidal channels. Authorities should focus more attention on beach litter by improving appropriate cleanup operations to enhance their environmental conditions and make them more attractive for tourism. Concerning mangrove forests, litter from aquaculture, fisheries, and tourism activities must be controlled and reduced.

Lowman, H.E.; Hirsch, M.E.; Brzezinski, M.A., and Melack, J.M., 2023. Examining the potential of sandy marine sediments surrounding giant kelp forests to provide recycled nutrients for growth. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 442–454. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Permeable marine sediments are biogeochemically active and may contribute dissolved nutrients to support primary production in coastal regions. This study examined the potential of permeable marine sediments near giant kelp forests in the Santa Barbara Channel, California as a source of ammonium (NH₄⁺) to the overlying water column to support the observed growth of kelp during summer months when nitrate availability is low. Several nearshore sites located in coastal California in <20 m water depth were sampled for porewater nutrient concentrations, flushing rates, and nutrient fluxes in addition to diel fluctuations in nutrient concentrations of the overlying water column. Time-series analyses of porewater temperatures indicate that porewater flushed to a depth of 15 cm approximately every two hours, and mean NH₄⁺ concentrations of porewater at these depths was 40 µM. The results of flow-through bioreactor incubations indicate that the top 2 cm of sediment are a net source of dissolved nitrogen to the overlying water column and are capable of supplying from 0.05 to 0.90 mmol NH₄⁺ m^–2 day^–1. Diel water sampling demonstrates that kelp forests may be exposed to NH₄⁺ concentrations greater than 1 µM for multiple hours (four–eight) over a day. These measured reservoirs and exchange rates of NH₄⁺ suggest sandy marine sediments provide a significant source of nitrogen to the water column and may help meet the nitrogen demand by giant kelp during summer in the Santa Barbara Channel.

Xu, Z.; Zhao, J.; Li, S., and Shan, J., 2023. Investigating resident participation in pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) for marine protection in coastal China. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 455–470. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Marine environments are currently faced with unprecedented challenges of marine pollution and ecological destruction in China. A good marine environment is inseparable from individual's pro-environmental behaviors. This study investigates residents' willingness to perform four types of pro-environmental behaviors in marine environmental protection in Qingdao, China. The results indicate that most respondents express a strong willingness to protect marine environment. However, a remarkable discrepancy in residents' preference for different pro-environmental behaviors is observed. Residents hold the strongest participation willingness and the most positive attitudes towards the recycling behaviors. Additionally, this study identifies the determinants of residents' pro-environmental behaviors from the perspective of cultural belief, and focuses on the influences of Chinese pastoral and bureaucratic culture. The findings confirm that cultural belief cannot exert influences on pro-environmental behaviors directly; however, can prompt an individual's pro-environmental behaviors through self-identity, perceived responsibility, and attitudes. This study has important implications for policymakers to take measures to boost the public participation in marine environmental protection.

Kyne, D., 2023. Storm surge risk assessment in coastal communities in the Rio Grande Valley: An application of GIS-based spatial multicriteria decision analysis with analytical hierarchy process. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 471–483. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Cameron County, which is located in the Rio Grande Valley, maintains records of storm surges associated with noticeable property damage, fatalities, and injuries. This study investigates storm surge inundation risk in Cameron County using storm surge hazard datasets from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with American Community Survey 2019 block group datasets. Using a GIS-based spatial multicriteria decision analysis with an analytical hierarchy process method, the study estimates that storm surge water levels could be above 6.1 m (20 ft) in category 4 and 5 hurricane events, whereas about 37% of the county's population (159,659 people) could be exposed to floodwater in the event of a category 5 hurricane. The inundation risk map shows that in the event of a category 4 or 5 hurricane, about 28 and 42%, respectively, of county's area could be exposed to a very high level of inundation risk. Because of the destructive power of such storms and their potential consequences, the findings suggest that storm surge risk should not be underestimated. All stakeholders should proactively prepare for potential storm surge events.

Gairin, E.; Madi Moussa, R.; Bertucci, F.; Ung, P.; Waqalevu, V.; Morschel, J.; Tchekemian, A.; Lecchini, D., and Bambridge, T., 2023. Environmental stochasticity of spatiotemporal recruitment patterns in coral reef fish (Tahiti, French Polynesia). Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 484–493. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The densities of coral reef fish juveniles often vary temporally due to different spawning and recruitment periods throughout the year and spatially due to the quality of nursery habitats. Juveniles carefully select their nursery habitat based on numerous factors, notably environmental parameters and the presence or absence of predators or conspecifics. To identify environmental and ecological factors that controls the juvenile fish distributions, fish populations and physicochemical water parameters were characterised from May to December 2020 on five contrasting habitats along the coastline of Tahiti (French Polynesia). Although juvenile fish diversity varied between the five habitats, density did not significantly differ from site to site. It emerged that density was strongly linked to temporal recruitment periods but was also positively correlated to the presence of adult conspecifics; thus differing from the common preference for zones with fewer adults. Water parameters were also linked to juvenile distributions, with more juveniles of all species in warmer water, and more herbivore juveniles in lower pH conditions. The nutrient loads did not have significant effects on juvenile densities. Overall, this study highlights that, beyond widely studied factors such as habitat type and adult populations, certain physicochemical parameters can also be indicative of juvenile fish distributions on coastal nursery habitats.

Tano, A.R.; Djakouré, S.; Yao, S.; Kouadio, Y., and Aman, A., 2023. Characterization of coastal flooding events along Cote d'Ivoire (West Africa). Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 494–501. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Sea-level rise and associated extreme events threaten coastal resources and human life through coastal flooding. Although these risks increase annually with the continuous rise in mean sea level, the extent of the affected surfaces and the duration of their exposure remain poorly understood. This study determined the flood risk levels and the durations of inundation along the coastal zone of Cote d'Ivoire by analyzing tide, storm surge waves, and coastal elevation over the period 1993–2019. The coastal flooding index (CFI), which is the difference between coastal elevation and total water height induced by coastal processes, was computed for each coastal subsection of the Ivorian coastal area. The results showed that the coastal section ranging between Cape Palmas and Vridi is less exposed to flooding, while the subsection between Vridi and Cape Three Points, particularly in Bassam, is exposed more to flooding. The duration of flooded areas ranged between 2 and 7 days. Waves and tides, which represent more than 90% of sea-level variation, are the main physical forcing mechanisms that induce coastal flooding. The study revealed that CFI will increase in the future and the flooded areas will increase, particularly along the eastern part of the coast. The identified high-flood-risk areas will require rapid interventions to protect coastal ecosystems, infrastructure, and vulnerable coastal dwellers. The results of this study could help in development of an early warning system.

Naganandhini, V.; Muthupandi, K.; Vasanth, K.; Neethiselvan, N.; Padmavathy, P., and Radhakrishnan, K., 2023. Influence of hook number on species composition, catch rate, and size of needlefishes in the Gulf of Mannar, India. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 502–508. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The contribution of needlefishes from the Gulf of Mannar coast has been remarkable and is presently exploited by pelagic longlines. The J hook is extensively used in longline fishing in the Indian region to capture carnivore fishes, including needlefish. Catch rate significantly differed between the hook numbers. In this context, three hook numbers of 10 J, 11 J, and 12 J were studied from January to May 2022. Results showed that the Ablennes hians was the dominant fish caught (47.9%), followed by Tylosurus crocodiles (22.2%), T. choram (16.6%), and Strongylura strongylura (13.3%); weight-based catches of T. crocodiles (39.7%) were dominantly higher, followed by A. hians (35.9%), T. choram (13.8%), and S. strongylura (10.6%). The two-way ANOVA results revealed that a significant (p <0.05) difference occurred between the hook number and the number of species caught. The largest number of fish were caught with hook number 12 (3769), followed by hook number 11 (2745) and hook number 10 (1445). However, the highest weight of 2749.74 kg was recorded with hook number 11 and the lowest of 1602.65 kg in hook number 10 (p <0.05). This is related to fewer fish caught with hook number 10 and heavy fishing pressure on subadults (<50 cm) due to the use of hook number 12. Considering the maximum total length and weight, the optimum hook number for the commercial exploitation of needlefishes was hook number 11. The catch per unit effort disproportionately increased with the increasing of the hook number; the significant higher contribution of 48.25 individuals/1000 hooks was from hook number 12, whereas hook numbers 11 and 10 were 35.13 individuals/1000 hooks and 18.51 individuals/1000 hooks, respectively.

Li, W.; Xiang, W.; Wang, H.; Dong, J.; Xu, H.; Zhang, J.; Zuo, C.; Liu, Q.; Lv, J., and Xie, Q., 2023. Preliminary coastal vulnerability assessment for Guangdong province, Southeast China. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 509–518. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

Accelerating sea level rise and intensifying extreme marine and weather events pose unprecedented challenges to coastal areas in the context of climate change. As a hotspot of marine disasters, Guangdong has been suffering from severe marine disasters including storms, flooding, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion in the last decades. It is essential for coastal management authorities to distinguish vulnerable areas and optimize coastal planning. To help identify the coastal vulnerability patterns of the Guangdong coast, the coastal vulnerability index was used based on integrated physical and socio-economic indicators including relative sea level rise, mean tide range, significant wave height, coastal slope, geomorphology, population, land use, and coastal gross domestic product. Each indicator was assigned five vulnerability classifications from very low to very high (1–5). Results show that about 36.7% of the coastline in Guangdong is highly vulnerable, of which 18.3% of the coastline is very highly vulnerable. About 63.3% of the coastline is in moderate to low vulnerability. In particular, the coastal areas in east of Zhanjiang, Maoming, Yangjiang, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Guangzhou, west of Shenzhen, east Shanwei, and Chaozhou are more vulnerable to sea level rise, which calls for urgent planning and protective measures.

Nguyen, K.A.T.; Nguelifack, B.M.; Nguyen, T.A.T., and Jolly, C.M., 2023. African ocean health production function: Policy implications. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 519–530. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The study used a two-stage production function, rank regression in the first stage, and probit and ordinary least squares regression in the second stage, to evaluate the effect of socio-economic, environmental, physical, and demographic factors on ocean health. The rank regression analysis coefficients were evaluated using a “t” test. Biodiversity, Tourism, Recreation, Fish Production, Livelihoods, and Sense of Place were all significant at p-value <.01, while carbon storage was significant at p-value <0.05. Artisanal Fisheries were significant at p-value <0.1. The variable Biodiversity had the highest elasticity (.43). A 1.0% increase in biodiversity is likely to increase the Ocean Health Index (OHI) score by 0.43%, while 1.0% increases in sense of place and coastal livelihoods will increase the OHI by 0.14% and 0.13%, respectively. The relative influence result suggests that the most important variables are Tourism and Recreation (27.6%), Natural Products (20.6%), Food Production (14.1%), Carbon Storage (11.0%), and Coastal Protection (4.8%). The probit model showed that human development index influenced ocean health. Development policies may consider the inclusion of changes in Tourism and Recreation, Fish Provision, and Carbon Storage to improve African ocean health.

Sone Essoh, W.; Onguene, R.; Ndongo, B.; Nshagali, G.; Colmet-Daage, A.; Marie, G.; Iroume, J.; Stieglitz, T.; Besck, F.; Efole Ewoukem, T.; Tomedi Eyango, M.; Etame, J., and Braun, J.J., 2023. Using GIS and multicriteria analysis to map flood risk areas of the Tongo Bassa River Basin (Douala, Cameroon). Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 531–543. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The present study aimed to map the areas at risk of flooding in the Tongo Bassa watershed (42 km²) located in the heart of the Cameroonian economic capital (Douala) in the tropical zone of Central Africa, more precisely in the Wouri Estuary, at the bottom of the Gulf of Guinea. Like most of the world's major cities, Douala is subject to floods. The methodological approach was to identify the flooding risk determinants in the area from an extensive literature review and field surveys and then analyze these factors and map areas at risk of flooding using the analytical hierarchy process approach coupled with the GIS environment. The results revealed that four parameters of the natural environment (elevation, drainage density, distance to the river, and land cover) were the factors that mainly influenced the phenomenon of flooding in the region. Three major classes of flood risk were highlighted: low risk, medium risk, and high risk. To validate the effectiveness of the flood risk map obtained, the flood points collected in the field were cross-checked for ground truth after a flood occurred in the watershed. This cross-check between the resulting map and the flood points using GIS tools showed a good representation of the flooded area. This result is quite interesting because the areas where the risk of flooding is high are consistent with those where flooding is most frequent. The presented results constitute a basic decision support tool for the management of flood zones by the public authorities and the decentralized territorial communities of the city of Douala.

Li, X.; Wang, B.; Tong, Z.; Jiang, Z., and Cai, C., 2023. Analysis and prediction of terrestrial water storage anomalies in the lower Yangtze River Basin based on an improved Grey-Markov model. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 544–552. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

The data from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites have been used to estimate terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSAs) in many areas. From the former studies, the TWSAs from GRACE have been proven as a sensitive indicator to extreme hydrological events, which means it is possible to forecast the extreme hydrological events through the prediction of TWSA. However, because of the limited time series and missing data of the GRACE satellite, it is still very difficult to analyze the long-term TWSAs and predict the future changes of TWSAs. In this paper, the TWSAs of the lower Yangtze River basin from 2002 to 2021 estimated by the GRACE are compared with the TWS from Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) with the aspects of trend and correlation. The TWSAs from GRACE and the TWS from GLDAS in the study area are both on a slight upward trend. The Pearson correlation coefficient and the spectral analysis present a strong correlation between the two elements. According to the high correlation between the two elements, both linear and nonlinear methods are used to reconstruct a long-term GRACE data, and an improved Grey-Markov model is proposed to predict the future TWSA in the study area. The results show that a linear relationship occurs between the two elements. Moreover, the forecast results show that the TWSA of the lower Yangtze River basin will exceed 0.35 cm in 2021 and 2022, indicating continuous wet conditions in the basin. The basin should be prepared for the occurrence of floods.

Hayek, M.; Salgues, M.; Souche, J.-C.; De Weerdt, K., and Pioch, S., 2023. How to improve the bioreceptivity of concrete infrastructure used in marine ecosystems? Literature review for mechanisms, key factors, and colonization effects. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 553–568. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

With 39,400 km² of coastal and marine areas artificialized and an increasing demand due to the growing global population—9 billion by 2050—it has become necessary to find ways to mitigate futures constructions impacts on biodiversity. This study explores how civil engineering can take further technical measures to enhance marine biodiversity, in a real and valuable “win-win” strategy. The global aim is to integrate eco-engineering practices within coastal projects and include ecological targets (e.g., the diversity and speed of biological colonization) early, at the project design stage, with the same level efforts for technical, social, and economic studies. Concrete is the most useful material for coastal infrastructure construction. Therefore, enhance its positive impact on colonization that is by far one of the key points for developers and coastal managers. To this end, the latest research regarding the bioreceptivity of concrete is reviewed, focusing on the characteristics of the marine environment that affect the colonization of concrete and the organisms involved. From this base of publications, the intrinsic and environmental parameters that can influence the intrinsic and the extrinsic bioreceptivity of concrete have been updated, specifically operating the link with the mechanisms leading to the colonization of concrete and biofilm formation, which hasn't been done before. Based on the persistence of their significant effect (after 78 days of immersion in seawater), the intrinsic parameters that support greater biocolonization are classified from more to less effective in the following order: surface roughness (190%) > chemical composition (slag cement instead Portland cement) (136%) > chemical composition (presence of formwork oil) (106%). Lastly, both the ecological effect and the positive and negative effects of biofilm formation on the durability of concrete were analysed to provide clear and operational results for future concrete coastal construction implementation for decision makers.

Zhang, T.; Cai, W., and Hu, M., 2023. Configuration design of a cruise ship lifesaving system based on a genetic algorithm. Journal of Coastal Research, 39(3), 569–581. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208.

To improve the configuration design of cruise ship lifesaving systems, this study proposes a system configuration design method based on a genetic algorithm. The configuration design of the lifesaving system of a cruise ship is a combinatorial optimisation problem, with various performance constraints. This study analyses the rules of the configuration design through regression analysis and establishes a mathematical model on this basis. Subsequently, aiming at the discrete problem of the selection and configuration of lifesaving equipment on cruise ships, combined with the characteristics of genetic programming, the lifesaving system required by cruise ships is analysed, classified, and described as a coding structure form of genetic programming. From the perspective of safety, a genetic programming solution strategy for equipment configuration is proposed. The results show that the system configuration design method of cruise ship lifesaving equipment proposed in this study is effective and practical, and a reasonable configuration design scheme can be obtained accurately and efficiently.