1.2 Characteristics
3
. . . “the coastal zone [. . .] is interpreted as the resulting environment from the coexistence of two
margins: coastal land defined as the terrestrial edge of continents, and coastal waters defined as
the littoral section of shelf areas”.
In practice the EEA differentiate on land between a 10 km buffer and an immediate coastal
strip of 1 km inland. The area in between these borders is called coastal inland.
Later on, it will get much clearer how complicated and difficult a fixed delimitation
would be. Either the inland border exceed the area of influence in one way or the whole
area up to the alpine region has to be considered. Finally, to conclude we take the minimum
description as the coastal zone is the area where land meets the sea. Necessary delimitations and definitions will arise when dealing with all the different issues, problems and
challenges at the coast.
For now, we should agree that everybody knows what the coast and the coastal zone is
as long as we don’t start to find a pristine definition.
1.2 Characteristics
What are the main characteristics of coastal zones? Here, I would like to touch only four
characteristics:
• Gradual transition between land and sea
• Continuously changing environment
• Highly productive area
• Human idea of open space
1.2.1 Gradual Transition
As in the definitions mentioned the coastal zone is at the edge, the meeting place for
land and sea. The salt water meets the fresh water coming down the rivers pouring as
estuaries into the sea. Where the ocean meets directly the shore a gradual transition can be
found at soft coasts such as the Wadden Sea where tidal flats and sand dunes illustrate the
transition (Fig. 1.1). In the southern North Sea Region the coast is inundated twice a day
by tides. Depending on the energy transported through waves and currents the grain size
also displays the transition from sea to land. High energy by waves and currents at the sea
meet with slower flowing rivers and increasing tidal flats. At hard rock coasts this kind of
transition is either very narrow or absent (Fig. 1.2).
The gradual transition can be observed in chemical and ecological status, where all
types of habitats, either saline or fresh or brackish, exist. This transition can easily be
experienced in open rivers or ditches which are connected to the sea. This could mainly be
found in the estuaries, although they have been altered by human interference.
3
. . . “the coastal zone [. . .] is interpreted as the resulting environment from the coexistence of two
margins: coastal land defined as the terrestrial edge of continents, and coastal waters defined as
the littoral section of shelf areas”.
In practice the EEA differentiate on land between a 10 km buffer and an immediate coastal
strip of 1 km inland. The area in between these borders is called coastal inland.
Later on, it will get much clearer how complicated and difficult a fixed delimitation
would be. Either the inland border exceed the area of influence in one way or the whole
area up to the alpine region has to be considered. Finally, to conclude we take the minimum
description as the coastal zone is the area where land meets the sea. Necessary delimitations and definitions will arise when dealing with all the different issues, problems and
challenges at the coast.
For now, we should agree that everybody knows what the coast and the coastal zone is
as long as we don’t start to find a pristine definition.
1.2 Characteristics
What are the main characteristics of coastal zones? Here, I would like to touch only four
characteristics:
• Gradual transition between land and sea
• Continuously changing environment
• Highly productive area
• Human idea of open space
1.2.1 Gradual Transition
As in the definitions mentioned the coastal zone is at the edge, the meeting place for
land and sea. The salt water meets the fresh water coming down the rivers pouring as
estuaries into the sea. Where the ocean meets directly the shore a gradual transition can be
found at soft coasts such as the Wadden Sea where tidal flats and sand dunes illustrate the
transition (Fig. 1.1). In the southern North Sea Region the coast is inundated twice a day
by tides. Depending on the energy transported through waves and currents the grain size
also displays the transition from sea to land. High energy by waves and currents at the sea
meet with slower flowing rivers and increasing tidal flats. At hard rock coasts this kind of
transition is either very narrow or absent (Fig. 1.2).
The gradual transition can be observed in chemical and ecological status, where all
types of habitats, either saline or fresh or brackish, exist. This transition can easily be
experienced in open rivers or ditches which are connected to the sea. This could mainly be
found in the estuaries, although they have been altered by human interference.