Chapter 7
Lithodynamics of the Coastal Zone
Ruben D. Kosyan and Boris V. Divinskiy
Abstract The history of human civilization is directly linked to the social and
technological state of the access to the sea, which ensured two very important
aspects of the activity: trade and access to resources. On the other hand, the
economic development of the shoreline depends on the protection from adverse
natural processes such as storm waves or sediment motions. The development of
coastal infrastructure is related not only to the current state of economy but also to
its future state. The integration of accumulated knowledge led us to the creation of
the lithodynamics science, which comprehensively studies the dynamics of the
coastal zone. Despite the obvious successes, some problems of the coastal zone
dynamics remain that require a deeper physical understanding. This
Chapter describes the main problems remaining in the investigation of coastal
zones and gives an analysis of poorly studied physical processes and mechanisms.
Keywords Lithodynamics • Coastal zone • Suspended sediment • Hydrogenic
processes • Lithodynamic systems • Coastal zone hydrodynamics
7.1 The Role of Coastal Zones in Human Life
The coastal zone is a boundary region of the oceanic basin. It plays a special role in
the dynamics of the World Ocean. The coastal zone is characterized by morphological peculiarities: shallow depths and steep slopes of the bottom topography,
which determine its leading role in the dynamics of wind waves. The waves absorb
enormous energy from wind and spend it generally in the coastal zone. The
appearance of a number of specific hydrodynamic, lythodynamic, and
morphodynamic processes follows from the wave energy dissipation. Strong and
very variable currents develop here. Complex systems of intense water exchange
are generated. Underwater ridges are formed and intensely move. A set of processes
of coastal transformation appears. Specific peculiarity of the coastal zone is
R.D. Kosyan (*) • B.V. Divinskiy
The Southern Branch of the P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, RAS, Prostornaya, 1g,
353467 Gelendzhik, Krasnodar, Russia
e-mail: rkosyan@hotmail.com; divin@ocean.ru
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Diversity in Coastal Marine Sciences, Coastal
Research Library 23, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-57577-3_7
115
Lithodynamics of the Coastal Zone
Ruben D. Kosyan and Boris V. Divinskiy
Abstract The history of human civilization is directly linked to the social and
technological state of the access to the sea, which ensured two very important
aspects of the activity: trade and access to resources. On the other hand, the
economic development of the shoreline depends on the protection from adverse
natural processes such as storm waves or sediment motions. The development of
coastal infrastructure is related not only to the current state of economy but also to
its future state. The integration of accumulated knowledge led us to the creation of
the lithodynamics science, which comprehensively studies the dynamics of the
coastal zone. Despite the obvious successes, some problems of the coastal zone
dynamics remain that require a deeper physical understanding. This
Chapter describes the main problems remaining in the investigation of coastal
zones and gives an analysis of poorly studied physical processes and mechanisms.
Keywords Lithodynamics • Coastal zone • Suspended sediment • Hydrogenic
processes • Lithodynamic systems • Coastal zone hydrodynamics
7.1 The Role of Coastal Zones in Human Life
The coastal zone is a boundary region of the oceanic basin. It plays a special role in
the dynamics of the World Ocean. The coastal zone is characterized by morphological peculiarities: shallow depths and steep slopes of the bottom topography,
which determine its leading role in the dynamics of wind waves. The waves absorb
enormous energy from wind and spend it generally in the coastal zone. The
appearance of a number of specific hydrodynamic, lythodynamic, and
morphodynamic processes follows from the wave energy dissipation. Strong and
very variable currents develop here. Complex systems of intense water exchange
are generated. Underwater ridges are formed and intensely move. A set of processes
of coastal transformation appears. Specific peculiarity of the coastal zone is
R.D. Kosyan (*) • B.V. Divinskiy
The Southern Branch of the P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, RAS, Prostornaya, 1g,
353467 Gelendzhik, Krasnodar, Russia
e-mail: rkosyan@hotmail.com; divin@ocean.ru
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Diversity in Coastal Marine Sciences, Coastal
Research Library 23, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-57577-3_7
115