associated with the fact that dynamic processes are interrelated, and individual
processes are included into this complex in various combinations.
From the point of view of a specialist involved in the problems of the deep ocean
dynamics, the coastal zone is very interesting as a study region, in which many
dynamic processes, characteristic of the oceanic basin, are presented in the concentrated form. The dynamic processes occur most intensely, and usually, their
observation can be technically organized more easily.
It is likely that the peculiarities of the coastal zone are most clearly distinguished
in the dynamics of the bottom deposits. Fragmentary material is continuously
transported from land, which is later transformed; as a result, the particles are either
transformed or buried here, or transported to the other regions of the ocean. Thus,
the coastal zone is a filter for the material transported from land on its way to the
oceanic depths.
The practical considerations, which focus the attention of scholars and engineers
on this region of the oceanic basin, are not less important. For a long time already,
the coastal zone has been a region of intense economical expansion whose development rate strongly increased in the last decades; it is clear that the process will
become more intense in the nearest future. Of course, the economical development
spreads now to the deeper layers of the sea, which are not related to the coastal
zone. However, it is clear that this zone will remain the most important part of the
oceanic basin for humanity.
Investigations of the coastal zone dynamics were initiated due to the interest to
sea waves among the navigators. Indeed, sea waves and especially the waves in the
coastal regions of the sea are hazards to seafarers. It was necessary to protect
specific regions of the coastal zone, so that the ships could approach the shore for
contacting the land in any weather and hide there from the storms. Ports with
protection constructions at the open shores were built in the places that did not have
natural harbors.
As the ship draughts increased, the ancient seafarers faced the problem of
sediment accumulation in natural harbors (for example, in the mouths of rivers).
This problem became especially important during the first attempts to build ports
over open shallow water coastal zones. Hence, the knowledge of the natural regime
of the coastal zones became necessary as well as foreseeing the processes, which
would be caused by the constructions. It is likely that already in the middle ages the
works were initiated to protect the shores from destruction by the sea, which
followed the first constructions of ports. As the cities, especially the port cities,
increased in size and lifetime, and cost of the constructions increased, a necessity
appeared to protect the basements of the sea shores. In recent years, the tonnage of
ships has increased significantly, which leads to the increase in the depth and other
sizes of the channels allowing the ships to approach the ports.
Excavation of mineral resources from the sea bottom is a very important
problem. It is related to the problems of differentiating the loose material and
deposits of particles with specific properties. Large-scale excavation of sand, shells,
pebbles, and gravel for construction and other purposes is a hazard to the coastal
regime and can lead to undesirable consequences. However, a specific amount of
116
R.D. Kosyan and B.V. Divinskiy
processes are included into this complex in various combinations.
From the point of view of a specialist involved in the problems of the deep ocean
dynamics, the coastal zone is very interesting as a study region, in which many
dynamic processes, characteristic of the oceanic basin, are presented in the concentrated form. The dynamic processes occur most intensely, and usually, their
observation can be technically organized more easily.
It is likely that the peculiarities of the coastal zone are most clearly distinguished
in the dynamics of the bottom deposits. Fragmentary material is continuously
transported from land, which is later transformed; as a result, the particles are either
transformed or buried here, or transported to the other regions of the ocean. Thus,
the coastal zone is a filter for the material transported from land on its way to the
oceanic depths.
The practical considerations, which focus the attention of scholars and engineers
on this region of the oceanic basin, are not less important. For a long time already,
the coastal zone has been a region of intense economical expansion whose development rate strongly increased in the last decades; it is clear that the process will
become more intense in the nearest future. Of course, the economical development
spreads now to the deeper layers of the sea, which are not related to the coastal
zone. However, it is clear that this zone will remain the most important part of the
oceanic basin for humanity.
Investigations of the coastal zone dynamics were initiated due to the interest to
sea waves among the navigators. Indeed, sea waves and especially the waves in the
coastal regions of the sea are hazards to seafarers. It was necessary to protect
specific regions of the coastal zone, so that the ships could approach the shore for
contacting the land in any weather and hide there from the storms. Ports with
protection constructions at the open shores were built in the places that did not have
natural harbors.
As the ship draughts increased, the ancient seafarers faced the problem of
sediment accumulation in natural harbors (for example, in the mouths of rivers).
This problem became especially important during the first attempts to build ports
over open shallow water coastal zones. Hence, the knowledge of the natural regime
of the coastal zones became necessary as well as foreseeing the processes, which
would be caused by the constructions. It is likely that already in the middle ages the
works were initiated to protect the shores from destruction by the sea, which
followed the first constructions of ports. As the cities, especially the port cities,
increased in size and lifetime, and cost of the constructions increased, a necessity
appeared to protect the basements of the sea shores. In recent years, the tonnage of
ships has increased significantly, which leads to the increase in the depth and other
sizes of the channels allowing the ships to approach the ports.
Excavation of mineral resources from the sea bottom is a very important
problem. It is related to the problems of differentiating the loose material and
deposits of particles with specific properties. Large-scale excavation of sand, shells,
pebbles, and gravel for construction and other purposes is a hazard to the coastal
regime and can lead to undesirable consequences. However, a specific amount of
116
R.D. Kosyan and B.V. Divinskiy