circulation, poor flushing, limited ocean exchange, and
protracted water residence times. As a result, coastal
lagoons are beset by similar problems such as depleted
dissolved oxygen, habitat loss and alteration, and, in some
cases, altered ecosystem structure and function. Indicators
of eutrophication are widespread in these shallow water
bodies, including elevated chlorophyll a levels, HABs,
submerged aquatic vegetation loss, and impacted biotic
communities and harvestable fisheries. Progressive eutrophication of coastal lagoons can lead to permanent loss of
essential habitat, diminished aquatic life support, and
a marked decline in human use. Because of their enclosure, coastal lagoons are also susceptible to chemical contaminant inputs, pathogens, and organic carbon loading.
The hardening of lagoonal shorelines, constructing of
installations, and dredging of sediments physically alter
habitats which also impacts biotic communities and their
sustainability.
Bibliography
Alongi, D. M., 1998. Coastal Ecosystem Processes. Boca Raton:
CRC Press.
Alvarez-Borrego, S., 1994. Secondary productivity in coastal
lagoons. In Gonenc, I. E., and Wolflin, J. P. (eds.), Coastal
Lagoons: Ecosystem Processes and Modeling for Sustainable
Use and Development. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Barnes, R. S. K., 1980. Coastal Lagoons. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Bird, E. C. F., 1994. Physical setting and geomorphology of coastal
lagoons. In Kjerfve, B. (ed.), Coastal Lagoon Processes.
Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 9–39.
Colombo, G., 1977. Lagoons. In Barnes, R. S. K. (ed.), The Coastline. London: Wiley, pp. 63–81.
Day, J. W., Kemp, M. W., Yánez-Arancibia, A., and Crump, B. C.,
2012. Estuarine Ecology, 2nd edn. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell.
de Beaumont, E., 1845. Lecons de Geologie Pratique. Paris:
P. Bertrand.
Gilbert, G. K., 1885. Lake Bonneville. U.S. Geological Survey,
Monograph 1, Washington, DC.
Kennish, M. J., 1997. Practical Handbook of Estuarine and Marine
Pollution. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Kennish, M. J., 2001. Physical description of the Barnegat
Bay-Little Egg Harbor estuarine system. Journal of Coastal
Research, SI 32, 13–27.
Kennish, M. J., 2002. Environmental threats and environmental
future of estuaries. Environmental Conservation, 29, 78–107.
Kennish, M. J., 2009. Eutrophication of mid-Atlantic coastal bays.
Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science, 54, 5–12.
Kennish, M. J., Livingston, R. J., Raffaelli, D., and Reise, K., 2008.
Environmental future of estuaries. In Polunin, N. (ed.), Aquatic
Ecosystems: Trends and Global Prospects. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 188–208.
Kennish, M. J., and Paerl, H. W., 2010a. Coastal lagoons: critical
habitats of environmental change. In Kennish, M. J., and Paerl,
H. W. (eds.), Coastal Lagoons: Critical Habitats of Environmental Change. Boca Raton: CRC Press, pp. 1–15.
Kennish, M. J., and Paerl, H. W. (eds.), 2010b. Coastal Lagoons:
Critical Habitats of Environmental Change. Boca Raton: CRC
Press.
Kennish, M. J., and de Jonge, V. N., 2011. Chemical introductions
to the systems: diffuse and nonpoint source pollution from
chemicals (nutrients: eutrophication). In Kennish, M. J., and
Elliott, M. (eds.), Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science,
Vol. 8, Human-Induced Problems (Uses and Abuses). Oxford:
Elsevier, pp. 113–148.
Kjerfve, B., 1994. Coastal lagoons. In Kjerfve, B. (ed.), Coastal
Lagoon Processes. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 1–8.
McGee, W. D., 1890. Encroachments of the sea. Forum, 9, 437–449.
Nichols, M. M., and Boon, J. D., 1994. Sediment transport processes in coastal lagoons. In Kjerfve, B. (ed.), Coastal Lagoon
Processes. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 157–219.
Nixon, S. W., 1995. Coastal eutrophication: a definition, social
causes, and future concerns. Ophelia, 41, 199–220.
Oertel, G. F., 2005. Coastal lakes and lagoons. In Schwartz, R. L.
(ed.), Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Dordrecht: Springer,
pp. 263–266.
Pauly, D., and Yáñez-Arancibia, A., 1994. Fisheries in coastal
lagoons. In Kjerfve, B. (ed.), Coastal Lagoon Processes.
Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 377–399.
Psuty, N. P., 2004. Morpho-sedimentological characteristics of the
Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary. In Davis, D. W., and
Richardson, M. (eds.), The Coastal Zone: Papers In Honor of
H. Jesse Walker. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University. Geoscience and Man, Vol. 38, pp. 81–92.
Psuty, N. P., and Silveira, T. M., 2009. Geomorphological evolution
of estuaries: the dynamic basis for morpho-sedimentary units
in selected estuaries in the northeastern United States. Marine
Fisheries Review, 71(3), 34–45.
Cross-references
Backbarrier
Barrier Island
COASTAL LANDFORMS
A. C. Narayana
Centre for Earth & Space Sciences, University of
Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Synonyms
Coastal geomorphic forms
Definition
Coastal landforms are those formed and modified by various geological and oceanographic processes. The
present-day coastal land was carved out during the Late
Quaternary, particularly during the Holocene. Anthropogenic activities enhance the coastal landform changes.
Introduction
The coasts are dynamic and their morphology is continually
changing in response to various processes operating at different rates. Climate change and sea-level variations during
the Quaternary period have strongly influenced the geomorphic and sedimentation processes in the coastal regions,
and much of the coastal land was carved out during the Late
Quaternary period. Sea-level changes during the Holocene
have influenced the evolution of coastal environments such
as estuaries/lagoons and barrier complexes and controlled
the sedimentation in the coastal environments (Narayana
and Priju, 2004). The evolution and subsequent changes
COASTAL LANDFORMS
143
protracted water residence times. As a result, coastal
lagoons are beset by similar problems such as depleted
dissolved oxygen, habitat loss and alteration, and, in some
cases, altered ecosystem structure and function. Indicators
of eutrophication are widespread in these shallow water
bodies, including elevated chlorophyll a levels, HABs,
submerged aquatic vegetation loss, and impacted biotic
communities and harvestable fisheries. Progressive eutrophication of coastal lagoons can lead to permanent loss of
essential habitat, diminished aquatic life support, and
a marked decline in human use. Because of their enclosure, coastal lagoons are also susceptible to chemical contaminant inputs, pathogens, and organic carbon loading.
The hardening of lagoonal shorelines, constructing of
installations, and dredging of sediments physically alter
habitats which also impacts biotic communities and their
sustainability.
Bibliography
Alongi, D. M., 1998. Coastal Ecosystem Processes. Boca Raton:
CRC Press.
Alvarez-Borrego, S., 1994. Secondary productivity in coastal
lagoons. In Gonenc, I. E., and Wolflin, J. P. (eds.), Coastal
Lagoons: Ecosystem Processes and Modeling for Sustainable
Use and Development. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Barnes, R. S. K., 1980. Coastal Lagoons. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Bird, E. C. F., 1994. Physical setting and geomorphology of coastal
lagoons. In Kjerfve, B. (ed.), Coastal Lagoon Processes.
Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 9–39.
Colombo, G., 1977. Lagoons. In Barnes, R. S. K. (ed.), The Coastline. London: Wiley, pp. 63–81.
Day, J. W., Kemp, M. W., Yánez-Arancibia, A., and Crump, B. C.,
2012. Estuarine Ecology, 2nd edn. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell.
de Beaumont, E., 1845. Lecons de Geologie Pratique. Paris:
P. Bertrand.
Gilbert, G. K., 1885. Lake Bonneville. U.S. Geological Survey,
Monograph 1, Washington, DC.
Kennish, M. J., 1997. Practical Handbook of Estuarine and Marine
Pollution. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Kennish, M. J., 2001. Physical description of the Barnegat
Bay-Little Egg Harbor estuarine system. Journal of Coastal
Research, SI 32, 13–27.
Kennish, M. J., 2002. Environmental threats and environmental
future of estuaries. Environmental Conservation, 29, 78–107.
Kennish, M. J., 2009. Eutrophication of mid-Atlantic coastal bays.
Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science, 54, 5–12.
Kennish, M. J., Livingston, R. J., Raffaelli, D., and Reise, K., 2008.
Environmental future of estuaries. In Polunin, N. (ed.), Aquatic
Ecosystems: Trends and Global Prospects. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 188–208.
Kennish, M. J., and Paerl, H. W., 2010a. Coastal lagoons: critical
habitats of environmental change. In Kennish, M. J., and Paerl,
H. W. (eds.), Coastal Lagoons: Critical Habitats of Environmental Change. Boca Raton: CRC Press, pp. 1–15.
Kennish, M. J., and Paerl, H. W. (eds.), 2010b. Coastal Lagoons:
Critical Habitats of Environmental Change. Boca Raton: CRC
Press.
Kennish, M. J., and de Jonge, V. N., 2011. Chemical introductions
to the systems: diffuse and nonpoint source pollution from
chemicals (nutrients: eutrophication). In Kennish, M. J., and
Elliott, M. (eds.), Treatise on Estuarine and Coastal Science,
Vol. 8, Human-Induced Problems (Uses and Abuses). Oxford:
Elsevier, pp. 113–148.
Kjerfve, B., 1994. Coastal lagoons. In Kjerfve, B. (ed.), Coastal
Lagoon Processes. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 1–8.
McGee, W. D., 1890. Encroachments of the sea. Forum, 9, 437–449.
Nichols, M. M., and Boon, J. D., 1994. Sediment transport processes in coastal lagoons. In Kjerfve, B. (ed.), Coastal Lagoon
Processes. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 157–219.
Nixon, S. W., 1995. Coastal eutrophication: a definition, social
causes, and future concerns. Ophelia, 41, 199–220.
Oertel, G. F., 2005. Coastal lakes and lagoons. In Schwartz, R. L.
(ed.), Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Dordrecht: Springer,
pp. 263–266.
Pauly, D., and Yáñez-Arancibia, A., 1994. Fisheries in coastal
lagoons. In Kjerfve, B. (ed.), Coastal Lagoon Processes.
Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 377–399.
Psuty, N. P., 2004. Morpho-sedimentological characteristics of the
Barnegat Bay-Little Egg Harbor Estuary. In Davis, D. W., and
Richardson, M. (eds.), The Coastal Zone: Papers In Honor of
H. Jesse Walker. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University. Geoscience and Man, Vol. 38, pp. 81–92.
Psuty, N. P., and Silveira, T. M., 2009. Geomorphological evolution
of estuaries: the dynamic basis for morpho-sedimentary units
in selected estuaries in the northeastern United States. Marine
Fisheries Review, 71(3), 34–45.
Cross-references
Backbarrier
Barrier Island
COASTAL LANDFORMS
A. C. Narayana
Centre for Earth & Space Sciences, University of
Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Synonyms
Coastal geomorphic forms
Definition
Coastal landforms are those formed and modified by various geological and oceanographic processes. The
present-day coastal land was carved out during the Late
Quaternary, particularly during the Holocene. Anthropogenic activities enhance the coastal landform changes.
Introduction
The coasts are dynamic and their morphology is continually
changing in response to various processes operating at different rates. Climate change and sea-level variations during
the Quaternary period have strongly influenced the geomorphic and sedimentation processes in the coastal regions,
and much of the coastal land was carved out during the Late
Quaternary period. Sea-level changes during the Holocene
have influenced the evolution of coastal environments such
as estuaries/lagoons and barrier complexes and controlled
the sedimentation in the coastal environments (Narayana
and Priju, 2004). The evolution and subsequent changes
COASTAL LANDFORMS
143