Global Coastal Change

Global Coastal Changeprovides a comprehensive overview of the environmental factors changing the marine systems of the world including atmospheric changes, sea level rise, alterations in freshwater and sediment use and transport, toxins, overfishing, alien species, and eutrophication.

• Includes case studies providing real-world examples, detailed reviews of the evidence of changes and possible solutions.
• Brings together a wealth of important information about our changing marine environments.
• An invaluable reference for upper level undergraduates, graduates, and professionals interested in marine environmental science.

Preface.

1. The global context of coastal change.

2. Atmospheric-driven changes.

3. Sea level rise.

4. Alteration of freshwater discharges.

5. Alteration of sediment transport.

6. Loss of coastal habitats.

7. Petroleum hydrocarbons.

8. Chlorinated hydrocarbons.

9. Metals.

10. Introduction of exotic species.

11. Harvest of fin and shellfish.

12. Eutrophication.

13. Other agents of coastal change.

14. Summing up.

Index

"The book is littered with data. Valiela also succeeds in providing a sound structure, along side interesting and lively debate, the author is not afraid to discuss areas of controversy, ambiguity of data and where further research is required … .Very readable and thus will serve not just as a reference document but as a stand alone work of non-fiction for the interested reader." (Water and Environment, December 2008)

"This book cannot be recommended highly enough … .[It] provides comprehensive and compelling evidence on these [coastal change] issues, and could not be timelier." (Basic and Applied Ecology, October 2008)

“Written by an internationally known authority who has conducted extensive research over the past four decades on the coupling between land and coastal sea, this book provides a wealth of synthesized information particularly on ecological and biogeochemical changes in coastal environments attributable to watershed development… The high-resolution graphics are exceptional. Because of its broad sweep, comprehensive coverage and reasonable price, I strongly recommend the book for library and individual purchase. All estuarine and marine ecologists should obtain a copy.” (Environmental Conservation)

"This is an ambitious well illustrated book with a wealth of information." (Bulletin of the British Ecological Society)

Ivan Valiela has been teaching and doing research since 1969 in Woods Hole at the Boston University Marine Program, Marine Biological Laboratory. He has published over 200 articles on many basic and applied features of coastal environments, and has written Marine Ecological Processes, well-known as a standard text in marine ecology, and Doing Science, a guide to the design, analysis, and communication of scientific research.

Global Coastal Changeprovides a comprehensive overview of the environmental factors changing the marine systems of the world. Evaluating the evidence of change at a local and global level, this important text examines a wide range of factors affecting coastal environments. These factors include atmospheric changes, sea level rise, alterations in freshwater and sediment use and transport, toxins, overfishing, alien species, and eutrophication.

Each chapter presents a different topic and includes:

• case studies providing real-world examples
• a detailed review of the evidence of changes and possible solutions to resulting problems
• references to the primary literature.

Global Coastal Change brings together a wealth of important information about our changing marine environments and will be an invaluable reference for upper level undergraduates, graduates, and professionals interested in marine environmental science.

“Exceptionally interesting, very readable, and engaging… I particularly liked the graphics, which are very well presented, plus the incredible number of well-referenced case studies… very comprehensive…"
–Boris Worm, Dalhousie University

"Superbly crafted… important and timely… especially readable and an intricately woven story rather than a dictionary of facts… uses history well to understand changes and to make the book enjoyable. This book will become a classic, of value to… scientists and policy planners, as well as university teachers.”
–Kenneth Tenore, University of Maryland

"The author conveys coastal studies in the arena of global environmental subjects, where they clearly belong. The inherent heterogeneity of coasts and the multitude of agents transforming them required a scientist of exceptionally wide experience and knowledge to show how local effects coalesce into global change. I believe Ivan Valiela has written a great book. His ranking of the agents of global coastal change certainly constitutes a challenge for future research and at the same time offers a common framework for coastal science."
–Karsen Reise, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Botanica Marina, August 2007