Library Guides: Landscapes & Landforms: Coastal Landscapes

Source: Greg Jurgajtis (2015)

Coastal landscapes are a site of great change and breathtaking beauty. They are exposed to wind, water and human activity, and all these processes have an impact on the landscape. Read through the resources below to learn more about coastal landscapes and the processes that shape them.

Coast (National Geographic, n.d.)
The coast is the land along a sea. The boundary of a coast, where land meets water, is called the coastline. This article talks about the features of coasts and the costal processes that make these features.
Coastal processes and beaches (Nature Education Knowledge, 2012)
The coastal zone is that part of the land surface influenced by marine processes. It extends from the landward limit of tides, waves, and wind blown coastal dunes, and seaward to the point at which waves interact significantly with the seabed. The coastal zone is a dynamic part of the Earth's surface where both marine and atmospheric processes produce rocky coasts, as well as beaches and dunes, barriers and tidal inlets, and shape deltas. Read through this website to learn more.
Coastal features and coastal landscapes (Tutor 2 U, n.d.)
A coastal landscape is a section of coastline that has a range of coastal features; some erosional, some depositional. It is distinguishable from neighbouring coastal landscapes by prevailing characteristics that dominate the form of the coastline there. Learn about these characteristics and what they mean in this short article.
Coastal landscapes (Oxford University Press, 2016)
Coasts are incredibly dynamic places. Read this textbook chapter to learn more about them.
World Surf reports and cams (World Surf, n.d.)
These daily updates from surf locations all across the world indicate what affect the weather can have on wave patterns.
Aboriginal coastal use (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, n.d.)
This information sheet discusses how the Noongar Indigenous people used and maintained coastal regions.
How are waves formed? (Live Science, 2013, July 23)
Use this website to learn all about how waves are formed in the ocean and what waves do to the coastal landscape.
Coasts and shallow water (Smithsonian Ocean Institute, n.d.)
This website has lots of articles all about coasts and shallow water regions across the world, with information on animals, plants and other processes that take place in this unique environment.
Constructive and destructive waves (Go Learn Geo, 2010, July 14)
This short article gives information about constructive and destructive ways and how they work.
Longshore drift (Revision World, n.d.)
The transport of sand and pebbles along the coast is called longshore drift. Read through this website to learn more about this process.
Coastal landscapes (BBC, n.d.)
Coastal landscapes are formed by a combination of erosion, transportation and deposition processes. Read through this website to learn more.
What is swash? (Natural Navigator, 2018, December 22)
Swash is the name given to the waves that rush up the beach after a wave has broken. They are intriguing little waves that inhabit a world of their own. Read through this article to learn more.
Swash & backwash (Go Learn Geo, 2010, July 12)
Learn about swash and backwash with this super short article.
The importance of waves (BBC, n.d.)
The power of waves is one of the most important forces that changes the shape of the coast. Waves are created by wind blowing over the surface of the sea. Read this website to learn more.
Longshore drift animation (Steven Vettese, n.d.)
Watch this short animation to see how longshore drift in action.

Australia's coast the best beaches and coastal areas around the country
Publication Date: 2013
The second edition of Australia's Coast is a captivating guide to the Australian coast - its renowned hotspots and the experiences there which make them such a favourite destination for travellers worldwide. Featuring over 400 beautiful images from Australian Geographic, the book is divided by state and highlights the best beaches and coastal areas to visit. An extended introduction also focuses on coastal icons - lighthouses, shipwrecks, whales, coral, tropical islands - and the myriad coastal activities such as surfing, fishing and diving.
Australia's landforms by Bruce McClish
Publication Date: 2006
A landform is any natural feature of the Earth's surface. Explore high mountains, dive down to coral reefs and trek across dry deserts as you visit Australia's Landforms. Discover the plants and animals that inhabit the dunes, valleys, mountains, volcanic plains, coasts and lakes of Australia and find out more about how these places came to be.
The blue planet : a natural history of the oceans by Andy Byatt, Alastair Fothergill & Martha Holmes
Publication Date: 2001
Leads us on a voyage of exploration from the coasts, the very edges of the oceans to the deep where weird and monstrous fish lurk in a world of perpetual darkness. Along the way we are introduced to a whole host of wonderful creatures from tiny copepods to majestic blue whales, and from the grotesque hairy anglerfish to the amazing tripod fish that stands on its three delicate legs waiting to snap up unsuspecting prey.
Discover & learn about Australian coasts and oceans by Pat Slater & Steve Parish
Clearly and simply written, and illustrated in brilliant colour with photographs, diagrams and maps. Designed to put the fun back into learning.
Earth's changing coasts by Neil Morris
Publication Date: 2003
Explores the landforms that make up the world around us. This book looks at coasts, how they are formed and changed by wind and water, as well as how people and settlements change and are changed by the landscape.
Fragile earth views of a changing world by Ranulph Fiennes
Publication Date: 2006
Striking views of our changing planet show the extraordinary effects of man and nature. Each set of carefully selected 'before and after' pictures is combined with detailed explanations allowing you to understand exactly what has happened to our planet in the past, and what is likely to happen in the future.
The impacts of natural phenomena on our planet are detailed in the first few chapters including features on tsunamis, volcanoes and tornadoes. Man's influence on the world is presented with stunning images which outline the impacts man-made structures have on the earth as well as how man has destroyed what has been created. The effects of nature and man are examined in the last few chapters where the massive impact of global warming on the Earth is shown. This is especially evident in the remote and vulnerable areas of the world's glaciers and deserts.