Difference between revisions of "Template:This weeks featured article"

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== Carrying capacity analysis ==
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==Coastal zone characteristics==
  
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[[Image:sandy coast.jpg|thumb|Fig. 1. Sandy coast. Source: [http://www.dhigroup.com DHI]]]
  
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[[Image:carrying capacity.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Figure 1: Beach tourism that may exceed local ecological limits]]
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Defining the characteristics of the coastal zone will depend on the coastal type. Sand is a common marine sediment producing sandy beaches resulting from littoral transport. It is these hydrographic conditions that determine the appearance of the coastline. In environments that are fairly calm in terms of wave conditions muddy coast tend to be more dominant, in comparison rocky coasts are continually cut back by the sea. Arctic coastlines are those which are exposed to more than 6 months a year freezing. A barrier coast is formed when a lagoon separates a barrier island (which runs parallel to the shore) from the coastline.
  
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The concept of carrying capacity is rooted in a notion of “limits to growth”. The notion of carrying capacity or sustainability yield has become a basic criterion of sustainability. Ecosystems and populations have a limited capacity to cope with environmental stress; above a certain amount of stress there may be detrimental effects for the ecosystems. [[Carrying capacity]] is defined as “the growth limits an area can accommodate without violating environmental capacity goals” (Ortolano, 1984)<ref>Ortolano, L. (1984), Environmental Planning and Decision Making, John Wiley and Sons, New York</ref>. Policies to regulate human activities and for anticipating environmental impacts can assist in attaining carrying capacity limits. For this it is necessary to translate an ecosystem’s limits into anthropogenic limitations and controls.
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[[Coastal_zone_characteristics#Sandy beaches|Sandy beaches]]
  
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The notion of “limits” has several conceptual problems (ecosystem complexity, lack of data, gaps in science or bias of the scientists, etc.). Limits are, above all, conceptual constructs. It is therefore questionable whether it is possible to identify the geographical boundaries or area limits of natural ecosystems, much less to assess an ecosystem’s growth limits.
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[[Coastal_zone_characteristics#Muddy coasts|Muddy coasts]]
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Things become more complicated when moving from limits to certain parameters or resources to carrying capacity limits for a whole area, as in the case of tourism carrying capacity. Limitations for critical ecological resources like water need to be defined while stress due to tourism, agriculture, industry, etc. need to be considered. To achieve the above task of carrying capacity analysis a significant mobilization of resources (scientific, technological, financial, etc.) is required.
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[[Coastal_zone_characteristics#Rocky coasts|Rocky coasts]]
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[[Coastal_zone_characteristics#Arctic coasts|Arctic coasts]]
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[[Coastal_zone_characteristics#Barrier coasts|Barrier coasts]]

Revision as of 11:19, 21 April 2008

Coastal zone characteristics

Fig. 1. Sandy coast. Source: DHI

Defining the characteristics of the coastal zone will depend on the coastal type. Sand is a common marine sediment producing sandy beaches resulting from littoral transport. It is these hydrographic conditions that determine the appearance of the coastline. In environments that are fairly calm in terms of wave conditions muddy coast tend to be more dominant, in comparison rocky coasts are continually cut back by the sea. Arctic coastlines are those which are exposed to more than 6 months a year freezing. A barrier coast is formed when a lagoon separates a barrier island (which runs parallel to the shore) from the coastline.

Sandy beaches

Muddy coasts

Rocky coasts

Arctic coasts

Barrier coasts

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