Physical Environmental Assessment: Some Particular Problems of the Coastal Zone

Abstract

From the Arctic to the Equator the coastal zone is probably under greater and more varied forms of pressure for development than any other land surface. These pressures are not new but there is considerable evidence to suggest that development may be accelerating as the less industrialized nations strive for commercial and industrial growth, and the sophisticated industrial and post-industrial nations find an increasing number of relatively affluent people moving to the coast, either temporarily as tourists or permanently as residents. In general, attention is focused on low, unconsolidated coastal landforms. Partly this is due to the need for relatively level terrain; partly it is related to ease of excavation for harbours, canals and water-based leisure complexes; partly it is related to the prime tourist resource of sand beaches; partly it is related to the need of large industrial and power plants to be near tidewater for cooling water and effluent discharge and partly it is due to lower costs associated with ease of transhipment of raw materials and finished products. A special but increasing form of pressure is now generated by the need to bring the products of the bed and sub-surface of the continental shelves ashore, normally by pipeline.