Physical Drivers and Anthropogenic Pressures Shaping Coastal Water Quality
A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Oceanography".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2026 | Viewed by 94
Special Issue Editors
Interests: coastal water quality; physical drivers of coastal systems; hydrodynamic modeling; transport and dispersion processes; residence time analysis; semi-enclosed coastal basins; integration of observations and numerical models; anthropogenic pressures on coastal waters
2. Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV, USA
3. College of Engineering, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, USA
Interests: atmospheric and coastal dynamics; air–sea interaction; mesoscale meteorological modeling; transport and dispersion of pollutants in coastal environments; atmospheric forcing of coastal circulation; marine boundary layer processes; environmental fluid mechanics; coupling of atmospheric and oceanic models; coastal air quality and environmental impacts
Interests: marine environmental protection; sustainable port and maritime systems; environmental impacts of maritime activities on coastal and port water quality; sustainable management of coastal and marine resources
Interests: physical processes in coastal seas; sea level variability and extremes; synoptic and atmospheric drivers of coastal dynamics; coastal observations and data analysis; interaction between physical forcing and coastal water properties
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Coastal water quality is shaped by a complex interplay between physical circulation processes and diverse anthropogenic pressures acting across multiple spatial and temporal scales. In semi-enclosed and highly dynamic coastal systems, variations in circulation patterns, stratification, residence times, and exchange with the open sea strongly modulate the transport, dilution, and accumulation of substances affecting ecological status.
This Special Issue aims to advance understanding of the physical drivers and anthropogenic pressures shaping coastal water quality, with a particular emphasis on integrative approaches that link observations, numerical modeling, and system-level analyses. We invite studies that examine how hydrodynamic variability, extreme events, and human activities influence coastal water quality indicators, including pressures associated with port activities, maritime transport, ballast water exchange, microplastic contamination, and invasive species pathways, without restricting submissions to climate attribution alone. Climate-related variability and extreme events are welcome where supported by data and process-based analysis.
Contributions employing field measurements, remote sensing, numerical modeling, and data-driven analyses are encouraged, as are interdisciplinary assessments that connect physical oceanography with marine environmental protection and management. Case studies from diverse coastal settings, including semi-enclosed basins, ports, estuaries, and urbanized coasts, are particularly welcome.
By bringing together physical, environmental, and applied perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to support a more process-based understanding of coastal water quality dynamics, providing insights relevant for both scientific advancement and informed coastal management.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Physical circulation processes controlling coastal water quality;
- Hydrodynamic variability, residence time, and flushing in semi-enclosed coastal systems
- Transport, dispersion, and accumulation of pollutants and tracers in coastal waters;
- Effects of extreme events and episodic forcing on coastal water quality;
- Anthropogenic pressures associated with ports, maritime transport, and coastal infrastructure;
- Ballast water exchange and physical pathways of invasive species spread;
- Distribution and transport of microplastics in coastal and port environments;
- Integration of field observations, remote sensing, and numerical modeling for coastal water quality assessment;
- System-level and process-based approaches linking physical oceanography and marine environmental protection.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Morena Galešić Divić
Prof. Dr. Darko Koračin
Prof. Dr. Merica Slišković
Dr. Marin Vojković
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- coastal water quality
- physical oceanography
- coastal circulation
- hydrodynamic variability
- residence time
- anthropogenic pressures
- extreme events
- numerical modeling
- field observations
- semi-enclosed coastal systems
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