Search Results (279)

Rapid urbanization, climate change, and biodiversity loss are intensifying environmental pressures on arid coastal cities through extreme heat, water scarcity, salinity intrusion, and increasing flood risks. Despite substantial investment in urban green spaces across the Gulf region, many public parks provide limited ecological functionality and climate adaptation benefits. This study evaluated the ecological performance of three coastal parks in Muscat, Oman Sarooj Beach Park (23,080 m²), Ghubrah Beach Park (34,818 m²), and Al Athaiba Beach Park (17,370 m²), to identify opportunities for more resilient landscape design. The assessment revealed that although green space occupied 76.8–82% of park areas, tree canopy cover remained low (8–12%), limiting thermal comfort, habitat provision, and ecological performance. Based on these findings, a Functional and Climate-Responsive Planting Strategy (FCRPS) was developed by integrating the 10–20–30 biodiversity guideline with performance-based planting criteria tailored to arid and saline environments. The framework was applied to the proposed Majis Beach Ecological Park in Sohar, Oman, to demonstrate the implementation of ecological urbanism and nature-based solutions in a hyper-arid coastal environment. The resulting design incorporates biodiversity-enhancing planting, blue–green infrastructure, wetland restoration, and climate-responsive spatial planning. The study demonstrates how multifunctional landscapes can enhance biodiversity, improve thermal comfort, strengthen stormwater management, and support community well-being while providing a transferable framework for resilient public park design in arid coastal cities. Full article

Employing the WaveMIMO methodology, the present numerical study evaluates a submerged horizontal plate (SHP) device under the incidence of representative regular and realistic irregular waves associated with the sea state off the coast of Rio Grande, Brazil. The dual functionality of the SHP device is investigated, considering its operation as a breakwater (BW) and as a wave energy converter (WEC). The main focus of this study is to investigate the effects of numerical beach (NB) positioning on the hydrodynamic response of the SHP. The governing equations for mass, momentum, and volume fraction are solved using the finite volume method (FVM), while the water–air interaction is modeled through the volume of fluid (VOF) approach. The analysis assessed the influence of SHP length (L_p) using five different values. For the tested Rio Grande sea state, SHP geometry, two-dimensional numerical model, and adopted hydrodynamic indicators, the results show that the exclusive use of representative regular waves was not sufficient to reproduce the hydrodynamic trends obtained under realistic irregular waves. The SHP demonstrates its highest BW performance in reducing the significant wave height at 3L_p for representative regular waves and realistic irregular waves. As a WEC, it achieves its highest axial velocity at 3L_p for representative regular waves and 1.5L_p and 2L_p for realistic irregular waves. The performance of the SHP as BW-WEC is the highest at 3L_p for regular waves and 2.5L_p for realistic irregular waves. In contrast to previous work, in which the NB was kept at a fixed position, the present study indicates that the downstream computational-domain configuration, including the relative positioning between the SHP and the NB, is an important factor affecting the monitored hydrodynamic response and should be carefully defined in CFD wave-flume simulations. Full article

Transitions within the syn-rift stage provide a key window for examining sediment-routing changes and associated sedimentary responses in lacustrine rift basins. In the Bohai Bay Basin, the interval from the third member (Es3) to the second member (Es2) of the Eocene Shahejie Formation records a transition from early strong rifting toward relatively stable rifting. The Qinan Sag, a secondary sag along the Qikou Sag margin, was sensitive to this transition. Using cores, well logs, three-dimensional (3D) seismic data, and heavy-mineral data, this study reconstructs the source configuration, palaeogeomorphology, depositional-system evolution, and Es3–Es2 source-related sediment-dispersal domains. The results show that the supply pattern shifted from coeval supply by a southern regional source and northern and western local sources during Es3 to southern regional-source dominance during Es2. Accordingly, Es3 contains strongly differentiated braided-delta, fan-delta, and subaqueous-fan assemblages. Es2 contains weakly differentiated shallow-water delta and beach-bar assemblages. Three source-related sediment-dispersal domains coexisted during Es3. During Es2, the northern domain was no longer identified, and the western gentle-slope belt evolved into a high-sand-ratio beach-bar belt. This reorganization was mainly controlled by the combined effects of source-configuration changes, geomorphic segmentation, and contrasting slope–A/S conditions (A/S = accommodation/sediment supply). Supply-pattern simplification and weakened geomorphic segmentation shifted sediment routing after basin entry from multiple, dispersed pathways to dominant-source-controlled focused routing. Moderate-to-steep slopes and higher relative A/S proxy values during Es3 favoured discrete, segmented sandy-deposit preservation; gentle slopes and lower relative A/S proxy values during Es2 promoted focused routing and preservation of sandy deposits along the dominant direction, with local shallow-water enrichment. Across the Es3–Es2 syn-rift stage transition, regional-source-related sediment routing showed stronger persistence; local-source-related routing more often weakened or terminated, with corresponding areas tending to show shallow-water redistribution and enrichment signals. Full article

Sea level rise poses a major threat to dry beach areas, particularly in low-lying and managed coastal environments. Reliable assessments of future beach vulnerability therefore require the combined consideration of sea level rise, tidal regime, meteorological forcing, and wave-driven processes. Here, a physically based methodology is applied to evaluate future inundation and beach response at five representative sandy beaches along the southern coast of Spain. The selected sites span mesotidal Atlantic and microtidal Mediterranean settings. The approach integrates present-day conditions with sea level rise projections under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios, astronomical tide, and meteorological residuals. Wave run-up is estimated using the IH2VOF CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) model. Extreme still water levels and maximum inundation levels are derived for mid-century (2026–2045) and end-of-century (2081–2100) periods, and their impacts on available dry beach surface and beach width are quantified using cross-shore profiles. Results indicate a progressive reduction in dry beach surface and width across all sites, with impacts intensifying from mid- to end-century and from moderate to high-emission scenarios. While losses remain comparatively moderate under still-water assumptions, the inclusion of wave effects leads to substantially larger impacts. At the most vulnerable sites, dry beach surface losses reach up to 80% under still-water conditions, and up to complete loss (100%) when wave run-up is included, particularly along the mesotidal Atlantic coast. Overall, the results demonstrate that neglecting wave run-up can lead to a substantial underrepresentation of future beach inundation, and that its explicit inclusion provides a more reliable basis for beach management and adaptation planning under sea level rise. Full article

Oil Detection Canines (ODCs) have been proven to detect spilled oil in various environments, including targets and residual oil sequestered along shorelines. A limitation within the capability is that an ODC detects and responds to all types of stranded hydrocarbons, including any from historical spills or naturally occurring chronic oils, such as tarballs washed up from offshore seeps. In locations historically known for chronic tar deposits, the value of a K9-supported Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT) survey is limited when large numbers of tar deposits are present, because the canine detects and responds to all of them. This thoroughness can slow down SCAT surveys, reduce efficiency by requiring investigation of each response, and fatigue the canines from the number of alerts. A project supported by the Texas General Land Office (TGLO) was designed to investigate the ability of a trained ODC to discriminate hydrocarbons on a beach that represent a newly spilled oil while ignoring other potential “background” oils. In 2021, Texas Tech University’s Canine Olfaction Lab conducted a laboratory-based study to investigate canines’ ability to respond to weathered oil samples. This research demonstrated that trained canines could effectively discriminate between weathered oils in a laboratory environment. This knowledge was used to design a field program to conduct monthly surveys with two teams: one involved deploying two canines trained on a sample representative of relatively unweathered spilled oils, handled by citizen-scientist volunteers, and the other involved an ODC trained on a range of oil types. The field survey results show that a Specific Oil Detection Canine (SODC) can discriminate between unweathered oil deposits and other background deposits typical of chronic oiling at the same location. Field surveys indicated that SODCs consistently responded exclusively to target oil samples and disregarded naturally occurring background hydrocarbons, while a generalist ODC responded to all hydrocarbon sources present. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) adsorb hazardous substances and are ingested by a wide range of organisms; therefore, indicators for managing their environmental concentrations are needed. Ideally, threshold values should be based on health impacts. However, the diversity of MPs and the complexity of their environmental behavior make it difficult to establish unified environmental concentration standards. In this study, we propose a threshold for the presence of MPs on sandy beaches based on “visual cleanliness,” derived from the amount of MPs that people find psychologically unacceptable. Three types of MPs were used: white polypropylene (PP), blue PP, and white polystyrene (PS; expanded polystyrene). The survey was conducted in Japan, and the number of valid responses was 245. For defining a narrow-range cleanliness threshold, volume concentration was more appropriate than mass concentration. White particles were expected to be less noticeable because they tended to blend with white shell fragments, which are ubiquitous on beaches. In contrast, blue particles were expected to be less acceptable owing to their rarity. However, we found no difference in unacceptability between white PP and blue PP. The threshold, defined as the volume concentration at which half of the respondents find MPs psychologically unacceptable, ranged from 1 to 2 cm³-MPs/m²-sand. Gender, age, travel time to the beach, and frequency of beach visits did not influence unacceptability. Strong concern about marine plastic pollution and experience in cleaning public spaces were associated with a tendency toward low tolerance for MP contamination on beaches. Full article

Coastal dunes are uniquely dynamic environments continuously shaped by a complex network of physical and biotic factors. Due to its location, the northwest of Ireland presents a challenging coastline characterised by high waves and wind energy. Even though dune systems in this area are frequently subject to habitat loss and erosion processes, comprehensive ecological studies are scarce. With the primary objective of investigating species composition and morphometric variability, we selected 13 dune sites and collected 409 vegetation plots and multiple cross-shore profiles. We implemented multivariate analyses to detect the main patterns in vegetation and geomorphology, and functional traits (TRY database) to evaluate plant strategies along the natural gradient. We observed high geomorphological heterogeneity across the beach–dune area. The PCA results were linked to the width of the natural system and to erosion or progradation trend. Different habitats of conservation interest were identified, and the environmental gradient proved to be the primary influence on species composition. In addition, different patterns in functional traits were detected along the zonation in response to the intensity of abiotic factors. The application of a multidisciplinary approach was crucial in unravelling the complexity of these environments and highlighting the need for context-specific conservation strategies. Full article

Across California, the seven largest cities—Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, and Long Beach—carry a disproportionate share of the state’s homelessness crisis, even though they operate under the same statewide policy framework. Each city’s homelessness system reflects its own history, political climate, and housing market conditions, and this study shows that a common set of structural forces especially severe housing scarcity, fragmented behavioral–health systems, and uneven local capacity shapes homelessness across these urban areas while producing different outcomes on the ground. Drawing on multidisciplinary research, statewide policy analyses, and municipal data, the analysis compares how cities interpret and implement key interventions, including permanent supportive housing, interim shelter expansion, prevention strategies, and enforcement-oriented responses. The findings make clear that California’s homelessness crisis cannot be reduced to a single cause; instead, understanding it requires a systems-oriented perspective that accounts for the intertwined economic, social, and policy forces shaping conditions in each community. By situating city-level strategies within broader statewide patterns, the study identifies points of convergence and divergence, as well as persistent structural constraints that limit the effectiveness of current responses, underscoring the need for coordinated, scalable, and context-responsive policy solutions. Full article

Oceanfront relief varies along coastlines and serves as the first barrier to wave and surge damage. However, forecasted increases in storm frequency and sea levels are anticipated to enhance coastal erosion, potentially weakening this protection. The land–sea transition is variable along the New England coast, USA, and this variability has produced a range of coastal morphologies that can vary over short distances. It is important to track the beach transition zone to better understand transformations of the system and related hazard risks. A combination of field and computer-based methods was used to evaluate the beach transition zone of southwestern Rhode Island to determine alongshore variability and dynamics. More specifically, a decadal-scale study was conducted to examine changes in morphology from 2011 to 2022, and a short-term study at South Kingstown Town Beach examined changes from November 2023 to January 2024 using time-series drone-derived elevations. Classification of over 500 cross-shore transects illustrated the dominance of sedimentary shorelines, with smaller areas of rocky outcrops and hardening. Analysis of four different years (2011, 2014, 2018, and 2022) determined that beaches with dune morphology were the most common type of transition zone (41–47% of the transects) and transects with a high bank upland were the next most frequent class (34–41%). Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, a 6% decrease in the number of dune-classified transects was measured; however, one-third of those recovered dune morphology by 2022. The greatest beach transformations over the short-term study occurred in response to strong storms in the 2023–2024 winter season, during which lateral beach movement (erosion) exceeded 15 m in portions of South Kingstown Town Beach. Dune erosion was accompanied by overwash flooding and deposition, and the area remained low-lying and thus vulnerable to future impacts. The beach transition zone classification and insights from this research will be informative for future planning by coastal communities by determining at-risk shorelines based on underlying geology and the stability of morphological features. Full article

In recent decades, the issue of marine litter has emerged as a major environmental concern, particularly with regard to plastic litter. The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC) requires member states to monitor marine litter along the coast, in the water, and on the seabed. Since 2014, beach litter monitoring has been carried out in Italy’s coastal regions, an activity entrusted to the Regional Environmental Agencies System (ARPA). ARPA Puglia is responsible for monitoring the Apulian coastline, and this paper summarizes the main results obtained from 2014 to 2023. The monitoring, which was repeated twice a year, consists of a visual census of litter items along a 100-meter stretch of beach in six different locations across the Puglia region. During this period, an average of 506 litter items per 100 m were observed on the six target beaches in Puglia, 90% of which were plastic ones. Among these, single-use plastic items (SUPs) accounted for 37%. A trend analysis reveals a decline in the aggregate quantity of marine litter on Apulian beaches over the past decade, a phenomenon that is particularly evident when considering the SUP subcategory in isolation. This decreasing trend is consistent with the overall pattern observed along the Italian coastline and the coastlines of European seas. Consequently, it can be hypothesized that an increase in awareness of the issue, in conjunction with the implementation of European Directive 2019/904 for the reduction in single-use plastics, has resulted in more responsible practices. However, further efforts are needed to achieve the goal of 20 litter items per 100 m of beach to attain the Good Environmental Status under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The findings emphasize the importance of constant monitoring of litter items along the shoreline, as well as the integration of new and alternative methodologies (e.g., drone surveys) to evaluate the efficacy of European regulatory implementation. Full article

Analyzing microplastics in marine organisms is essential for understanding the ecological and toxicological impacts of marine microplastic pollution in coastal food webs. This study investigated microplastic ingestion in three edible invertebrate species commonly found on Vietnamese sandy beaches, wedge clam Donax sp., hermit crabs Pagurus sp., and horn-eyed ghost crabs Ocypode ceratophthalmus, which differ in feeding modes and mobility, using micro-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (µ-FTIR) with a detection limit of 20 µm. Results showed that all three species ingested microplastics, with ingestion patterns varying according to species-specific traits and habitat-related feeding behaviors. The highly mobile crabs Ocypode ceratophthalmus (omnivore) and Pagurus sp. (scavenger) were found to partially reflect the polymer pollution in their ambient environment. The higher ingestion rate and diversity of polymer types observed in sedentary Donax sp. suggest that this species could serve as a potential bioindicator for microplastic pollution, given its mixed suspension and deposit feeding habits that integrate pollution from both the water column and beach sediments. Overall, these results reveal widespread microplastic ingestion among edible beach fauna, highlighting potential ecological and human health concerns, and emphasizing the need for targeted pollution management and increased public awareness. Advancing our understanding will require larger datasets and controlled experiments to more robustly assess species-specific responses and the likelihood of trophic transfer. Full article

Beach nourishment is a widely adopted nature-based solution for coastal erosion; however, its design efficacy and morphodynamic resilience under extreme wave conditions remain inadequately quantified, posing challenges for coastal hazard assessment. This study integrates physical-model experiments and XBeach numerical simulations to investigate the hydrodynamic and morphodynamic behavior of nourished beaches subjected to typhoon-driven extreme wave conditions at a headland-bay beach on Meizhou Island, China. Physical-model experiments were conducted to examine shoreline response and sediment redistribution under extreme waves for three nourishment tests. XBeach simulations resolved wave-induced currents, water-level variations, and sediment transport processes, enabling continuous tracking of nearshore hydrodynamics and beach profile evolution for three nourishment tests during Typhoon Doksuri. Results indicate that nourishment geometry and groin configuration play a dominant role in wave breaking patterns, sediment transport pathways and erosion–deposition distributions. Groin positions strongly influence alongshore sediment transport. Relocating the groin to an accretional zone reduces lee-side erosion and promotes a more stable shoreline. Steeper nourishment foreshore slopes promote offshore wave shoaling and breaking, enhancing fast wave-energy dissipation, shifting erosion seaward and limiting landward erosion extent. Consistent responses from both experimental and numerical results demonstrate that nourishment stability under extreme wave conditions is better characterized by the combined effects of erosion extent, erosion length, erosion depth, erosion volume, and alongshore and cross-shore sediment redistribution. The integrated physical–numerical approach provides a practical framework for assessing beach nourishment stability during coastal hazard events and offers guidance for the design and evaluation of resilient beach nourishment in wave-dominated, typhoon-prone coastal regions. Full article

Beach sands may harbor human pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, prompting the proposal of low-dose quicklime (CaO; 1–3% w/w) as a remediation strategy to improve microbiological quality in highly contaminated areas. After application, CaO is converted into calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), yet the ecological effects of this residual compound on benthic fauna remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the short-term impact of CaCO₃-enriched sediment (3% w/w) on the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, under controlled mesocosm conditions. Adult clams were exposed for one week, and survival, burrowing behavior, feeding- and metabolism-related parameters (clearance, ingestion, absorption efficiency and rate, ammonia excretion), and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA) were assessed using a hierarchical design, with a tank as the experimental unit. No significant differences were detected between control and CaCO₃-enriched treatments for any measured endpoint. Survival remained high, functional responses showed overlapping ranges, and MDA levels did not differ significantly between groups. Although limited to short-term exposure and a single concentration, these findings suggest that residual CaCO₃ derived from quicklime application did not induce detectable adverse effects in adult R. philippinarum under the tested conditions. Further long-term and multi-species studies are needed to confirm ecological safety. Full article

On 10 March 1933, an earthquake of roughly 6.4 on the Richter scale (retrospectively estimated) hit the City of Long Beach, California, and the counties surrounding it. Seismically, the quake was of moderate magnitude. However, to this day it remains one of the most destructive quakes in California history in terms of structural damage and fatalities, largely because of faults in building construction of the time that resulted in widespread collapses resulting from earth movement. This article tells the story of the quake itself in full detail; examines its role in the passage of the Field Act, tracing out how that act has impacted earthquake-resistant building design policy, law and practice in California and beyond; assesses the way in which the earthquake altered the trajectory of earthquake science; and details the economic policy response to the quake and the short-term stimulative effects this had on Long Beach and Southern California economies (referred to here as “Disaster Keynesianism”). While there is a large historiographical literature on the Long Beach quake and some of its singular impacts, this research is unique in that it describes and analyzes impacts across multiple dimensions and puts them in the context of contemporary literature on disaster studies, economic analysis, and the history of science, all based on extensive archival research. The paper concludes by positing that the policy, technical and economic response to the Long Beach earthquake represented a sort of “high modern” example of socially and institutionally constructed “disaster” that firmly set in place the notion that “natural disaster” could be managed and ultimately prevented by material and technical means. It is argued that such a view is still contained within more current and broader concepts of “Resilience” and “Anti-fragility”. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mango is a tropical fruit rich in polyphenols and carotenoids that may support recovery-related physiological responses during athletic training. This study examined the effects of mango puree supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers, muscle damage, and selected T-cell subsets in Thai men’s national beach volleyball players during regular training. Methods: Fifteen male athletes completed a pilot randomized, single-blind, crossover trial. Participants consumed the mango puree or placebo (600 g/day) for 4 weeks, separated by a 2-week washout period. Blood samples and physiological measurements were collected at baseline and at the end of each intervention period. Outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Results: Mango puree supplementation was associated with lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (mean difference: −1.6 mg/L; 95% CI: −2.1 to −1.1; p < 0.001), interleukin-6 (−0.7 pg/mL; 95% CI: −1.2 to −0.3; p = 0.003), and creatine kinase (−290.1 U/L; 95% CI: −356.1 to −224.1; p < 0.001) compared with the placebo. The percentage of CD4+ T cells (9.82 percentage points; 95% CI: 5.0 to 14.6; p < 0.001) and the CD4/CD8 ratio (0.37; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.63; p = 0.007) were higher during mango puree supplementation, while CD8+ T-cell percentage did not differ between conditions. No significant treatment effects were observed for body composition parameters or blood pressure (all p > 0.05). Total energy intake remained unchanged across intervention periods (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Mango puree supplementation during regular training was associated with lower inflammatory and muscle damage biomarkers and alterations in selected T-cell subsets compared with the placebo. Full article