Search Results (191)

Humanity is at a critical juncture in its response to environmental issues. Coastal land spaces are under threat from rising sea levels and storm surges accelerating erosion and degradation. Children have an important role in sustaining a viable environmental future. Education for sustainability in early childhood (EC) nature-based settings has the potential to disrupt the current crisis by deepening children’s understanding of the environment. Many educators who practice nature pedagogy in early childhood education (ECE) shy away from using technological tools despite our existence in a time of artificial intelligence and digitalisation, some of which is becoming evident in EC sustainability education. This paper will consider the use of blue spaces that incorporate the waters, sands, and coastal land adjacent to the water’s age for EC sustainability teaching and learning. It will focus on questioning the role of technologization, particularly technological tools, on the forms of sustainability education that preschool children experience while in nature-based settings. Interrogating recent research of nature-based kindergartens undertaken at Australian coastal contexts, and drawing on seminal international documentation, it will focus on the development of young children’s empathy and ‘ethos of care’ for living things, their considerations of local ecosystems, and their growing understandings of the interrelationships between elements of their environment. The paper will then consider how the application of technological tools intersects with sustainability education in the context of blue spaces. The research highlights the importance of the educator in the development of interactive, learner-centred opportunities that not only enable investigative, action-adapted learning but also fosters independent learners who are responsive to their natural environment. The implication of this research is that further considerations of technologization and children’s environmental agency through a play-based, emergent curriculum are necessary. Full article

Coastal erosion and increasingly severe storms present a growing challenge to the sustainable management of sandy shorelines. This study examines the geomorphological, sedimentological and geochemical responses of the Palanga coastal area in the Lithuanian Baltic Sea to beach nourishment projects implemented between 2006 and 2012. A multi-parameter approach was used, combining cross-shore profile monitoring with grain-size, magnetic susceptibility, mineralogical and geochemical analyses, in order to assess sediment redistribution and post-nourishment adjustments. The results demonstrate that nourishment projects substantially increased beach width, height and sand volume; however, the shoreline response was uneven in space and time. Subsequent years were characterised by gradual sediment redistribution along and across the coast, resulting in partial morphological stabilisation. Elevated concentrations of heavy minerals and trace elements immediately after nourishment indicated short-term enrichment from mineralogically distinct material, which was later diluted by natural reworking. The findings demonstrate that properly designed and monitored nourishment enhances coastal resilience, representing a human-induced adjustment within the prevailing coastal morphodynamic regime. While the socio-ecological effects were not directly evaluated, the identified geoindicators offer insights into the physical sustainability of coastal systems, emphasising the importance of evidence-based, adaptive management in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 11, 13 and 14). Full article

The federally threatened Puritan tiger beetle (Ellipsoptera puritana; PTB) inhabits Upper Chesapeake Bay bluffs, beaches and Connecticut River point bars. This study focuses on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay population (Calvert County and Sassafras River), where adult PTBs prey on beach arthropods but establish larval habitat on the adjacent bluffs. A combination of panoramic photography, GIS mapping, and field and laboratory measurements of sedimentological and ecological characteristics were measured across 17 high- and low-density Maryland beetle sites to identify the geologic and biological controls on population distribution and abundance. Results indicate that temporal and spatial fluctuations in PTB abundance are governed by bluff face quality, which in turn, is shaped by antecedent geology (medium-compacted, fine-to-medium, well-sorted sands) and bluff dynamics. We present a four-stage, multi-decadal geomorphodynamic conceptual model in which long-term bluff recession and short-term storm-driven colluvium removal periodically expose fresh bluff surfaces required for larval establishment. By integrating geomorphic, geologic, and ecological perspectives, this study highlights the role of sedimentary processes in maintaining critical estuarine habitats and provides a framework for predicting species persistence in dynamic coastal landscapes. Full article

Approximately 27.6% of Italian beaches are currently affected by erosion, despite the widespread implementation of coastal defence structures. Around 10,500 installations—mainly groins and detached breakwaters—occupy nearly 24.6% of the national shoreline. Although primarily designed to protect tourist beaches, these hard-engineered structures often degrade coastal landscapes, alter nearshore circulation, and pose risks to swimmers. Nevertheless, beaches remain a fundamental asset for the “3S” (Sun, Sea, Sand) tourism sector, which contributes approximately 2.2% to Italy’s GDP, accounting for over 175 million tourists’ overnight stays in 2024, frequently concentrated near protected coastal zones. In this study, drowning incidents along the Italian coastline were analyzed using press reports complemented by official statistics. Between 2016 and 2021, an average of 145 fatalities occurred per bathing season. Sudden drownings following medical emergencies accounted for 41% of cases, non-swimmers for 18%, accidental falls into the water for 3%, and water sports activities for an additional 3%. Rip currents on natural beaches were responsible for 22% of drownings, whereas those generated by coastal defence structures accounted for 12%. A further 12% of non-swimmer fatalities are suspected to have resulted from falls into depressions or channels formed in proximity to these structures. Evidence from previous studies and seabed morphology analyses indicates that coastal defence structures can generate rip currents through two main mechanisms: (1) hydraulic pressure exerted against groins, which drives offshore flow, and (2) water outflow between pairs of breakwaters resulting from wave setup behind them. Both processes, though often less intense, are also observed near submerged structures. The erosional channels formed by these currents may persist well beyond storm events, maintaining dangerous conditions for bathers. As Italy continues to rely predominantly on hard coastal protection measures, improving the understanding of drowning dynamics associated with these structures is crucial. This should be accompanied by regulatory updates requiring designers and coastal managers to systematically assess related hazards and to propose effective mitigation and safety strategies. Full article

In this paper, a novel model of dust storm intensity variations and its effects on earth–satellite link design for total attenuation prediction has been developed. The proposed model expresses the total dust-induced attenuation as a function of the empirically derived specific attenuation in (dB/km) and effective slant path distance. The formulation incorporates the vertical variation in dust storm intensity along the propagation path to more accurately represent the attenuation experienced by slant links. The effective slant path distance is obtained as a combination of a total slant path distance and an adjustment factor. The adjustment factor has been developed based on the visibility height model of the dust storm structure. The proposed model has been validated with one-year measured attenuation on 6.2 km and 7.6 km long microwave links operating at 21.2 GHz and 14.5 GHz, respectively. Full article

Yazd province in central Iran is highly prone to dust and sand storms, causing significant environmental, economic, and health impacts. This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of dust storms in Yazd over 2003–2022 using ground-based meteorological station records and satellite-derived aerosol optical depth (AOD) data from MODIS (MYD08_D3 v6.1) at monthly, seasonal, and annual scales. Analysis of ten synoptic stations data revealed an increasing trend of ~0.5 dusty days/year, with the highest frequency in spring and winter, particularly from March to May. MODIS AOD data confirmed these patterns and showed a rising annual aerosol load, peaking in May. Spatial analysis indicated that central and northern regions are most affected, consistent across datasets. The increasing frequency and intensity of dust storms are driven by natural and anthropogenic factors, including regional drought, desertification, drying wetlands, land use changes, and transboundary dust transport (from Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia). These findings underscore the value of integrating in situ and remote sensing observations to monitor dust events. To mitigate impacts, policymakers should prioritize long-term environmental monitoring and interventions addressing both natural and human factors influencing dust emissions. This study provides actionable insights for decision-makers to enhance environmental resilience and protect public health in arid regions. Full article

Coastal profile models are frequently used for the computation of storm-induced erosion at (nourished) beaches. Attention is focused on new developments and new validation exercises for the detailed process-based CROSMOR-model for the computation of storm-induced morphological changes in sand and gravel coasts. The following new model improvements are studied: (1) improved runup equations based on the available field data; (2) the inclusion of the uniformity coefficient (C_u = d₆₀/d₁₀) of the bed material affecting the settling velocity of the suspended sediment and thus the suspended sediment transport; (3) the inclusion of hard bottom layers, so that the effect of a submerged breakwater on the beach–dune morphology can be assessed; and (4) the determination of adequate model settings for the accretive and erosive conditions of coarse gravel–shingle types of coasts (sediment range of 2 to 40 mm). The improved model has been extensively validated for sand and gravel coasts using the available field data sets. Furthermore, a series of sensitivity computations have been made to study the numerical parameters (time step, grid size and bed-smoothing) and key physical parameters (sediment size, wave height, wave incidence angle, wave asymmetry and wave-induced undertow), conditions affecting the beach morphodynamic processes. Finally, the model has been used to study various alternative methods of reducing beach erosion. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous and persistent contaminants of the marine environment, but a clear understanding of their cycling, fate, and impacts in coastal zones is lacking. In this study, large MPs (1–5 mm) were sampled spatially and temporally from the strandline of a macrotidal, sandy beach (Polzeath) in southwest England. MPs encompassing a diversity of sources were categorised by morphology (foams, nurdles, biobeads, fragments, fibres, films) and quantified by number and mass, with a selection analysed for polymer type. A total of about 17,600 particles of around 350 g in mass were retrieved from 30 samples over a period of five months, with an abundance ranging from 35 and 2048 per m². The space- and time-integrated average mass of MPs on the beach strandline was about 2 kg and was dominated (>90%) by fragments, nurdles, and biobeads of polyethylene or polypropylene construction. Nurdles, biobeads, fragments, and, to a lesser extent, fibres were correlated with strandline seaweed abundance, which itself was correlated with previous storm activity. Relationships with seaweed abundance were also supported by visible associations of these MP morphologies with macroalgal deposits through entanglement and adhesion. These observations, coupled with a lack of MPs below the sand’s surface (50 cm depth), suggest that the majority of MPs are transported from an offshore stock with floating organic debris, resulting in a transitory strandline repository and a habitat enriched with small plastics. Full article

Breakwater dams are critical infrastructures that protect the safety of ports. However, these coastal structures are facing the compounding threats of sea level rise, storm surge, and dam subsidence. Heterogeneous deformations in these infrastructures arise from differential construction sequencing, sediment consolidation, and filling materials, yet traditional in situ monitoring remains spatially limited or even unavailable to trace back and continuously monitor deformation evolutions. In contrast, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) offers valuable insights in providing the spatially and temporally covered dam deformation. In this study, we used two Sentinel-1 tracks from 2016 to 2025, and the persistent and distributed scatterers InSAR methods to map the long-term deformation of Xuwei Port, Lianyungang, China. We utilized six sites of leveling measurements to validate the InSAR-derived vertical deformation and indicate Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) ranging from −0.9–1.2 cm. We find, for the rock-sand filled section, the deformations show consolidating subsidence ranging from −63.8 cm to −40.6 cm. In contrast, the concrete tubular structure remains stable, with cumulative deformation ranging from −10.6 cm to −5.2 cm. The enclosing reclaimed land undergoes a period of accelerated settlement with subsidence rates of −64.9–−39.3 cm/yr, which are higher than original subsidence rates of −10.1–−9.7 cm/yr. Additionally, we integrated the consolidation model and tide gauge to quantify that the freeboard will decrease to 0.08–0.31 m in the following 100 years with the continuous sea level rise and dam subsidence. This study benefits our understandings of coastal dam and reclaimed land. It highlights InSAR as a valuable tool to evaluate the critical risk between sea level rise and coastal infrastructure subsidence. Full article

Hydrotechnical structures reshape sandy coasts by altering hydrodynamics and sediment transport, yet their long-term effects on sediment texture remain underexplored, particularly in the Baltic Sea. This study investigates the spatial and temporal variations in sediment grain size near two ports (Šventoji and Klaipėda) on the sandy Baltic Sea coast, considering the influence of jetties, nourishment, and geological framework. A total of 246 surface sand samples were collected from beach and foredune zones between 1993 and 2018. These samples were analyzed in relation to shoreline changes, hydrodynamic data, and geological context. The results show that sediment texture is most affected within 1–2 km downdrift and up to 4–5 km updrift of port structures. Downdrift areas tend to contain coarser, poorly sorted sediments because of erosion and the exposure of deeper strata, while updrift zones accumulate finer, well-sorted sands via longshore transport. In the long term, the geological framework controls sediment characteristics. In the medium term, introduced material that differs in grain size from natural beach sediments may alter the texture of the sediment, either coarsening or refining it. The latter slowly returns to its natural texture. Short-term changes are driven by storm events. These findings highlight the importance of integrating structural interventions, nourishment practices, and geological understanding for sustainable coastal management. Full article

Coastal climate processes that affect landscape hydrology and beach dynamics are studied using local and remote data sets near Cape Vidal (28.12° S, 32.55° E). The sporadic intra-seasonal pulsing of coastal runoff, vegetation, and winds is analyzed to understand sediment inputs and transport by near-shore wind-waves and currents. River-borne sediments, eroded coral substrates, and reworked beach sand are mobilized by frequent storms. Surf-zone currents ~0.4 m/s instill the northward transport of ~6 10⁵ kg/yr/m. An analysis of the mean annual cycle over the period of 1997–2024 indicates a crest of rainfall over the Umfolozi catchment during summer (Oct–Mar), whereas coastal suspended sediment, based on satellite red-band reflectivity, rises in winter (Apr–Sep) due to a deeper mixed layer and larger northward wave heights. Sediment input to the beaches near Cape Vidal exhibit a 3–6-year cycle of southeasterly waves and rainy weather associated with cool La Nina tropical sea temperatures. Beachfront sand dunes are wind-swept and release sediment at ~10³ m³/yr/m, which builds tall back-dunes and helps replenish the shoreline, especially during anticyclonic dry spells. A wind event in Nov 2018 is analyzed to quantify aeolian transport, and a flood in Jan–Feb 2025 is studied for river plumes that meet with stormy seas. Management efforts to limit development and recreational access have contributed to a sustainable coastal environment despite rising tides and inland temperatures. Full article

Although wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) are increasingly operating in deepwater complex geological areas with larger scales, systematic research on and experimental validation of platform jack-up stability remain insufficient. This study aimed to establish a comprehensive evaluation framework encompassing penetration depth, anti-overturning/sliding stability, and punch-through risk, thereby filling the gap in holistic platform stability analysis. An entire four-legged centrifuge test at 150× g was integrated with coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) numerical simulations and theoretical methods to systematically investigate spudcan penetration mechanisms and global sliding/overturning evolution in clay/sand. The key findings reveal that soil properties critically influence penetration resistance and platform stability: Sand exhibited a six-times-higher ultimate bearing capacity than clay, yet its failure zone was 42% smaller. The sliding resistance in sand was 2–5 times greater than in clay, while the overturning behavior diverged significantly. Although the horizontal loads in clay were only 50% of those in sand, the tilt angles at equivalent sliding distances reached 8–10 times higher. Field validation at Guangdong Lemen Wind Farm confirmed the method’s reliability: penetration prediction errors of <5% and soil backflow/plugging effects were identified as critical control factors for punch-through risk assessment. Notably, the overturning safety factors for crane operation at 90° outreach and storm survival were equivalent, indicating operational load combinations dominate overturning risks. These results provide a theoretical and decision-making basis for the safe operation of large WTIVs, particularly applicable to engineering practices in complex stratified seabed areas. Full article

This study provides a comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of sand and dust storms (SDSs) in Uzbekistan using ground-based meteorological data from 2010 to 2023. The results reveal significant spatial heterogeneity in the SDS activity, with the highest frequency of SDS days observed in the southern and western regions, including Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, Bukhara, Khorezm, and Republic of Karakalpakstan. In the most vulnerable areas, such as Karakalpakstan, Surkhandarya, and Kashkadarya, the annual number of SDS days can exceed 80 in certain years, reflecting a high recurrence of extreme dust events in certain climatic zones. About 53% of the SDS events were regional, affecting several stations, while 47% were localized, indicating a combination of large-scale dust transport and localized emissions. Seasonal patterns showed a peak SDS activity between March and August, coinciding with the dry season characterized by elevated temperatures, reduced soil moisture, and intense agricultural activity, all of which contribute to the surface exposure and increased vulnerability. This study found a significant variation in the event duration across regions, with Karakalpakstan and Surkhandarya experiencing the highest proportion of prolonged events due to its orography and persistent southerly wind patterns. Using ERA5 data and a decision tree regressor, the analysis identified the wind direction and mean wind speed as the most influential meteorological factors, followed by the maximum wind speed and soil temperature, with other variables such as solar radiation and soil moisture playing moderate roles. This study highlights the importance of regional wind patterns and geomorphology in SDS formation, with prevailing wind directions from the northwest, west, and south. The integration of the ERA5 reanalysis and machine learning techniques offers significant potential for improving SDS monitoring and studies. Full article

This study investigated the dust storm observation data from the Taklimakan Desert in 2018, focusing on analyzing horizontal dust flux (Q), vertical dust flux (F), their relationships with aerosol optical depth (AOD), and the relationship between HYSPLIT backward trajectories and dust storm dispersion direction. Key findings include: (1) at the Xiaotang (XT) station, Q values at low heights (1–10 m) exceeded those at higher altitudes, highlighting the role of flat terrain in dust accumulation, while Q values at the Tazhong (TZ) station remained relatively stable, suggesting dust redistribution influenced by undulating topography; (2) vertical dust flux (F) decreased with height, with significant seasonal variations in spring linked to frequent dust events; (3) at station XT, the contribution of F at 5 m height is relatively strong to AOD and its peak precedes AOD by 24–72 h, although the direct correlation is weak; and (4) dust dispersion directions aligned with HYSPLIT trajectories and high Q values corresponded with remotely derived dust dispersion patterns. Full article

Understanding aeolian sediment transport and wind erosion enhances our knowledge of desert dune formation and sand migration. The Makran region of southern Sistan and Baluchistan is prone to wind-driven erosion alongside frequent sand and dust storms (SDSs). Hourly wind data from two meteorological stations spanning 1994–2020 were analyzed to study erosive winds and sand transport. Wind energy analysis using drift potential (DP) indicated low energy (DP < 200 in vector unit) and minimal spatial variation across the Makran dune fields. The effective winds transporting sand particles were towards the east from November to May, and in the northwestern direction from June to October. The DP showed a gradual decline in the study area from 1990 to 2022, with no significant temporal trends. The sand dune morphology analysis indicates that bimodal wind regimes primarily form linear dunes and sand sheets, while crescentic, transverse, and topographic dunes are also present. Full article