Coastal Geomorphology

Code: GEOGR042     Acronym: GEOLIT

Keywords
Classification Keyword
OFICIAL Geography

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active? Yes
Responsible unit: Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible: Bachelor in Geography

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym No. of Students Study Plan Curricular Years Credits UCN Credits ECTS Contact hours Total Time
GEOGR 24 study plan 2 - 6 41 162
3

Teaching Staff - Responsibilities

Teacher Responsibility
António Alberto Teixeira Gomes

Teaching - Hours

Theoretical and practical : 3,00
Type Teacher Classes Hour
Theoretical and practical Totals 1 3,00
António Alberto Teixeira Gomes 3,00

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Successful students will:
a) understand hydrological and geomorphological conditioning and its interference in the development of coastlines;
b) acquire knowledge on Geomorphology and dynamics of rocky and sandy coastlines;
c) understand the role of heritage in the evolution of coastlines;
d) discuss the problems related to coastal planning and management;
e) Understanding the theme of sea level variations at different time scales.

Learning outcomes and competences

The UC provides a general and comprehensive training in Coastal Geomorphology, focusing on the geomorphological / geological / ecosystemic aspects that characterize the coast as a complex interface between continental and marine processes. The resource and intensive consultation of oceanographic / meteorological data available online (depth, waves, tides, temperature, salinity, wind, etc.), aims to familiarize students with these data and develop their ability to interpret and the skills related to the treatment and exploration of statistical / GIS data linked to the coastal context.
With practical work, students are encouraged to use platforms that provide scientific literature (Scopus, ISI, GScholar) and the ability to write a mini-article on an oceanic scientific research theme is developed, following standards of scientific publications.
A significant part of the contents taught are realized during the field trip.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Definition of coastline and justification for its study.
2. Origins and characteristics of sea water.
3. Ocean currents.
4. Waves.
5. Tides.
6. Sea level changes.
7. Rocky coastlines.
8. Beaches and coastal dunes.
9. Estuaries, deltas and lagoons.
10. Evolution of coastlines during the late Cenozoic: the role of heritage in the current configuration of coastlines.
11. The sensitivity of coastal environments and the need of coastal planning.

Mandatory literature

BIRD, Eric; Coastal Geomorphology, John Wiley & Sons, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-470-51730-7
BIRD, Eric; Encyclopedia of the World‘s Coastal Landforms, Springer, 2010. ISBN: 978-1-4020-8638-0
GARRISON, Tom ; Fundamentos De Oceanografia, LTC - Livros Tecnicos e Cientificos Editora, 2017. ISBN: 9788521633976
KOMAR , P. D., ; Beach Processes and Sedimentation, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, 1998
MASSELINK, Gerd; GEHRELS, Roland; Coastal Environments and Global Change, John Wiley & Sons, 2014
MOREIRA, M. E. S. A.; Glossário de termos usados em Geomorfologia litoral, Centro de Estudos Geográficos, Linha de acção de Geografia das Regiões Tropicais, relat. nº 15, 1984
Nordstrom, Karl 340; Coastal dunes. ISBN: 0-471-91842-3
Pethick, John; An introduction to coastal geomorphology
PUGH, D; Changing sea levels. Efects of Tides, Weather and Climate, Cambridge University Press, 2004
SCHWARTZ, M. ; Encyclopedia of coastal science, Springer, Netherlands, 2005
Steers, J. A. 340; Applied coastal geomorphology
Sunamura, Tsuguo; Geomorphology of rocky coasts. ISBN: 0-471-91775-3

Complementary Bibliography

Anja M. Scheffers, Sander R. Scheffers, Dieter H. Kelletat; The Coastlines of the World with Google Earth, Springer, 2012. ISBN: 978-94-007-0737-5
Cathers, Lincoln D.; Coastal zone management
Milliman, John D. 340; Sea-level rise and coastal subsidence. ISBN: 0792339339
Davies, J. L.; Geographical variation in coastal development. ISBN: 0-582-49006-5
Bird, Eric C. F.; Coastline changes

Comments from the literature

Existing works in the Faculty Library are identified through their links.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The classes are divided into three types:
a) theoretical and practical sessions, in which the theoretical contents are exposed, the understanding of the contents is evaluated inquiring the students and It is shown how to search, collect and treat meteorological/oceanographic/GIS data;
b) Tutorial sessions to follow the writing of a scientific mini-article and to clarify doubts about the scientific literature search and data processing;
c) A field trip to the coast of Porto, or to the port of Leixões or to the EMEPC.

The materials presented and worked in the class (powerpoints, links, mini-tutorials, videos, tables) and all the literature is shared via the Moodle platform.

Evaluation is distributed with final examination (50% for each element):
a) an extended abstract (the mini-article) on a topic about litoral research (maximum 10 pages, predefined layout, a group of two students);
b) an individual final exam about the contents taught.

Software

DSAS
Adobe Acrobat
Google Earth
Plataforma Moodle de e-learning
ArcGis Pro

keywords

Natural sciences > Environmental science > Earth science > Marine sciences
Natural sciences > Environmental science > Earth science > Physical geography

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation Weight (%)
Exame 50,00
Trabalho escrito 50,00
Total: 100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico 3,00
Estudo autónomo 58,00
Frequência das aulas 41,00
Trabalho de investigação 60,00
Total: 162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance to 75% of the classes.
Positive evaluation (up to 9,5 values) in each evaluation component.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Exam (50%) + Pratical Work (50%).

Examinations or Special Assignments

According to FLUP rules.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Final Exam (50%) + Pratical Work (50%).

Classification improvement

Final Exam.