Author(s)

W.W. Schroeder

Abstract

Disturbances such as tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones, and floods are known to play important roles in shaping coastal environments. These events generate combinations of high winds, large waves, strong currents, storm surges, fluctuations in sea level, flooding river conditions, excessive local run-off, and subfreezing air temperatures. In turn, these processes can produce both short- and long-term alterations to shoreline and basin geomorphology, bottom sediments, water quality, and biological habitats. It has been clearly documented that short-term, local changes can be significant and extensive, particularly in developed areas. On the other hand, available literature indicates that from a long-term, regional perspective, these events do not generally result in detrimental impacts to unmodified areas bu

Keywords