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This course explores the processes that form and change coastal environments in New Zealand, the Pacific and worldwide. Topics examined include a selection of: sea level change today and into the future, waves and currents, the role of sediments in how beaches work to protect land and interact with oceans, plus sessions focussed on the wonders and practical realities of wetlands, tropical reefs, and human interactions with coastal environments. You will gain an understanding of models of the coastal zone, as well as an experience of field methods and laboratory techniques used in coastal investigations. The course was developed based on direct industry feedback and involvement. There is also an optional one-day field-trip, where there is an opportunity to put your learnings into practice and measure waves, currents and beach profiles, and to collect sediment and ecological data for analysis in labs, all using up-to-date professional techniques.
30 points of 200-level Geography, including GEOG201, orin special cases with approval of the Head of Department.
Students must attend one activity from each section.
Komar, Paul D; Beach processes and sedimentation ; 2nd ed; Prentice Hall, 1998 (A fantastic text, well suited to the more technically (mathematical, engineering, COSC) minded).
Masselink, Gerhard. , Hughes, Michael G., Knight, Jasper; Introduction to coastal processes & geomorphology ; 2nd ed; Hodder Education, 2011 (A good first basic coastal text).
Woodroffe, C. D; Coasts : form, process, and evolution ; Cambridge University Press, 2003 (Like an encyclopaedia of all things coastal, with great coastal environment coverage (including GEOL and BIOL)).
Domestic fee $1,058.00
International fee $5,388.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see School of Earth and Environment on the departments and faculties page .