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Black, K.P.; Baba, M.; Mathew, J.; Kurian, N.P., and Ilic, A., 2021. Guidelines to prepare India's coast for climate change. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(6), 1117–1129. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. India's first coastal protection guidelines for climate-change adaptation are described. The guidelines are holistic, recognizing the links between engineering, economic, physical, legal, social, environmental, and governmental intricacies. Robust protection solutions under climate change for millions of coastal residents may occur only when all these facets are improved within the complex regulatory, budgetary, and practical circumstances in India. Fifty-seven specific guidelines are presented in nine categories ranging from administrative to best-practice coastal protection. An "environmental softness ladder" that ranks coastal protection methods was developed as a scientific tool to guide policy development and project implementation. "Minimum floor level" for safe building was defined for each Indian coastal state using climate-change data produced for the study by Indian and international institutes. Beaches are more stable when the net sediment transport fluxes are close to neutral. "Grand schemes," which make large-scale changes to the coast rather than continuing with piecemeal localised works, are recommended. With diverse dynamics over a long coastline in India, the 4-year study engaged an exceptionally large number of experts, agencies, government bodies, development partners, and other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parnell, K.E. and Smithers, S.G., 2020. Regional and local variability in coastal processes in Torres Strait, Australia, and its importance for climate change planning. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 616–620. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. In small island states or regions, climate change planning is frequently undertaken at a country or regional level, and it is assumed that problems are common and that remedial actions can be widely applied. Community members observe treatments such as seawalls elsewhere and demand similar interventions even though they may be inappropriate. Torres Strait lies between mainland Australia and Papua New Guinea and has communities on a diverse range of islands including low muddy, coral cay, volcanic and continental island types. Approaches to solving problems caused by changing coastal processes on these varied shorelines are discussed at scales from regional to specific sites. Torres Strait has two distinct wind seasons which influence wave-driven processes and lead to seasonally reversing alongshore sediment transport, with shoreline dynamics also controlled by coastal orientation and the beach / reef flat interactions. The low muddy islands have limited management options, requiring shore protection and elevation. Shorelines on coral cay islands and the volcanic and continental islands change shape seasonally. In these settings, planning must allow for the seasonal shoreline adjustments, with structural treatments to manage longer-term shoreline trends used only to protect high-value assets and important cultural sites where alternative management responses are not possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wegner, C.E. and Ellis, J.T., 2017. The influence of sea-level rise on wave-energy dissipation and wave-driven currents at Buck Island Reef National Monument. Modern Caribbean reefs have undergone significant degradation in the past century because of various anthropogenic stressors, which include climate-change-related impacts, hurricanes, and, potentially, sea-level rise. Degraded reefs will be unable to maintain sufficient vertical accretion with substantial increases in sea level, which will alter the hydrodynamics of these systems. A reduction in wave dissipation by reefs has the potential to shift the shorelines behind the reefs, potentially resulting in economic and habitat losses for tropical shorelines. This study focused on a barrier reef with low, live coral cover (<10%) and accretion rates comparable to current rates of sea-level rise in the region (∼1.7 mm/y). Tides served as a proxy for sea-level rise, with the spring high tide representing a future low tide. These findings indicate that at low tide, infragravity wave frequencies (0.004-0.04 Hz) dominate in the lagoon and are a function of wave breaking on the reef. At high tide, the infragravity waves are less prominent. Current velocities were higher at high tide, averaging 0.14 m s−1 vs. 0.11 m s−1 at low tide. The spectral current characteristics correlate with the infragravity wave frequencies and suggest that these waves are a driving force in lagoon circulation. Wave-energy transmission increased at high tide by 20-30% throughout the sampling period. These results suggest that with sea-level rise, infragravity band waves will be reduced and affect the stresses on the sea bed and sediment-transport processes, also allowing larger and more energetic waves to reach the shoreline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postacchini, M.; Russo, A.; Carniel, S., and Brocchini, M., 2016. Assessing the hydro-morphodynamic response of a beach protected by detached, impermeable, submerged breakwaters: A numerical approach. Coastal areas host a large fraction of the world's population and are exposed to natural extreme events, which are a serious threat to human life, as well as to economies. For this reason, sea storms are increasingly the object of studies, and the design of traditional coastal defenses is being carried out in conjunction with modeling analyses. Relying on numerical simulations performed by means of an innovative shallow-water hydro-morphodynamic model, the present work explores the overall response of a protected beach to sea storms. Numerical tests evaluate the effects of sea states extracted from realistic sea storms having different spectral characteristics, as well as the influence on beach morphology of positioning shore-parallel, impermeable, submerged breakwaters. Simulation results revealed that, while erosion/accretion patterns depend weakly on the different sea state conditions, the morphodynamics induced around the barriers is strongly influenced by the breakwaters' positioning. More specifically, at least for the forcing here analyzed, bed variations were shown to increase when the structures are progressively located offshore; on the other hand, the swash zone morphology seems to be only weakly influenced by the positioning of the breakwaters. We also observed that for an increasing extension of the volume over which dissipative breaking mechanisms occur, a decreasing inshore erosion is accompanied by an equally fast decrease of offshore erosion. Analysis of the vorticity fields shows that breakwaters placed far from the shoreline induce an evolution of the vortices generated by breaking waves rather different from the one due to breakwaters placed closer to the shoreline (which can induce seaward flows through the gap, like rip currents). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al-Nasrawi, A.K.M.; Jones, B.G., and Hamylton, S. M., 2016. GIS-based modelling of vulnerability of coastal wetland ecosystems to environmental changes: Comerong Island, southeastern Australia. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 33-37. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Sustainable management of coastal zones has become a complicated issue. The majority of the human population lives along the coast, where their activities, together with a range of environmental changes, have altered the natural ecosystem processes and caused changes in coastal wetlands. To ensure sustainable use of coastal resources, a comprehensive set of modelling tools can help managers to make decisions. This study uses Comerong Island (southeastern NSW, Australia) as a case study to demonstrate the importance of modelling modifications to environmental change. Several data-based modelling approaches are employed to explore how human activities have altered this estuarine island setting over the last sixty years (1949 - 2014). Multi-temporal changes in land cover, shorelines and sediment delivery are estimated from remote sensing data, GIS analysis, and laboratory tests on water and sediment samples (grain size, X-ray diffraction and loss on ignition and water analysis). Results show there are significant changes to the areal extents and elevation of mangroves, saltmarshes and shorelines in the wetlands on Comerong Island over the time period of analysis, including northern accretion (0.4 km2), eastern, middle and southern erosion (0.7 km2) of the island. The implementation of modelling using GIS tools, water and sediment samples to monitor ecosystem processes, such as sediment transport and erosion/deposition, will allow resource managers to make more informed decisions by evaluating the potential consequences of the existing situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osborne, P.D. and Forest, A., 2016. Sediment dynamics from coast to slope - Southern Canadian Beaufort Sea. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 537-541. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Profound changes in cross-shelf sediment fluxes are anticipated in coming decades in the southern Canadian Beaufort Sea where an accelerated increase in temperature could lead to large changes in Arctic river hydrology and coastal-marine geomorphologic processes. In the past decade sediment exported to the Beaufort Shelf has increased while sea level pressure has increased accelerating the Beaufort Gyre, strengthening coastal upwelling and expanding the Mackenzie River plume offshore. Sea-ice extent has decreased while storminess has increased increasing wave action, coastal downwelling, current surge and resuspension and transport on the shoreface and shelf. This paper investigates mechanisms, quantities and rates of sediment transport operating in this cold continental shelf-slope environment. Past studies from more than 2 decades of research are compared with recent measurements to develop improved estimates of sediment sources, pathways, fate and fluxes across the shelf and slope. In particular, we explore connections between data from a long term mooring observatory deployed over the continental shelf and slope during the ArcticNet-Industry Partnership (2009-2011) and Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment (BREA 2011-2015) to those acquired in studies focusing on nearshore and shoreface. Sediment fluxes from the Mackenzie River and erosion of permafrost coasts are compared with outer shelf-slope measurements of settling particles and near-bottom fluxes. In turn, the role of atmospheric and cryospheric processes in forcing sediment transfer from coast to slope is investigated to assess system response to changing climate and evaluate implications for marine hydrocarbon resource development along the continental margin of the Arctic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dai, H.; Ye, M., and Niedoroda, A.W., 2015. A model for simulating barrier island geomorphologic responses to future storm and sea-level rise impacts. This paper presents the Barrier Island Profile (BIP) model, a new computer code developed to simulate barrier island morphological evolution over periods ranging between years and decades under the impacts of accelerated sea-level rise and long-term changes in the storm climate. The BIP model is a multiline model that represents the time-averaged dynamics of major barrier island features from front beach to backshore. Unique contributions of BIP to coastal modeling include a dynamic linking of interacting barrier island features and consideration of both future sea-level rise and storm climate impacts. The BIP model has the built-in capability of conducting Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to quantify predictive uncertainty caused by uncertainty in sea-level rise scenarios and storm parameters. For a series of barrier island cross-sections derived from the characteristics of Santa Rosa Island, Florida, BIP was used to evaluate their responses to random storm events and five potential accelerated rates of sea-level rise projected over a century. The MC simulations using BIP provide multiple realizations of possible barrier island morphologic responses and their statistics, such as mean and variance. The modeling results demonstrate that BIP is capable of simulating realistic patterns of barrier island profile evolution over the span of a century using relatively simple representations of time- and space-averaged processes with consideration of uncertainty of future climate impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solomon, J.A.; Donnelly, M.J., and Walters, L.J., 2014. Effects of sea level rise on the intertidal oyster Crassostrea Virginica by field experiments. Sea level rise predictions for the next century range from 20 to 200 cm. Coupled with climate change-related increases in storm activity and associated alterations to sediment transport, estuaries and the organisms that live in them may be impacted. Along the eastern seaboard and gulf coast of the United States, Crassostrea virginica is an economically and ecologically important estuarine shellfish species. In an effort to understand potential effects of climate change on intertidal Crassostrea virginica, a novel method for manipulating inundation time of intertidal oysters was developed to examine effects of altering daily inundation time on sedimentation, predation, and competition. Called the oyster ladder, this method consists of suspending oyster shell as recruitment substrate at different elevations within the intertidal zone between mean low and mean high water. A six-week experiment was deployed during the peak of the 2011 oyster recruitment season at two sites within Apalachicola Bay, Florida. Data was collected on oyster recruitment, shell length, presence of sessile competitors, and sedimentation. Mean oyster shell length peaked at 95% time inundated, while recruitment peaked at 80% time inundation. Maximum sedimentation occurred at the highest inundation times (95% time inundation). The oyster ladder proved to be an effective tool for manipulating inundation times for C. virginica and suggests that sea level rise will have an effect on abundance, growth and survival of this of intertidal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guerreiro, J.S., Ranieri, L. A., El-Robrini, M., Vila-Concejo. Seasonal changes of a dynamic macrotidal beach: Case Study of Marieta beach(Amazon Coast/Brazil) The Amazon Atlantic Coast is a very dynamic area due to the large discharge associated to a large network of rivers that include the Amazon River. Many of the beaches in this area are located within the area of influence of macrotidal range. There is a large sediment availability that creates extensive tidal flats. Waves are moderate with average offshore of 1.8m. The area has a tropical climate with two seasons, rainy and dry, and is under influence of moderate SE/NE trade winds. This paper presents topographic and hydrodynamic data from one of these beaches, Marieta Beach, and shows that while it undergoes severe erosion during the rainy season, accretion and recovery occurs during the dry season. Erosion seems to be associated to the large river discharge in the rainy season (10 3 to 10 4 m3/s−1), high water levels coupled with strong ebbing currents that remove the sediment from the beach. The beach accumulates large volumes of sediment during the dry season (averaging 15.2 m3); the processes that drive sediment transport are not clear but given that onshore winds occur during this period, it is hypothesized that locally wind- generated waves are capable of transporting sediment back to the beach. Seasonal behavior in this case is associated to the tropical seasonality of the rivers instead of traditional storm/fair weather conditions cycles that are often found in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miot da Silva, G., Hesp, P., Keim, B., Martinho, C.T. and Ferligoj, Y., 2013. Changes in dunefield geomorphology and vegetation cover as a response to local and regional climate variations. In: Conley, D.C., Masselink, G., Russell, P.E. and O'Hare, T.J. (eds.) Published analyses of aerial photographs show a marked increase in vegetation cover of coastal transgressive dunefields along the Southern Brazilian Holocene Barrier around the late 1970s. This phenomenon is reflecting an increase in precipitation and a decrease in aeolian sediment transport. These climatic changes are associated with recurring high intensity El Niño events related to the 1976/1977 regime shift of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garcin, M., Baills. A., Le Cozannet, G., Bulteau, T., Auboin, A-L., Sauter, J., 2013. Pluri-decadal impact of mining activities on coastline mobility of estuaries of New Caledonia (South Pacific) This work aims at analysing the relative impact of sedimentary supply by rivers versus the effect of sea level rise and other processes over the last 5 decades of some representative coastal stretches of New Caledonia (South Pacific Ocean). The study of twelve coastal estuarine stretches has shown erosion rates ranging from −1.8m/y to accretion rates up to 5.5m/y over the last 50 years. During this time, the climate component of sea level rise has been evaluated around 0.5mm/y in Nouméa and can be considered identical on the studied island. Vertical movements affecting New Caledonia are suspected to be different between western and eastern parts of the island. Nevertheless, in areas with homogeneous vertical movement, the coastal stretches studied show various evolution rates. The analysis of accreting estuarine coastal areas shows that this evolution is linked to sedimentary supply from rivers. On New Caledonia Island, the creation of bare soils by nickel mining during the last 50 years has increased erosion processes on the watersheds and the solid discharge of the rivers. The study shows a strong correlation between the percentage of bare soil surfaces (up to 3.7 % of the watershed surface) generated by nickel mining and the coastline evolution rate (from −2m/y to +4m/y) around the estuaries of each watershed. Therefore, mining activity on watersheds is suspected to have been the major forcing factor of recent coastal changes during the last fifty years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to have an understanding of the coastal processes along the southwest coast of India (8u49 N, 77u 339 E to 8u139 N, 77u149 E), a data set available for the changes in beach width for a period of 5 years (1993-1998) over a length of about 50 km was categorized and analysed in relation to the seasons. Since the study area is densely populated and was also affected partially by the great Indian Ocean tsunami, a freshmeasurement campaign of beach profile changes up to a water depth of 6 m at four different locations along the coast was carried out. These measurements have been adopted to validate a finite difference-based numerical model that employs the empirical formulation of Larson and Kraus (1989) for the prediction of beach profile changes. We simulated the offshore wave climate from National Centre for Environmental Prediction wind data using the Wave AnalysisModel (WAM), whereas the nearshore wave climate was derived by adopting theMIKE21 ParabolicMild Slope module. Results compared well with each other. The prediction from the numerical model revealed that the average onshore-offshore transport varies from about 50 to 200 m3 y21m21 width of the beach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen and microscopic charcoal examined in Holocene sediment core samples record major environmental modifications affecting Alexandria's Eastern Harbor through time. We assess whether such changes on Egypt's coastal margin were influenced primarily by natural, or natural plus human, or primarily human factors. We focus on (1) the times when pollen assemblages and microscopic charcoal content changed in the core, (2) how they changed, and (3) why this occurred. The analysis takes into account the core's stratigraphy, regional climate variability, human history, and local archaeological record. Four pollen-microscopic charcoal zones are identified. The earliest change occurred at ca. 6000 YBP, during Egypt's earlier Predynastic (Neolithic) period, coinciding with a lithologic break from sand to muddy sand. Pollen during this time indicates a transition to a much drier climate rather than effects of human activity. The second change in pollen occurred 3600-2900 YBP, during a period of continued aridity with no lithologic variation in this core interval. Pollen (cereal taxa, agricultural weeds, grape) and a sharp increase in microscopic charcoal indicate that human activity became prevalent at least 700 y before Alexander the Great's arrival in this region, and these results highlight the transition from a largely natural climate-controlled environment to one influenced by both climate and anthropogenic activity. The third shift up-core in pollen assemblages is dated at ca. 2300 YBP, at the boundary between a sand and mud unit. It coincides with construction by the Ptolemies of the Heptastadion between Alexandria and Pharos Island. From this time onward, harbor sediment in the nearly enclosed catchment basin indicates a near-continuous record of dominant proximal human activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climates of wave-related nearshore processes important to coastal erosion have been investigated based on analyses of wave data measured at six sites along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, spanning 0.92 to 5.25 years. Wave climates along this 900-km coastline are nearly identical in their significant wave heights, periods, and directions. The evaluated nearshore processes that depend on combinations of deep-water wave heights and periods are found to respond to seasonal changes in wave conditions. These processes include the climates of breaker heights on beaches, beach face slopes, the morphodynamic classification of beaches, swash runup elevations induced by storm waves, the depth of closure of beach profiles, and calculated sediment transport rates. The seasonal changes observed in the wave-related nearshore processes are ultimately responsible for the episodic morphologic changes identified in the beach and seabed environments of the Nile Delta. The largest storm waves measured during the study period had deep-water significant wave heights of 7.7 and 6.8 m at the Dabba and Abu Qir coastlines, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coherent approach to structuring reference units for coastal vulnerability analysis is often required for large-scale analyses of the coastal system. However, a review of existing spatial reference frameworks within vulnerability analyses demonstrates that our use of coastal space within large-scale models remains relatively poor. This paper examines a series of challenges to spatial modeling that have emerged from the development of a national to global impact tool, DIVA (Dynamic Interactive Vulnerability Assessment). The paper addresses how best to utilize the limited data to develop a reference framework for modeling vulnerability within the global coastal environment. It outlines the approach to spatial modeling that has been developed for use within the DIVA tool: segmenting the coastal zone into a series of relatively homogenous reference units at the scale of DIVA, based on the behavior of the physical, social, and economic systems within the zone. The importance of effective spatially defined models is emphasized within the paper. Encouraging greater spatial recognition and definition of the behavioral environment of the coast is critical to modeling space within the coastal system. By decreasing spatial uncertainties in the creation of reference units for vulnerability analysis, the accuracy of modeling within large-scale coastal environments can be further improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in shoreline positions along the Rio Grande do Sul coast, southern Brazil, are analyzed to determine the spatial and temporal variability of shoreline movements at a regional scale. Using a kinematic Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) survey method, the 618-km long shoreline of Rio Grande do Sul has been mapped on five occasions between November 1997 and April 2002. These data show that the coastline responds differently to hydrodynamic and meteorological forcing along the three major coastal sectors. The observed differences occur especially in the magnitude of changes, in the time interval in which the shoreline returns to a previous position, and in the length scale of dominant shoreline changes. Here changes in shoreline position are examined with respect to grain size, shoreline orientation, storms, El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, and gradients of longshore sediment transport. Data analyses and modeling indicate that the alongshore variability in the patterns of shoreline change through time is closely related to shoreline orientation and the associated gradients of longshore sediment transport. Results indicate also that variability in wave energy and storminess influence seasonal changes, whereas ENSO events influence interannual changes. This study demonstrates the importance of understanding the drivers of shoreline change at a regional scale and has applications in studies concerned with coastal engineering and shoreline response to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology of river mouths can be completely changed by dramatic flow changes caused by climate changes in catchment basins. Agricultural activities that overexploit water produce changes in sediment discharge that are reflected in sedimentation rates in dams. The basic aim of this study is to assess the causes and effects of rapid delta formation in Gomec (an important tourism centre on the Aegean Sea coast of Turkey), as a result of river catchment changes between 1998 and 2001. The rapidly developing delta covers an area of approximately 2 km length and 100 m width and was studied using numerical simulation and field studies. Bathymetric measurement, flow velocity and oceanographic parameters were measured. Bottom sediment samples were taken from the river and adjacent sea and sources were determined by mineral analysis. River flows and wave properties (determined from hindcast wind data) were used in the numerical model studies. The development of the delta was predicted for different scenarios. It is concluded that unless remedial action is taken, the delta will continue to develop rapidly and will produce both morphological and ecological impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leach, C.; Kennedy, D.M.; Carvalho, R.C., and Ierodiaconou, D., 2020. Predicting compartment-scale climate change impacts related to Southern Ocean wave forcing: Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 1157-1161. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. On the southern coast of Australia one of the principle impacts of climate change will be a change in wave magnitude and direction resulting from intensification of the Southern Ocean storm systems. In Victoria, Australia, this is likely to cause significant change in sediment dynamics and possible shoreline re-orientation. In this paper, Port Fairy (western coast of Victoria) is used as a case study to explore the sensitivity of this embayment to changing wave climate conditions. Bed level change rates and spatially variable sediment transport rates are investigated. The results indicate that a southerly shift in the wave climate could intensify sediment transport processes and erosional patterns in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fernández-Fernández, S.; Silva, P.A.; Ferreira, C.C., and Carracedo-García, P.E., 2020. Longshore sediment transport estimation at Areão Beach (NW Portugal) under climate change scenario. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. (Seville, Spain). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 479-483. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The knowledge of longshore sediment transport is essential to understand coastal systems morphological evolution, and consequent erosion/accretion processes. This research is focused on Areão Beach, a groined sandy beach, located southwards of Aveiro Lagoon (NW Portugal). The high energetic wave climate and coastline orientation induce a substantial southward net sediment transport rate. Nevertheless, this transport is interrupted by coastal defense structures resulting in erosion problems downdrift. Future changes in wave and storm climate can alter current patterns of coastal erosion. This contribution aims to characterize the longshore sediment transport rate under a future wave climate scenario. The Delft3D-WAVE module propagated wave spectral data for historical and future, corresponding to climate change scenario RCP8.5. The hydrodynamic parameters (significant wave height, peak wave period and wave direction) were extracted at offshore Areão Beach and linear wave theory was applied to obtain significant wave height and wave direction at breaking point. Then, CERC empirical sediment transport formula re-evaluated in 2013 was used to estimate longshore sediment transport values. The results disclose a change in the magnitude of longshore sediment transport and an intensification of northwards transport in the future. These findings can contribute for an adequate decision-making regarding beach erosion management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cronin, K.M.; Devoy, R.J.N., and Gault, J., 2007. Modelling estuarine morphodynamics on the south coast of Ireland, Journal of Coastal Research, SI 50 (Proceedings of the 9th International Coastal Symposium), 474 – 479. Gold Coast, Australia, ISSN 0749.0208 Several important studies of coastal processes in Ireland exist, establishing the patterns of sea-level change, the impacts of storminess, erosion and sedimentation rates. Approximately half of Ireland's coastline is deemed sensitive to erosion under climate change. This paper presents work on the collection of field data and the setting up of a process-based model (Delft3D) to study morphological change in Courtmacsherry estuary on the south-coast of Ireland. Bathymetric and topographic surveys have been carried out and monitoring of the hydrodynamic and sediment transport regimes is being undertaken to validate and calibrate the models. Results from the hydrodynamic model simulations agree well with field measurements. The outputs from this modelling work shall be used to run an abstracted model (Asmita). Results from this study will be used to examine the drivers and processes responsible for changes occurring in Courtmacsherry and as example of estuarine-bay functioning in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]