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Frequency analysis of extreme storm surge is crucial for coastal flood risk assessments. To date, such analyses are based on traditional extreme value theory (EVT) and its associated generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution. The metastatistical extreme value distribution (MEVD) provides a new approach that can alleviate limitations of EVT. This paper provides a comparison between the GEV distribution and the MEVD on their ability to predict "unseen" upper-tail quantiles of storm surge along the US coastline. We analyze the error structure of these distributions by performing a cross-validation experiment where we repeatedly divide the data record into a calibration and validation set, respectively, and then compute the predictive non-dimensional error. We find that the MEVD provides comparable estimates of extreme storm surge to those of the GEV distribution, with discrepancies being subtle and dependent on tide gauge location and calibration set length. Additionally, we show that predictions from the MEVD are more robust with less variability in error. Finally, we illustrate that the employment of the MEVD, as opposed to classical EVT, can lead to remarkable differences in design storm surge height; this has serious implications for engineering applications at sites where the novel MEVD is found more appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forests along the southern Baltic Sea coast harbour some stands of the rare and endangered European yew (Taxus baccata L.), which are hypothesised to be autochthonous. Using the example of an occurrence on the Darss-Zingst peninsula, the population dynamics of the yew since the late Holocene are interdisciplinarily investigated and linked to the forest history of this area. Pollen analysis shows that yew has been present in the study area for at least 2600 years and thus indeed represents an autochthonous tree species in the area. The yew was probably originally part of a second tree storey and of forest margins within a mixed forest mainly consisting of several deciduous tree species and Scots pine. Historical evidence reveals that yew was still occurring in the forest in the middle of the eighteenth century, but then had nearly disappeared by the end of the nineteenth century. This was caused by several factors including forest grazing by livestock, high game populations and clear-cutting. First replanting of yew took place in the 1930s/1940s and 1950s/1960s, followed by planting campaigns in the 1990s and 2000s. Planting material from local and regional autochthonous relict populations was used, at least in part. The current yew population mainly comprises young individuals with a total number of ca. 1300 trees. It has thus been possible here to re-establish an autochthonous yew occurrence that was nearly extinct in historical times. This local example of targeted re-enrichment of native tree diversity may also encourage further measures to give this species a new chance again elsewhere in the wider region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal cities in the Amazon lack basic infrastructure to treat and finally discharge urban domestic sewage. Implementing sub-river outfalls and waste-treatment pre-conditioning that significantly reduce pollution impact would be a sustainable alternative to cope with such an issue. The aim of the present research is to analyze the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of alternative projects applied to domestic waste's proper destination in the coastal zone of Amapá State (ZCEA), Brazil. Infrastructure basic sizing and the current treatment provided to domestic waste discharged in Amazonas River, in natura, were taken into consideration for study conduction. Research methodology was applied as follows: (a) pre-sizing the main infrastructure elements of sub-river outfalls (EM); (b) assessing the reduction of impacts on quality of water in the metropolitan seashore of Macapá and Santana cities; (c) economic assessment based on the alternative implementation of underwater outfalls in Macapá's Northern and Central zones, where one finds Amazonas River's high self-depuration ability and regular bathymetry. Technical feasibility, mainly in Fazendinha and Santana cities, was not satisfactory due to topobathymetric unevenness and traffic jam in Santana Channel's waterway. We have concluded that the self-depuration and sanitary features in Amazonas River's assessed stretches are a sustainable, effective and competitive technology extremely favorable for the implementation of sub-river outfalls, given its simplicity and, most of all, adjustment to the regional socioeconomic reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Island archaeology is a well-established field within the wider discipline, but African contributions to it remain scarce. The Canary Islands are unusual in the broader African context for their relatively long history of occupation (~2000 years) and the intensity with which archaeological research has been, and is, undertaken there. Much of that research, however, has focused on specifically Canarian issues, including efforts to demonstrate connections between the islands' initial settlement and the Classical Mediterranean world. Relatively little of it has been conducted within the broader comparative framework that an island archaeology perspective provides. Additionally, much of the Canarian literature is not directly accessible to non-Hispanophones. In response, I synthesize what is currently known about the archaeology of the Canary Islands, focusing on determining when, how, and by whom they were first settled; the impacts of human settlement on their environments; inter-island variability in precolonial subsistence, social, and political trajectories; and the record left by European contact and subsequent colonization, which began in the 14th century AD. As well as pointing to further opportunities for research within the archipelago, I simultaneously map out several areas where archaeological work there could contribute to wider debates in island archaeology as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal zones are highly dynamic and constantly influenced by geomorphological and physical properties. Thus, estimating coastal vulnerability around the world is necessary for coastal zone management. Makran region, in the southeast of Iran, with a 133 km coastline, is considered a case study for vulnerability analysis and estimating its potential for further economic developments. The coastal vulnerability index (CVI) was considered with five parameters: geomorphology, regional elevation, coastal slope, shoreline changes and mean significant wave height. Significant wave height is an additional variable we added to CVI estimation compared to previous works. MIKE 21 software was used to extract this variable. Seven images from the Landsat satellite were employed to provide shoreline transformation. According to our results 52% of the coastline is ranked as high-vulnerability index, and 15% as very-high vulnerability index. We detected some anthropogenic areas with considerable accretion along the shoreline, while these areas were not considered vulnerable areas according to CVI. Thus, we reckon a sort of shortcoming in calculating CVI for not giving weight to the variables involved. This aim to be achieved necessitates organized historical research over the area, which was out of the scope of this sole research. Research highlights: Inclusive employment of geomorphic and hydrodynamic parameters is suggested for calculating CVI. However, a shortcoming in this calculation is the lack of information to give weight to the variables involved. More than half of Makran shoreline (67%) is ranked as high to very high-vulnerable area, which means specific concern is needed for any further anthropogenic activities around this area. Accretion can be counted as an issue on CZM, specifically on the area with anthropogenic activities, such as ports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the concept of heritage in the context of decolonization efforts in the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada. It emphasizes the power of heritage in defining identity and the need to broaden its definition to support anticolonial efforts. The challenges of decolonizing heritage in a settler-colonial nation like Canada are discussed, highlighting the importance of working with local Indigenous communities and respecting their priorities, languages, and governance structures. The article also examines the historical and ongoing oppression of Indigenous heritage, including the removal and destruction of cultural artifacts and the forced relocation of Indigenous peoples. The political and contested nature of heritage is emphasized, along with its potential for shaping the future. The Canadian government has declared September 30 as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, recognizing the ongoing work in communities to address traumatic heritage. Efforts are being made to change practices and uphold Indigenous rights in museums and archives, as heritage held in these institutions can be a resource for reconnection, renewal, and revitalization. Decolonization is not about returning to an imagined past, but about changing systems and ways of thinking, living, and relating. By decolonizing heritage, it can shift from being a tool for power and domination to an opportunity for reflection and shaping the world we live in. [Extracted from the article]

Currently, research on traditional villages mainly focuses on the current development status and evolutionary trends in specific regions, with relatively limited studies from a macroscopic and holistic perspective on the spatiotemporal evolution of traditional villages. Therefore, this study selects traditional villages in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) as the research object. By analyzing the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and driving factors of traditional villages (TVs) in the basin, it aims to further promote high-quality development in the YRB and protect traditional cultural resources. Based on data from 892 village points of the first to sixth batches of TVs in the YRB, ArcGIS 10.8 spatial analysis techniques were employed to analyze the overall spatial pattern of TVs in the YRB. The results indicate: (1) In the basin, TVs are more numerous in the east than the west and more in the south than the north, forming clusters and contiguous distributions, with dense areas primarily in the upstream regions dominated by Qinghai Province and the midstream areas along the Shanxi-Shaanxi coast. (2) The number and scale of TVs in the basin generally exhibit an increasing trend, with imbalanced provincial distribution. More recent years show a more balanced distribution of villages and proportions, with a higher number of villages in the mountainous and plateau regions of the basin. (3) The layout center of TVs within the basin evolves with each batch, showing a migration pattern from north to south, back to north, and finally east to west. (4) The interaction of natural and social factors plays a synergistic role in driving the spatiotemporal distribution pattern of TVs. Among these, natural geographical factors are the primary factors. TVs are more commonly found in regions with low altitude sunny slopes, mild climate, abundant precipitation, proximity to ancient roads and rivers, gentle slopes, and soil predominantly comprising loess, brown earth, and alluvial soils. The cultural environment is a secondary factor, with TVs often located in areas with larger populations, developed economies, and rich cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The human and material resources as well as the systems for managing diabetes in Africa are inadequate. This study or needs assessment, aimed at updating the human and material resources, identifying the gaps and unmet needs for comprehensive diabetes care in Ghana. Methods: We conducted a national audit of 122 facilities in all 16 administrative regions of Ghana. Information obtained covered areas on personnel and multidisciplinary teams, access to medications, access to laboratory services, financing, screening services, management of diabetes complications, and availability/use of diabetes guidelines or protocols. Data was analysed using STATA version 16.1. P-values <0.05 were set as significant. Results: Only 85(69.7%) out of the 122 surveyed facilities had a dedicated centre or service for diabetes care. Twenty-eight (23%) had trained diabetes doctors/specialists; and whilst most centres had ophthalmic nurses and dieticians, majority of them did not have trained diabetes educators (nurses), psychologists, ophthalmologists, podiatrists, and foot/vascular surgeons. Also, 13.9% had monofilaments, none could perform urine dipstick for microalbumin; 5 (4.1%) and just over 50% could perform laboratory microalbumin estimation and glycated haemoglobin, respectively. Access to and supply of human insulins was better than analogue insulin in most centres. Nearly 100% of the institutions surveyed had access to metformin and sulphonylurea with good to excellent supply in most cases, whilst access to Sodium Glucose Transporter-2 inhibitors and Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues were low, and moderate for Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and thiazolidinediones. Majority of the health facilities (95.1%) offered NHIS as payment mechanism for clients, whilst 68.0% and 30.3% of the patients paid for services using out-of-pocket and private insurance respectively. Fifteen facilities (12.3%) had Diabetes Support Groups in their locality and catchment areas. Conclusion: An urgent multisectoral collaboration, including prioritisation of resources at the facility level, to promote and achieve acceptable comprehensive diabetes care is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal El Niño is an extreme situation of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) with sea surface temperature warming confined in the far‐eastern equatorial Pacific. Some coastal El Niños evolve into a basin scale El Niño, and some don't, implying a diversity in ENSO evolutions after a coastal El Niño event. In this study, the coastal El Niños in 2017 and 2023 are selected to examine their subsequent evolution. Both coastal El Niños developed after a La Niña, with the former followed by a La Niña and the latter by a basin‐scale El Niño. The cold (warm) subsurface temperatures in 2017 (2023) were key factors leading to the divergent ENSO evolution. Convection over the western tropical Pacific and the atmospheric circulation anomalies across the equatorial Pacific also contributed to the differences. Model predictions suggest that differences in ENSO evolution after a coastal El Niño are associated with differences in ENSO predictability. Plain Language Summary: Compared with the global impact of basin‐scale El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, coastal El Niño impacts are mainly focused along the South American coast. They are less studied, especially, in terms of temporal evolution and longer‐term development. Here, we examine the divergent evolution of ENSO conditions in the tropical Pacific after the coastal El Niños in 2017 and 2023. This subsequent divergent evolution of these events was associated with both preceding subsurface ocean heat content levels, convection over the western tropical Pacific, and concurrent atmospheric circulation. Specifically, preceding subsurface ocean cooling combined with low‐level easterly wind anomalies led to the growth of La Niña after the coastal El Niño in 2017, while strong preceding subsurface ocean warming led to the growth of El Niño after the coastal El Niño in 2023. These differences in the evolution of tropical Pacific Ocean conditions after a coastal El Niño were associated with different levels of ENSO predictability. Key Points: The coastal El Niño in 2017 was followed by a La Niña, while the coastal El Niño in 2023 evolved into a basin‐scale El NiñoSubsurface ocean heat content levels, western Pacific convection, and off‐equatorial circulation differences affect El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) evolutionDivergent evolution of conditions in the tropical Pacific after a coastal El Niño is associated with differences in ENSO predictability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, coastal sandy soils face issues such as insufficient foundation strength, which has become one of the crucial factors constraining urban development. Geotechnical engineering, as a traditional discipline, breaks down disciplinary barriers, promotes interdisciplinary integration, and realizes the green ecological and low-carbon development of geotechnical engineering, which is highly important. Based on the "dual carbon" concept advocating a green and environmentally friendly lifestyle, Bacillus spores were utilized to induce calcium carbonate precipitation technology (MICP) to solidify coastal sandy soils, leveraging the rough-surface and low-permeability characteristics of silty soil. The mechanical-strength variations in the samples were explored through experiments, such as calcium carbonate generation rate tests, non-consolidated undrained triaxial shear tests, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments, to investigate the MICP solidification mechanism. The results indicate that by incorporating silty soil into sandy soil for MICP solidification, the calcium carbonate generation rates of the samples were significantly increased. With the increase in the silty-soil content, the enhancement range was 0.58–3.62%, with the maximum calcium carbonate generation rate occurring at a 5% content level. As the silty-soil content gradually increased from 1% to 5%, the peak deviator stress increased by 4.2–43.2%, enhancing the sample shear strength. Furthermore, the relationship between the internal-friction angle, cohesion, and shear strength further validates the enhancement of the shear strength. Silty soil plays roles in adsorption and physical filling during the MICP solidification process, reducing the inter-particle pores in sandy soil, increasing the compactness, providing adsorption sites, and enhancing the calcium carbonate generation rate, thereby improving the shear strength. The research findings can provide guidance for reinforcing poor coastal sandy-soil foundations in various regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal sediment grain size is an important factor in determining coastal morphodynamics. In this study, we explore a novel approach for retrieving the median sediment grain size (D50) of gravel-dominated beaches using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) spaceborne imagery. We assessed this by using thirty-six Sentinel-1 (C-band SAR) satellite images acquired in May and June 2022 and 2023, and three NovaSAR (S-band SAR) satellite images acquired in May and June 2022, for three different training sites and one test site across England (the UK). The results from the Sentinel-1 C-band data show strong positive correlations (R2 ≥ 0.75 ) between the D50 and the backscatter coefficients for 15/18 of the resultant models. The models were subsequently used to derive predictions of D50 for the test site, with the models which exhibited the strongest correlations resulting in Mean Absolute Errors (MAEs) in the range 2.26–5.47 mm. No correlation (R2 = 0.04) was found between the backscatter coefficients from the S-band NovaSAR data and D50. These results highlight the potential to derive near-real time estimates of coastal sediment grain size for gravel beaches to better inform coastal erosion and monitoring programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies showed that there is a discrepancy between total subsidence (measured on the ground surface) and shallow compression (measured within several hundred meters beneath the ground surface) in Taiwan. This difference is referred to as deep displacement in this study. The variations of deep displacement are opposite to those of ground surface displacement and groundwater level within the depth of several hundred meters. The mechanism is unknown and requires further investigation. This study adopts two kinds of geodetic observation data and separates land subsidence into shallow compression and deep displacement to investigate the mechanism of deep displacement. A tectonically active coastal area in Taiwan is selected as the study area. The assessment results show that the associated variations are likely due to cyclic hydraulic loading and unloading. The variations of deep displacement are opposite to those of ground surface displacement. This study proposes that these variations are due to hydraulic expansion and contraction. The mechanism is demonstrated using a hydromechanical model. The results of a cross-correlation analysis show that hydraulic expansion and contraction occur at certain depths. The study results provide important information on the mechanism of deep displacement that can be used in tectonophysical and land subsidence investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paleochannels in coastal areas may be the priority channels for saltwater intrusion, and identifying paleochannels is important for revealing the pollution mechanisms of coastal zone aquifers and protecting groundwater resources. The use of electrical methods to identify paleochannels has become common. Still, the highly dynamic hydrological characteristics of saltwater intrusion area and the differences in the conductive properties of saltwater and freshwater increase the uncertainty of the interpretation process. This study combined groundwater numerical simulation data, hydrochemical data and stratigraphic data to construct an electrical model of the paleochannel, which provides a reference for the interpretation of paleochannel using ERT data. The paleochannel electrical model constructed by combining multiple sources of data reflects the spatial heterogeneity of resistivity values of paleochannel in different seasons and at varying levels of saltwater intrusion, making the identification of paleochannel in saltwater intrusion areas more accurate. The results show that the paleochannel shows high resistivity anomalies relative to the background stratigraphy in brackish water areas, and low resistivity anomalies relative to the background stratigraphy in freshwater areas. Combining the paleochannel forward model with ERT data can effectively identify the paleochannel in saltwater intrusion areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sebastes schlegelii is one of the most commercially important marine fish in the northwestern Pacific. However, little information about the genome-wide genetic characteristics is available for S. schlegelii individuals from the Bohai and Yellow Seas. In this study, a total of 157,778, 174,480, and 188,756 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from Dalian (DL), Yantai (YT), and Qingdao (QD) coastal waters of China were, respectively, identified. Sixty samples (twenty samples per population) were clustered together, indicating shallow structures and close relationships with each other. The observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity, polymorphism information content, and nucleotide diversity ranged from 0.14316 to 0.17684, from 0.14035 to 0.17145, from 0.20672 to 0.24678, and from 7.63 × 10−6 to 8.77 × 10−6, respectively, indicating the slight difference in genetic diversity among S. schlegelii populations, and their general genetic diversity was lower compared to other marine fishes. The population divergence showed relatively low levels (from 0.01356 to 0.01678) between S. schlegelii populations. Dispersing along drifting seaweeds, as well as the ocean current that flows along the western and northern coasts of the Yellow Sea and southward along the eastern coast of China might be the major reasons for the weak genetic differentiation. These results form the basis of the population genetic characteristics of S. schlegelii based on GBS (Genotyping by Sequencing). In addition to basic population genetic information, our results provid a theoretical basis for further studies aimed at protecting and utilizing S. schlegelii resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the fungal diversity associated with tarballs, weathered crude oil deposits, on Goa's tourist beaches. Despite tarball pollution being a longstanding issue in Goa state in India, comprehensive studies on associated fungi are scarce. Our research based on amplicon sequence analysis of fungal ITS region fills this gap, revealing a dominance of Aspergillus , particularly Aspergillus penicillioides , associated with tarballs from Vagator and Morjim beaches. Other notable species, including Aspergillus sydowii , Aspergillus carbonarius , and Trichoderma species, were identified, all with potential public health and ecosystem implications. A FUNGuild analysis was conducted to investigate the potential ecological roles of these fungi, revealing a diverse range of roles, including nutrient cycling, disease propagation, and symbiotic relationships. The study underscores the need for further research and monitoring, given the potential health risks and contribution of tarball-associated fungi to the bioremediation of crude oil-contaminated beaches. • ITS amplicon sequencing unveiled fungal diversity on Tarballs, with the FUNGuild database elucidating ecological roles. • Aspergillus , with A. penicillioides and A. conicus , emerged as the dominant genus and predominant species. • The study also exposed opportunistic pathogens thriving on tarballs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and origin of the Pleistocene (Marine Isotope Stage [MIS] 5) coastal Barrier III in southern Brazil were investigated through analysis of lithofacies, numerical ages, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data obtained in outcrops and subsurface deposits. The stratigraphic succession is characteristic of transgressive barriers, with muddy lagoon bottom facies unconformably overlying an older unit (Barrier II) and overlain by landward-dipping lagoon margin and aeolian facies. The back-barrier lagoon was filled with sediments and shells transferred from the foreshore through overwash and/or inlets during the MIS 5e transgressive-high-stand phase, with a higher sea level that reached about +6 to +7 m relative to the present. Marine sediments and shells on the seaward side of the barrier dated to ~100–106 ka indicate another high stand at +4 to +5.1 m during MIS 5c. One shell dated to ~87 ka and aeolian deposits dated to ~82 and ~85 ka suggest a third high stand during MIS 5a that reached at least −2 m relative to the present. The two (possibly three) juxtaposed marine deposits show that Barrier III is a more complex unit than previously recognized, built by successive orbitally forced eustatic sea-level oscillations also recorded in other deposits along the Brazilian coast and worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting coastal change depends upon our knowledge of postglacial relative sea-level variability, partly controlled by glacio-isostatic responses to ice-sheet melting. Here, we reconstruct the postglacial relative sea-level changes along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of northwestern South America by numerically solving the sea-level equation with two scenarios of mantle viscosity: global standard average and high viscosity. Our results with the standard model (applicable to the Pacific coast) agree with earlier studies by indicating a mid-Northgrippian high stand of ~2 m. The high-viscosity simulation (relevant to the Caribbean coast) shows that the transition from far- to intermediate-field influence of the Laurentide Ice Sheet occurs between Manzanillo del Mar and the Gulf of Morrosquillo. South of this location, the Colombian Caribbean coast has exhibited a still stand with a nearly constant Holocene relative sea level. By analyzing our simulations considering sea-level indicators, we argue that tectonics is more prominent than previously assumed, especially along the Caribbean coast. This influence prevents a simplified view of regional relative sea-level changes on the northwestern South American coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new Tudivasum species are described from Queensland, Australia. Currently, only Tudivasum armigerum (Adams, 1856) and Tudivasum rasilistoma (Abbott, 1959) are recognized from the east Australian Coast, and are of comparable size to the new species. An additional species, Tudivasum kurtzi (Macpherson, 1964) from northwestern Australia is included in this study as it is also of comparable size to the new species described here, although it is not found in the same biogeographical area. A coastal species, Tudivasum annettae n. sp. is described from Shoal Point, Central Queensland, where it has been found on intertidal sand/mud flats and near shore reefs. Tudivasum barbaracollinsae n. sp. is described from the far northern region of Queensland off the Cairns coastal trawler grounds. Tudivasum glendae n sp. is described from the northern Queensland trawling grounds off Townsville. Tudivasum amandacantamessae n. sp. is described from the central Queensland trawler grounds off Bowen. Tudivasum variabilis n. sp. is taken from the southern Queensland trawler grounds off Yeppoon. The first example of a sinistral Tudivasum from Australia is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied soils of the western coast of the Chivyrkui and Barguzin bays on the Svyatoi Nos Peninsula, which is the largest peninsula of Lake Baikal in the Republic of Buryatia. Morphogenetic characteristics of soils on the main types of coasts of the peninsula—low abrasion with isolated lagoons, low abrasion, accumulative, and ingression—are given. Rocks in the basis of the coasts of the bays are an important factor of soil formation. It is shown that the genesis of soils depends on the distance from the lake and the altitude, resulting in the difference in their structure and properties. The soils are not directly affected and flooded by lake water due to high mountainous coasts, which are often rocky with steep slopes. Soil formation beyond the floodplain regime is also typical for soils of the closest to the lake level: soddy podzols, which occupy low shores of accumulative types. The particle-size composition of the studied soils varies widely from loose sand to light clay. The common properties of soils include acid and weakly acid reaction, the regressive-accumulative type of humus distribution, and differentiation of bulk oxides along the profile. The revealed evidences of podzolization in Al–Fe-humus soils and of clay accumulation in brown soils are related to sufficient moistening of the coasts and the warming effect of the lake water mass. The research results may be used in landscape planning in territorial organization and monitoring work in recreation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple datasets related to pond and marine aquaculture have been published using diverse remote sensing technologies, yet a comprehensive dataset detailing spatial distribution on both land and sea sides is lacking. Firstly, a meticulous comparison of datasets which we selected related to aquaculture ponds and marine, ensuring consistency in trends. Subsequently, the datasets published by our team were edited and integrated to illustrate aquaculture activities on both sides of China's coastal zone. Finally, a spatial differentiation of coastal aquaculture in major provinces was analyzed. This analysis also utilizes the types of coastline and statistical data, guiding coordinated resource management efforts. The results unveil a distinctive spatial distribution pattern, concentrating aquaculture in the northern regions—Bohai Sea, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Pearl River coasts in Guangdong. The provinces rich in aquaculture resources, such as Shandong, Guangdong, and Liaoning, exhibit extensive coastlines. However, remote sensing monitoring suggests an underestimation of Liaoning's marine aquaculture compared to statistical yearbook data. Furthermore, southern provinces like Guangdong and Fujian exhibit significantly higher aquaculture output than Liaoning. Zhejiang leads in fishing output. The paper outlines the future development direction of coastal aquaculture, emphasizing a strategic, integrated land–sea approach for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In agrarian society, land is a critical resource. Not only does access to arable land increase food security and household income, it also provides resources to cope with any environmental stresses. In most cases, in the low-income developing regions land distribution is very heterogeneous. Based on empirical research in coastal Bangladesh, this article explores patterns in land ownership among the local farmers, discussing how gender, ethnicity, religion, and status relate to farm size, playing a critical role in shaping the heterogeneous distribution of land ownership. Historical patterns of inequality and marginality influence land distribution patterns as the historical 'Zamindar system' in the region reinforced elite control. Colonial and post-colonial expansion into climate-vulnerable regions fuelled land expropriation. Cultural constructions of gender create challenges for females owning land. These legacies impact current land ownership patterns. Land distribution informs who is struggling with limited resources and who needs financial subsidies or other forms of support in times of crisis. Even though this paper has a regional focus, it provides critical insights and caution about overlooked assumptions of resource distribution, poverty, and development that can be applied to other parts of the Global South facing similar social, economic and postcolonial legacies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land and sea vertical datums have traditionally been separate reference levels, due to the different methodologies and observations used in their derivations. However, the need for a seamless connection of these datums has become important due to a wide range of applications in the coastal zone. This study evaluates existing methods, oceanographic and geodetic models and observations for the development of an operational model of coastal heights called AUSHYDROID. We use a complex study area in north west Australia to gain a new insight into how accurately the separation between the lowest astronomical tide (LAT) and a reference ellipsoid can be estimated from existing models, which could form the basis of a national AUSHYDROID model for Australia. Our results are the first attempt to use this combination of existing data in this location, suggesting that ellipsoidal heights of LAT can be estimated to an accuracy of ∼0.2 m at the coast, with the combination of DTU18MSS and FES2014b having the lowest RMS of 0.125 m. However, in some complex coastline areas such as bays and estuaries, the differences increase to >0.5 m so that additional tide gauge observations with GNSS levelling connections and improved models are needed in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three previously unknown species of Hydroidomedusa are described from plankton samples collected during oceanographic cruises undertaken along the coast of China. The Anthomedusae Ectopleura dongshanensis Xu, Chen & Chang sp. n. and Ectopleura brevinema Xu, Chen & Wang sp. n. were collected in Dongshan Bay, and the Leptomedusae species Eirene globogonia Xu & Chen sp. n. was found in the shallow waters of Hainan Island. All new species are described and illustrated here. The species Eirene chiaochowensis (Kao, Li , Chang & Li , 1958) stat. rev. is revised to a valid species. Keys to known species of the genera Ectopleura and Eirene are provided. All specimens were deposited at the Third Institute of Oceanography, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) expanded continuously in the coastal zone of the mainland in China, which caused serious ecological problems. Currently, there are several studies on large-scale time-series mappings of S. alterniflora but the time interval of these mappings is over three years. Consequently, these studies fail to capture the rapid dynamics of S. alterniflora. Leveraging the temporal transferability of DeepLabv3+, this study annotated 2020 Sentinel-2 data as training data to obtain the optimal model. Subsequently, we applied this model to predict Sentinel-2 data for other years (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021), respectively. Ultimately, we produced accurate time-series maps of S. alterniflora from 2017 to 2021 in mainland China (China mainland S. alterniflora, CMSA). Meanwhile, it also confirmed the high transferability of the DeepLabv3+ model in the time-series mapping of S. alterniflora. The obtained annual time-series maps have revealed a more detailed account of how S. alterniflora changes over time that previous studies had failed to capture. It has enriched our understanding of the dynamic changes in S. alterniflora. The mapping results revealed that S. alterniflora continued to grow along the mainland coast from 2017 to 2021 but at a slower growth rate. In some local regions, we discovered: (1) S. alterniflora populations can naturally shrink under certain conditions, such as in the Dandou Sea; (2) the area of S. alterniflora has increased slightly after decreasing for several years (e.g. Yueqing Bay). However, in some other regions, there is no observed regrowth after removal (e.g. Dongtan on Chongming Island and Chuandong Port). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stalter, R.; Lonard, R.I., and Judd, F.W., 2024. Biological flora of sand dunes on the Atlantic coastline of North America: Ammophila breviligulata Fernald. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(3), 577–587. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Ammophila breviligulata Fernald, American beachgrass, is a North American temperature zone rhizomatous species that is often the dominant species on foredunes and primary dune complexes of the mid-Atlantic United States and adjacent maritime Canadian provinces. Ammophila breviligululata is a pioneer dune-forming species that serves as an ecosystem engineer. It thrives in accreting sand environments and requires partial burial for robust growth. The taxon has low freshwater moisture requirements and tolerates high soil temperatures, moderate soil salinity, and salt spray. Caryopses production and seedling establishment are low. Asexual reproduction by rhizome proliferation and fragmentation is the primary mechanism of reproduction. The extensive rhizome/adventitious root matrix of American beachgrass is an important factor in stabilizing dunes and reducing dune erosion. This species grows rapidly, attains large size, and produces dense stands in dune complexes. Leaf endophytic fungi have been identified as enhancing belowground productivity. Pathogenic fungi and parasitic nematodes are major causes of loss of vigor and mortality. Ammophila breviligulata provides nutrition and cover for a variety of reptiles, birds, and mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lee, H.-J.; Jeung, H.-D.; Song, J.-H.; Hur, Y.B., and Hong, H.-K., 2024. Enhancing seed harvest of wild Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) through fiberglass mesh installation in the tidal flat of Jugyo, west coast of Korea. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(3), 613–616. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum (Bivalvia: Veneridae), is a commercially important species cultivated in tidal flats along the coasts of Korea. However, the local clam industries on the west coast face challenges due to a shortage of seed clams, primarily relying on catching wild juveniles or importing seeds from China. This study aimed to enhance the natural seed harvest of Manila clams by installing fiberglass mesh on the tidal flats of Jugyo, Korea. Fiberglass mesh was installed at three different stations on the tidal flats in October 2017 and clam density was monitored monthly from November 2017 to January 2018. Sediment samples were collected at each station three times using stainless steel quad-rats, and clams were categorized by size (<5 mm, 5–10 mm, 10–20 mm, 20–30 mm, and >30 mm). The results revealed spatial and temporal variations in clam density, with higher concentrations observed closer to the tidal waterline. Clam size distribution also differed across stations, with smaller clams dominating certain areas. The mesh installation in November 2017 did not significantly affect clam density compared with the control group. However, clam density substantially increased in December 2017 and January 2018 because of mesh installation, especially at the lowest station. These findings suggest that installing fiberglass mesh can enhance the survival of newly settled Manila clams, providing a potential solution to the seed shortage the local clam industries face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balasubramanian, A.; Meenakumari, B.; Pravin, P.; Boopendranath, M.R.; Rajani, M., and Erzini, K., 2024. Mesh and hook selectivity of larger carangid Caranx ignobilis (Forsskal, 1775), captured along the Kanyakumari coast of India. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(3), 554–562. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. The larger carangid Caranx ignobilis is one of the key commercial fisheries operated by traditional fishermen on the Kanyakumari coast of Tamil Nadu, India, using larger meshed gillnet and drift hand lines. No selectivity study was conducted for this species in chosen study area; selectivity studies were conducted for C. ignobilis using different larger meshed gillnets having mesh sizes of 13.5, 14.0, 14.5 and 15.0 cm and hooks No. 5,6,7, and 8. Catch data obtained from gillnets and hooks were appropriated into various uninormal models (i.e. normal scale, normal location, log-normal, and gamma model) and a binormal model for finding the best fit that employs the share each length catch total (SELECT) methodology incorporated in Generalised Including Log-Linear N Estimation Technique (GILLNET) software. The estimated parameters of these models were evaluated using the statistical tools (i.e. model deviance, dispersion parameter, residual plots) to determine the best fit of the selectivity data. The binormal model under equal fishing power and fishing power proportional to hook size were found as best fit for the gillnet and hook selection data respectively. For all meshes and hooks tested, mesh size of 14.5 cm and hook No. 5 showed good catching efficiency capturing the respective modal length of fish 63.3 cm and 62.4 cm, which revealed that modal length of fish caught in the experimental mesh size is greater than the gears used by the traditional fishermen. Gillnet catch data appropriately converged into unimode in the selection curve, whereas the hook catch data appeared with bimode under the binormal model. Over dispersion was common phenomena in catch data obtained from gillnet and hooks because of the dispersed nature of population and the abundance of a larger size of fish in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red snapper fishing (Lutjanus purpureus) is an important fishing activity for the Brazilian economy due to its export. The scarcity of up-to-date information on this system's ecology, economy, and social characteristics contributes to inefficient management. We analyze whether the commercial snapper fishery on the Amazon continental shelf is socioecologically sustainable. For this, an assessment tool was used that can be applied to fishing systems with little data, the Fisheries Performance Indicators (FPI). The results showed that the critical points of this activity are mainly related to the Ecological indicator (2.3) and the Economic indicator (2.8). The best indicator was the Community (3.8). The problems that put at risk the permanence of the activity and its maintenance are: (i) fishing for juveniles; (ii) illegal vessels; (iii) lack of collaboration of the fishing sector with science, and (iv) unreliability of data supplied. All the points mentioned make the snapper fishery on the north coast of Brazil socio-ecologically unsustainable in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High incidences of congenital syphilis have been reported in areas along the Pacific coast of Colombia. In this retrospective study, conducted during 2018-2022 at a public hospital in Buenaventura, Colombia, we analyzed data from 3,378 pregnant women. The opportunity to prevent congenital syphilis was missed in 53.1% of mothers because of the lack of syphilis screening. Characteristics of higher maternal social vulnerability and late access to prenatal care decreased the probability of having >1 syphilis screening test, thereby increasing the probability of having newborns with congenital syphilis. In addition, the opportunity to prevent congenital syphilis was missed in 41.5% of patients with syphilis because of the lack of treatment, which also increased the probability of having newborns with congenital syphilis. We demonstrate the urgent need to improve screening and treatment capabilities for maternal syphilis, particularly among pregnant women who are more socially vulnerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate Rameshwaram's groundwater quality in terms of seawater intrusion. The pH ranged from 6.87 to 7.82, and The EC varied between 0.81 and 13.73, 90% below the allowable limit, TDS observed at 240 mg/L to 4103 mg/L with a significance of 70% in the permitted threshold, The range of the Ca hardness was 60 mg/L to 355 mg/L, with 58% exceeding the limit, the range of the Mg hardness was 50 mg/L to 560 mg/L, with 93% surpassing the permitted limit, and the range of the TH ranged from 180 mg/L to 915 mg/L, with 30% exceeding the limit. F-concentrations range from 1 mg/L to 1.78 mg/L, showing 35% are at harmful fluoride levels, while TS concentrations range from 330 mg/L to 4100 mg/L, with over 65% above the limit. According to statistical explanations by rotating component matrix, component 1 achieved 48.53%, component 2 reached 67.64%, and component 3 reached 90.52%. Under Kaiser normalization, the minimum Varimax value fell within the range of 0.81-330.0. The range of possible Varimax values is 8.73 to 25000.60. The standard deviation varied from 0.3264 to 3867.6154, while the mean deviation ranged from 1.8373 to 1661.0150. An identity of 65% found in one group remaining 35% in another cluster. GIS-based spatiotemporal values of water quality metrics confirm the intervention of sea water intrusion in coastal zone. In conclusion, investigation of water quality in the coastal region exhibits the seawater intrusion problem with supporting results of statistical analysis and GIS mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Glacial refugia are areas of primary importance for the evolution and conservation of biodiversity. Yet, their geographic location remains loosely defined even in intensively studied areas, preventing a thorough understanding of their role in the spatiotemporal biodiversity dynamics. With this study, we aim to locate the major glacial refugia within the biodiversity hotspot of the Italian peninsula, to understand the processes that warranted the long‐term persistence of biodiversity in the face of climate changes. Location: Italian peninsula. Taxon: Terrestrial vertebrates. Methods: We calibrated species distribution models (SDM) for 22 lineages of terrestrial vertebrates endemic to the Italian peninsula and projected the SDMs to the last‐glacial maximum conditions. Then, we combined single‐lineage projections to investigate the location and spatiotemporal dynamics of multi‐species glacial refugia. Results: Multi‐species refugia were mostly found in coastal areas that have been flooded by the post‐glacial marine transgressions, and that are currently below the sea level. Indeed, we identified six major areas acting as glacial refugia, mainly located outside the current coastline in the southern part of the peninsula and along the western coast. These areas were close to previously inferred locations of glacial refugia and genetic diversity hotspots, but none coincided with them. Conclusions: Results from this study outline glacial refugia as highly dynamic units. Most of the identified refugial areas have been lost by post‐glacial sea‐level rise. Accordingly, species persistence through the Late Pleistocene was not granted by long‐term environmental stability, but by the opportunity to shift species' distributions along altitudinal gradients, following changes in climate and habitat suitability. Notably, our results decouple glacial refugia from hotspots of genetic diversity. Thus, the current location of a hotspot should not be taken as evidence for the occurrence of a glacial refugium in that location—even though a refugium is likely to be located somewhere nearby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Myrcia is a plant genus exclusive of the Neotropical region and one of the most important components of the tree diversity in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest domains. However, no mapping of its taxonomic diversity for this region exists. Our aim was to describe the spatial patterns of diversity and biogeographical history for Myrcia in the Neotropical region based on a phylogenetic regionalization. Location: Neotropics. Taxon: Genus Myrcia (Myrtaceae). Methods: We derived distributions for 307 species from occurrence records using buffering and species distribution modelling. We used stacked distributions to generate a richness map of the genus and its clades (sections). In addition, we used phylogenetic regionalization methods to define evolutionary regions (evoregions) and ancestral area reconstruction to reveal the biogeographical history across these evoregions. Results: We found high species richness in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, with some sections restricted to the East coast of South America, while others were widespread across the Neotropics. We defined five evoregions, named A–E; the ancestral reconstruction revealed that Myrcia originated in evoregion B, under a tropical climate, with further specialization of distant‐related lineages to the colder environmental condition in evoregion A. Main Conclusions: High species richness of Myrcia in South America eastern coast and in the Brazilian highlands coincides with the evoregions with most diversification. Our genus‐specific regionalization together with the ancestral area reconstruction showed that evoregions A and B were the main evolutionary regions where diversification took place. In addition, the biogeographical history of the group suggests that some lineages have adaptations to deal with colder environments, that probably evolved in response to cooling periods since the mid‐Miocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the lower course of the Rioni and several minor rivers, more than 70 settlement mounds (local name: Dikhagudzuba) have been identified by field surveys and remote sensing techniques. They give evidence of a formerly densely populated landscape in the coastal lowlands on the Colchian plain (western Georgia) and have been dated to the Bronze Age. As yet, limited information is available on their internal architecture, the chronology of the different layers and their palaeoenvironmental context. Based on archaeological sources, remote sensing measurements of three mounds and sediment cores from one mound and its closer surroundings, our study presents a review of the relevant literature and reveals the internal structure, distribution and spatial extent of the mounds. Geochemical and sedimentological analyses of element contents (X‐ray fluorescence) and granulometry helped to identify different stratigraphical layers and differentiate between natural facies and anthropogenic deposits; using the Structure‐from‐Motion technique the mounds' dimensions were calculated. The studied settlement mounds had relatively small dimension (varying from 30 to 100 m in diameter) and were similar in their stratigraphy. Measurement of elements that can identify types of human activity, notably metals and phosphorus, suggest changing intensities of human occupation, pastoral agriculture and metalworking through the occupation sequence. According to the 14C chronology, the formation of the settlements occurred during the first half of the second millennium B.C., which confirms the archaeological interpretation of their Bronze Age origin. The narrow age difference between the lowermost and uppermost anthropogenic layers indicates an intentional construction of the mounds, rather than a successive accumulation of construction debris due to the disintegration of loam bricks by weathering. Therefore, they are indeed mounds and not tells. It is most likely that the characteristic circular moats that surround them were the source of their construction material. Fluvial and alluvial processes in a warm and humid climate dominated the environment of the mounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land use types and soil management have a significant effect on soil properties. However, their impact on the stratification of soil properties, carbon management index (CMI) and soil degradation index (SDI) is still poorly documented in coastal light soils of south-eastern India. Soil samples were collected from six divergent land use types, Sugarcane (SC), Fallow-Tobacco (F-T), Paddy-Maize-Fallow (P-M-F), Eucalyptus + Bamboo (AF), Oil Palm (OP), and Forest (NF). The soil samples were collected at 0–5, 5–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm soil depths, and contents of total organic carbon (TOC), labile organic carbon (LC), non-labile organic carbon (NLC), total nitrogen (TN), their stocks, stratification ratios (SRs), CMI, and SDI were determined. Results showed that the contents of TOC, LC, NLC, and TN in NF were significantly higher followed by OP, whereas the parameters were lower in F-T followed by P-M-F. The proportion of SOC and N stocks under NF were higher than F-T by 56.6% and 50.3%, respectively. With NF as a reference, the mean CMI followed the order of OP (78) > AF (60) > SC (59.5) > P-M-F (43.8) > F-T (36.3). The SR values of SOC and TN were highest (1.34 to 2.70) for NF, whereas it was lowest (1.10 to 1.54) in F-T in all soil depths. The highest cumulative SDI of −133.2% was observed in F-T followed by P-M-F (−117%). The CMI, SRs were lower and SDI was higher under F-T and P-M-F indicating poor soil quality and its degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently limited to cold climates near the Arctic circle, living walruses are the sole survivors of a previously much more diverse clade that occupied coastal waters throughout the northern hemisphere during the Mio–Pliocene. Though pinniped faunas have the highest diversity of walruses in the Miocene, the Purisima Formation of California records a moderately diverse assemblage of four walrus species. We report new specimens of tusked walruses (Odobeninae) including the oldest known members of Odobeninae, and Odobenini, and fossils of the specialized toothless odobenine walrus ValenictusMitchell, 1961. Among these is the new species Valenictus sheperdi sp. nov., represented by a complete skull and referred post-crania from lower Pliocene strata within the Purisima Formation (5.33–4.89 Ma). Additionally, we report a geochronologically younger skull of Valenictus chulavistensis Deméré, 1994 from further up section (4.89–3.59 Ma). Expanded phylogenetic analysis recovers Odobeninae including OntocetusLeidy, 1859 as the earliest diverging lineage in the Odobenini, and places a monophyletic Valenictus as the sister taxon to Pliopedia, Kellogg, 1921 which is included in a phylogeny for the first time; Odobenus is sister to the Valenictus + Pliopedia clade. Discovery of an isolated metacarpal near the base of the formation provides the oldest known well-dated evidence of odobenines. A diverse assemblage of molluskivores characterized the Neogene eastern North Pacific and their extinction around the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary coincided with tectonically driven paleogeographic changes on the Pacific coast. The loss of temperate walruses may have provided opportunities for both new molluskivores and the otariid and phocid pinnipeds that make up present North Pacific pinniped communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterized the elemental and C and N stable isotope compositions of Tillandsia fasciculata Sw., Tillandsia balbisiana Schult. & Schult.f. and Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L. samples collected in Cienfuegos (Cuba). Results showed high enrichment factors for S, Hg, Cd, Pb, P, Zn, Cu, Mo, Sb and Ca in all Tillandsia species, indicating inputs from local anthropogenic activities (road traffic, industries and cement production). Carbon concentrations and δ13C varied from 38.3–47.7 % and –20.4 to –13.4 ‰ within the three species, respectively. δ13C showed seasonal dependence with the dry and wet periods and more 13C-depleted values in urban/industrial areas, coherent with the input of anthropogenic emissions. Nitrogen concentrations (0.4–1.3 %) and δ15N values (–9.9–4.4 ‰) exhibit larger variations and are positively correlated in the three species. The most positive δ15N in T. recurvata (–0.2–4.4 ‰) are attributed to contributions from industrial activities and road traffic. In fact, both δ15N and total nitrogen (TN) values increase in sites with higher road traffic and show significant correlations with typical road traffic and industrial tracers. Finally, we calculate an average total nitrogen deposition rate of 4.4 ± 2.3 kg ha–1 a–1 from N content in T. recurvata, similar to the existing values determined in the region by field measurements, but higher than the global terrestrial average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a well-documented strategy used by bacteria to enhance their adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. Through HGT, a group of conserved genetic elements known as mobile genetic elements (MGEs) is disseminated within bacterial communities. MGEs offer numerous advantages to the host, increasing its fitness by acquiring new functions that help bacteria contend with adverse conditions, including exposure to heavy metal and antibiotics. This study explores MGEs within microbial communities along the Yucatan coast using a metatranscriptomics approach. Prior to this research, nothing was known about the coastal Yucatan's microbial environmental mobilome and HGT processes between these bacterial communities. This study reveals a positive correlation between MGEs and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) along the Yucatan coast, with higher MGEs abundance in more contaminated sites. The Proteobacteria and Firmicutes groups exhibited the highest number of MGEs. It's important to highlight that the most abundant classes of MGEs might not be the ones most strongly linked to ARGs, as observed for the recombination/repair class. This work presents the first geographical distribution of the environmental mobilome in Yucatan Peninsula mangroves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elemental ratios (δ13C, δ15N and C/N) and carbon and nitrogen concentrations in macrophytes, sediments and sponges of the hypersaline Al-Kharrar Lagoon (KL), central eastern Red Sea coast, were measured to distinguish their sources, pathways and see how they have been influenced by biogeochemical processes and terrestrial inputs. The mangroves and halophytes showed the most depleted δ13C values of –27.07±0.2 ‰ and –28.34±0.4 ‰, respectively, indicating their preferential 12C uptake, similar to C3-photosynthetic plants, except for the halophytes Atriplex sp. and Suaeda vermiculata which showed δ13C of –14.31±0.6 ‰, similar to C4-plants. Macroalgae were divided into A and B groups based on their δ13C values. The δ13C of macroalgae A averaged –15.41±0.4 ‰, whereas macroalgae B and seagrasses showed values of –7.41±0.8 ‰ and –7.98 ‰, suggesting uptake of HCO3– as a source for CO2 during photosynthesis. The δ13C of sponges was –10.7±0.3 ‰, suggesting that macroalgae and seagrasses are their main favoured diets. Substrates of all these taxa showed δ13C of –15.52±0.8 ‰, suggesting the KL is at present a macroalgae-dominated lagoon. The δ15N in taxa/sediments averaged 1.68 ‰, suggesting that atmospheric N2-fixation is the main source of nitrogen in/around the lagoon. The heaviest δ15N (10.58 ‰) in halophytes growing in algal mats and sabkha is possibly due to denitrification and ammonia evaporation. The macrophytes in the KL showed high C %, N %, and C/N ratios, but this is not indicated in their substrates due possibly to a rapid turnover of dense, hypersaline waters carrying most of the detached organic materials out into the Red Sea. The δ13C allowed separation of subaerial from aquatic macrophytes, a proxy that could be used when interpreting paleo-sea level or paleoclimatic changes from the coastal marine sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The middle Holocene (8200-4200 cal BP) on California's northern Channel Islands (NCI) was a period of important population change, including the elaboration of settlement and subsistence systems during periods of environmental stress. On Santa Rosa Island (SRI), there is evidence for intensive settlement associated with greater sedentism along the relatively wet and productive northwest coast. We use faunal, chronological, and stable oxygen isotopic (δ18O) data from middle Holocene interior residential base sites to reconstruct patterns of mobility between the coast and the interior of the island. Most of the interior sites on SRI dating to this period are oriented toward the northwest coast and previous isotopic studies have indicated they were used seasonally to access terrestrial plant resources and fresh water from fog. This is supported by the faunal record from CA-SRI-50, which was occupied during the summer and fall and has a low-diversity faunal record associated with field processing prior to transporting marine foods to the site. CA-SRI-152 and -229, however, are two sites oriented toward the southwest coast, an area that is drier and less productive overall, but contained a high abundance of red abalone (Haliotis rufescens). These sites appear to have additional roles, including as stopover locations, reflected by a lower density but more diverse faunal record with settlement focused on the spring. This study indicates that the structure of interior residential bases on the NCI during the middle Holocene was not monolithic and that people traveled to the interior for different purposes. By understanding the diversity of sites in the context of environmental variability during the middle Holocene, we can better reconstruct patterns of seasonal mobility and site use during an important period of change that contributed to the eventual development of coastal hunter-gatherer-fisher social complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansive soils pose a significant challenge in geotechnical engineering, especially in coastal areas. While research has mainly focused on their elastic properties, this study explores the overlooked aspect of inelastic subsidence during prolonged droughts, utilizing decade‐long GPS datasets from the University of Houston Coastal Center. Our findings reveal substantial subsidence, approximately one to two dm, during the summer droughts of 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023, due to compaction within the upper 4 m of expansive soils. Inelastic subsidence constitutes roughly 10% of the total subsidence, resulting in step‐like permanent land elevation loss over time. Notably, drought‐induced subsidence is prominent in open‐field areas with expansive soils but is minor in built‐up areas or in non‐expansive soil regions. The occurrence of inelastic subsidence challenges traditional assessments of relative sea‐level rise and coastal flooding, emphasizing the need to consider it in coastal infrastructure planning for enhanced resilience against climate uncertainties. Plain Language Summary: Expansive soils, often found in coastal regions, are known for causing issues like land shifts and unstable buildings. Our research adds a new dimension: prolonged droughts can lead to significant, irreversible sinking of expansive soils, permanently lowering the elevation of open land areas. Using a decade of GPS data, we found that during droughts, these soils can sink considerably and will not fully recover. Interestingly, in developed regions where pavement covers the soils, thereby minimizing moisture loss, this sinking is observed to be minimal. In the Galveston coastal area, drought‐induced sinking can reach one to two dm, with irreversible subsidence making up about 10% of the total subsidence. This becomes a growing concern as droughts become more frequent due to climate change, especially in coastal areas. Additionally, our results suggest that current methods for estimating sea‐level rise may be missing a key factor: we have underestimated the speed at which uninhabited coastal lands are sinking because we did not account for this irreversible sinking due to droughts. Key Points: Prolonged droughts cause up 2 dm of subsidence in shallow expansive soils (<4 m deep) in Galveston, TX, 10% of which is inelasticProlonged droughts lead to notable subsidence in open fields with expansive soils, but less in built‐up areas or non‐expansive soil areasRecurring droughts lead to permanent land elevation losses in open‐field coast, possibly skewing sea‐level rise and flood risk projections [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sentinel-3 is the first satellite altimetry mission that operates exclusively in SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) mode providing an along-track spatial resolution of 300 m. The number of reliable observations close to the coast may be hampered due to complicated waveforms that are difficult to interpret or from inaccurate geophysical corrections. In order to make use of altimetry data with a better spatial resolution and as close to the coast as possible, several specialized altimetry products have been developed. One such product is based on the Adaptive Leading Edge Subwaveform (ALES) retracker, which aims to provide more accurate sea level observations in coastal areas. In this study, which serves as a preparatory step for the determination of an updated mean sea surface model for Norway, we have tested the performance of Sentinel-3 observations along the Norwegian coast retracked using both the ALES-retracker as well as the standard open-ocean SAR retracker (SAMOSA2). Both datasets were compared with observations from the Norwegian network of permanent and temporary tide gauges as well as with the numerical ocean model NorKyst-800 to test their temporal and spatial variability, respectively. From the validation in terms of temporal variability we found that the SAMOSA2 dataset provides more observations closer to the coast than data retracked with ALES because lower-quality observations (most of which are located inside fjords) are excluded from ALES during the retracking process. Subsequently, this leads to increased accuracy for the ALES data. In comparison to observations from tide gauges, ALES shows standard deviations of differences of 10.8 cm (permanent tide gauges) and 14.2 cm (temporary tide gauges) while the original Sentinel-3 data show standard deviations of differences of 18.8 cm (permanent) and 17.8 cm (temporary). Regarding spatial variability, we found that the performance of these two datasets depends on a chosen area for investigation. Compared to a group of tide gauges towards the open sea, ALES outperforms the original dataset, which is possibly linked to the many bright-target radar echoes in this area. For the tide gauge group in the fjords and at permanent tide gauges, however, the original dataset outperforms the ALES dataset, likely due to the sparsity of observations in the latter dataset. Centered root-mean-square differences (RMSDs) to the tide gauges range between 4.0 cm and 7.0 cm for the ALES dataset, and between 3.6 cm and 7.0 cm for the original dataset, depending on the tide gauge group considered. Compared to NorKyst-800 over its whole domain, both datasets give an RMSD of 7.2 cm, while in a coastal subarea, the ALES dataset and the original dataset give RMSDs of 6.4 cm and 5.8 cm, respectively. A future updated coastal MSS for Norway could rely on a combination of the two datasets in an optimal interpolation scheme taking the external quality measures obtained in the present study into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal waters are complex, dynamic, and sensitive, and any change in the system impacts the marine environment and life. Coastal water quality has been decreasing due to the incursion of anthropogenic derived waste and toxins into the ocean. This study investigates water quality along the Kollam coast of Kerala State, India, using Sentinel-2 Multispectral Imager (MSI) data for the period of 2019–2022. Four key water quality parameters, chlorophyll (Chl-a), total suspended matter (TSM), turbidity, and coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM), were analysed for seasonal variations and driving factors. The study highlights the potential of web-based platforms like Google Earth Engine for facilitating large-scale water quality assessments. The results reveal a distinct seasonal pattern in all parameters, primarily influenced by monsoonal riverine discharge and anthropogenic activities as contributing factors to water quality degradation. Overall, the study emphasises the need for comprehensive monitoring and management strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of the coastal ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractal dimension represents the geometric irregularity of an object with respect to the underlying space and is used for several characterizations. The divider method and the box counting method are two classical methods to compute the fractal dimension of fractals, coastlines, natural objects and other complex systems. In this work, we present a novel, extremely efficient algorithm based on the fractal interpolation function (FIF) method for estimating the fractal dimension of coastlines and for reconstructing the coastline geometry. The algorithm is implemented for the coastline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as a case study. For validating the accuracy of the proposed algorithm in estimating the fractal dimension we compare our results with those obtained using the divider and the box-counting method. We also reconstruct the coastline geometry of KSA using our algorithm which generates functions (interpolants) that matches the coastline geometry very accurately. Numerical simulations are obtained using a robust, parallel multi-processing library, an R - program, Python codes, a dynamic programming algorithm, binary search algorithm and the QGIS software. KSA coastline geometry, methodology and flowchart of the proposed FIF algorithm [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, most seashores are experiencing increased erosion and retreat. To a large extent, this applies to coasts subjected to the influence of high-amplitude sea tides, which is extremely negatively manifested on the accumulative coasts of oceanic islands. The problem of their dynamics, the theoretical foundations of which are still in the development stage, can only be solved on the basis of wide-regional studies. This study is aimed at elucidating the specific features of the dynamics of such a coast with a case study of the key region of a large oceanic island. The main reasons for its degradation are identified, recommendations are given for stabilizing the coastline, and the development trend according to the natural scenario is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical experiments have been carried out to model hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes to explain the nature of the spatial distribution of Zostera marina (eelgrass) in the inner bays of Posyet Bay. Hydrodynamic modeling has been performed using the Delft3D flow model. The Simulating WAves Near shore (SWAN) spectral wave model has been used to simulate wind wave parameters (direction of propagation, wave length and height, and near-bottom orbital velocities). The restructuring of the bottom topography under the influence of wind waves and the hydrodynamic influence of tidal and wind currents has been calculated with the Delft3D software package. The results of numerical experiments showed that the dynamics of the coastal bottom topography is determined by the nature of sediment motion in the coastal zone under the combined influence of waves and currents. A comparison of the modeling results with data on the distribution of Zostera showed a high correlation with model simulations of erosion and accumulation in the coastal zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption on January 15, 2022 generated a tsunami that affected the entire Pacific Ocean. Tsunami waves from the event have been generated both by incoming waves from the source area with a long-wave speed in the ocean of ~200–220 m/s, and by an atmospheric wave propagating at a sound speed of ~315 m/s. Such a dual source mechanism created a serious problem and was a real challenge for the Pacific tsunami warning services. The work of the Russian Tsunami Warning Service (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) during this event is considered in detail. The tsunami was clearly recorded on the coasts of the Northwest Pacific and in the adjacent marginal seas, including the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Bering Sea. We examined high-resolution records (1-min sampling) of 20 tide gauges and 8 air pressure stations in this region for the period of January 14–17, 2022. On the Russian coast, the highest waves, with a trough-to-crest wave height of 1.3 m, were recorded at Malokurilskoe (Shikotan Island) and Vodopadnaya (southeastern coast of Kamchatka). Using numerical simulation and data analysis methods, we were able to separate oceanic "gravity" tsunami waves from propagating atmospheric pressure waves. In general, we found that on the outer (oceanic) coasts and southern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, oceanic tsunami waves prevailed, while on the coast of the Sea of Japan, oceanic and atmospheric tsunami waves had similar heights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decades, the coastal areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, have been subjected to intense economic and industrial growth. As a result, it may be expected that the overall environmental status of Saudi Arabian coastal marine waters has been affected by human activities. As a consequence, adequate management of the Saudi Arabian coastal zone requires an assessment of how the various pressures within this zone impact the quality of seawater and sediments. To this end, environmental surveys were conducted over 15 hotspot areas (areas subject to environmental pressures) in the Saudi Arabian coastal zone of the Red Sea and over three hotspot areas in the Saudi Arabian waters of the Arabian Gulf. The survey in the Red Sea, conducted in June/July 2021, acquired measurements from hotspot areas spanning most of the Saudi coastline, extending from near the Saudi–Jordanian border in the north to Al Shuqaiq and Jizan Economic City (close to the Saudi–Yemen border) in the south. The survey in the Arabian Gulf, carried out in September 2021, included the areas of Al Khobar, Dammam and Ras Al Khair. The main objective of both cruises was to record the physical and biogeochemical parameters along the coastal waters of the kingdom, tracing the dispersion of contaminants related to specific pressures. Taken together, these cruises constitute the first multidisciplinary and geographically comprehensive study of contaminants within the Saudi Arabian coastal waters and sediments. The measurements acquired revealed the influence of various anthropogenic pressures on the coastal marine environment of Saudi Arabia and also highlighted a strong influence of hydrographic conditions on the distribution of biochemical properties in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. The data can be accessed at SEANOE 10.17882/96463 (Abualnaja et al., 2023), whereas the details of the sampling stations are available at https://mcep.kaust.edu.sa/cruise-postings (last access: 25 March 2024). The dataset includes the parameters shown in Tables 1a, b and 2a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walking-creating was adopted to probe orientations towards communities, while early career teachers were on clinical placement in the remote South West Peninsular of England. The aim of carrying out walking-creating events was to elicit whether and if so, the extent to which, early career teachers were sensitive to the communities where they had been placed and hence had begun to question deficit discourses tending to adhere to peripheral landscapes. We explored whether they were replacing these negative discourses with hopeful ones. We present a study of one early career teacher who during our creative activity disclosed how place awareness had been developing through interactions within the community. The novel walking-creating methodology is informed by a generative theorising of peripherality so as to contextualise the complexities of the multiple drivers likely to be coalescing in teachers' peripheral placement communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinomycetota, associated with macroalgae, remains one of the least explored marine niches. The secondary metabolism of Actinomycetota, the primary microbial source of compounds relevant to biotechnology, continues to drive research into the distribution, dynamics, and metabolome of these microorganisms. In this study, we employed a combination of traditional cultivation and metagenomic analysis to investigate the diversity of Actinomycetota in two native macroalgae species from the Portuguese coast. We obtained and taxonomically identified a collection of 380 strains, which were distributed across 12 orders, 15 families, and 25 genera affiliated with the Actinomycetia class, with Streptomyces making up approximately 60% of the composition. Metagenomic results revealed the presence of Actinomycetota in both Chondrus crispus and Codium tomentosum datasets, with relative abundances of 11% and 2%, respectively. This approach identified 12 orders, 16 families, and 17 genera affiliated with Actinomycetota, with minimal overlap with the cultivation results. Acidimicrobiales emerged as the dominant actinobacterial order in both macroalgae, although no strain affiliated with this taxonomic group was successfully isolated. Our findings suggest that macroalgae represent a hotspot for Actinomycetota. The synergistic use of both culture‐dependent and independent approaches proved beneficial, enabling the identification and recovery of not only abundant but also rare taxonomic members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increases in evaporation driven by global warming change the hydrological cycle by fueling extreme precipitation and exacerbating the frequency and intensity of extreme floods. Combined with the increase in terrestrial waste and pollutants, the changing climate exposes coastal zones to natural hazards. The Sea of Marmara, as an inland sea with a dense coastal population, is more vulnerable to such changes and subject to eutrophication and extreme environmental events (e.g., mucilage). Therefore, quantification of daily and along-coast variation of river discharge and evaluation of its annual trend of extremes are crucial. The daily discharges from the coastal watersheds Biga, Gönen, Susurluk, İznik-Gölayağı, and İzmit-Kiraz during the period 2010-2020 were evaluated using the observed stream flows at the gages near the coast. The extreme daily discharges observed in each watershed are 350, 250, 600, 18, and 45 m3 s-1, respectively. The upper limits for coastal discharges during flood events were estimated as 175, 100, and 300 m3 s-1 for the first three watersheds. Daily discharge extremes exhibit seasonal and spatial variations along the coastline, with higher flow rates predominantly occurring in the winter and early spring. The onsets of these variations differ, particularly among the southern rivers, and this spatialtemporal change is examined in relation to net precipitation rates and geomorphological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]