An Integrated Coastal Programme
Biologically
diverse, resource rich, and well-endowed with beauty, the
coastal zone is a place of dense human settlement and unique
ecological challenges. Most of the coastal planning efforts
thus far have been led by the Coastal Observations Panel,
which includes the Coastal-GOOS
programmes as well as others. Yet the combination of land
and water inherent to coastal ecosystems requires information
beyond the oceanographic realm. For this reason, GTOS is
creating a coastal initiative that will be responsible for
the terrestrial component of coastal study.
Key
Coastal Issues Requiring Terrestrial Observation:
1.
Sand and sediment movement. The dynamics of sand and sediment,
both above and below the water's surface, affect land use,
shipping channels, recreational use, and nutrient transfers.
2.
Chemical contamination. Coastal zones are particularly susceptible
to agricultural and industrial pollutants including both
growth-promoting nutrients and toxic pollutants.
3.
Carbon budget and primary productivity. The coastal zone
has ecosystems that are highly productive and can be peat
forming, yet these systems are underrepresented in global
networks.
4.
Water quantity and quality. High population densities at
the water's edge increase the possibility and gravity of
public health problems such as diminishing potable water
supply and frequent, intense flooding.
5.
Wetland conservation. Sea-level controlled wetlands provide
numerous ecological benefits including flood water storage,
migratory waterfowl habitat, and nursery areas for marine
life.
6.
Biodiversity and biocomplexity. Coastal communities are
subject to exploitation by over fishing, intrusions on the
landscape by humans, and invasions of exotic species from
shipping activities.
7.
Sea-level rise from global climate change. Perhaps one of
the most important and uniquely-coastal issues is the effect
of sea-level rise on the landscape. Development along the
coast rarely has considered how future changes of the sea
level will affect hydrogeomorphology, land use and human
population distributions.
Observation
Strategy
Many
of the observation variables and the protocols for their
sampling have already been designated under the Global Hierarchical
Observing Strategy (GHOST).
In addition, variables unique to coastal environments and
the human populations within them will be identified during
the implementation phase of the initiative.
A TEMS
coastal module has been developed and will soon be available
online. The module allows querying by country, site, ecoregion
and can be organized to yield those variables and sampling
protocols that have particular importance to the coastal
zone.
Moving
forward
Two
workshops are being planned to begin the development of
the GTOS coastal initiative, the first is scheduled for
late winter or early spring, 2002. They will include representatives
from the GTOS and Coastal Ocean Observations Panel communities
and shall begin the process of integrated coastal observation
Up to date information can be obtained from the TEMS coastal
module.
