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==The Blue Book==
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==Coastal Hydrodynamics And Transport Processes==
  
[[Image:Diver_right.jpg|100px|right|thumb|Logo of the Blue Book]]
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[[Image:tombolo2.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Tombolo formation behind coastal breakwater, an example of the result of coastal transport processes]]
  
An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union -The '''Blue Book'''<ref>COM(2007)575 final, Brussels, 10.10.2007 -An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union -Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions
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The hydrodynamic conditions or processes, that come about from [[Tidal wave|waves]] transforming over a coastal profile and generating wave set up and [[Longshore current|longshore currents]], will result in movement and transport of the sediments (e.g. sand) present in the profile. This is referred to as ''littoral transport processes'' and is the main subject of this article. However, transport of fine sediments will also be discussed, but only very briefly.
</ref>
 
  
The European Commission launched a comprehensive consultation and analysis of how Europe relates to the sea.  
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The sediment on the seabed is transported when it is exposed to large enough forces, or ''shear stresses'', by the water movements. These movements can be caused by the current or by the wave orbital velocities or a combination of both, the latter being the most important situation. The relevant parameters for the description of the sediment transport along a shoreline or in a coastal area are therefore the following:
''(See also the [[Green Paper for a EU Maritime Policy|Green Paper for an EU Maritime Policy]])''
 
  
Building in this valuable input the Commission presented, on 10 October 2007, its vision for '''an Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union''', also called the '''Blue Book'''. This vision is based on the clear recognition that all matters relating to Europe's oceans and seas are interlinked, and that sea-related policies must develop in a joined-up way if are to reap the desired results
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*The wave conditions at the site and the possible variations over the site plus the adjoining areas
 
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*The current conditions as well as the variations of these over the area
The Blue Book is accompanied by the other 3 documents:
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*The water-level conditions, i.e. tide, storm surge and wave set-up
 
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*The [[bathymetry]] (the depth variations) in the area
*a [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2007:0574:FIN:EN:PDF Report on the stakeholder consultation results]
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*The [[sediment]] characteristics over the area
*a detailed [http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/pdf/ActionPaper/action_plan_en.pdf Action Plan]-aiming at exploring the full potential of sea-based economic activity in an environmental sustainable manner
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*The sources and sinks of sediment, such as rivers, eroding coasts or tidal inlets
*an [http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/pdf/summary/sec_2007_1280_en.pdf Impact Assessment]
 

Revision as of 14:00, 1 September 2009

Coastal Hydrodynamics And Transport Processes

Tombolo formation behind coastal breakwater, an example of the result of coastal transport processes

The hydrodynamic conditions or processes, that come about from waves transforming over a coastal profile and generating wave set up and longshore currents, will result in movement and transport of the sediments (e.g. sand) present in the profile. This is referred to as littoral transport processes and is the main subject of this article. However, transport of fine sediments will also be discussed, but only very briefly.

The sediment on the seabed is transported when it is exposed to large enough forces, or shear stresses, by the water movements. These movements can be caused by the current or by the wave orbital velocities or a combination of both, the latter being the most important situation. The relevant parameters for the description of the sediment transport along a shoreline or in a coastal area are therefore the following:

  • The wave conditions at the site and the possible variations over the site plus the adjoining areas
  • The current conditions as well as the variations of these over the area
  • The water-level conditions, i.e. tide, storm surge and wave set-up
  • The bathymetry (the depth variations) in the area
  • The sediment characteristics over the area
  • The sources and sinks of sediment, such as rivers, eroding coasts or tidal inlets