Coastal Processes
Examine the processes and factors that control coastal landforms, resources and hazards, evaluate human effects, and identify and assess options to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts.
Coastal Processes is available as a minor.
Coastal Processes involves identifying and evaluating processes and factors that contribute to the formation and evolution of coastal landforms, which allows for the prediction of future coastal responses to changing climate and human activities.
A large and growing proportion of the world’s population lives close to the coast, and use it as a resource or for recreation. This is particularly true in New Zealand where almost all of the country is within 100 km of the sea. The coast is also often considered vulnerable to the effects of changing climate and sea levels, natural hazards, and the impacts of human activities.
The University of Waikato is a world-leader in teaching and research of Coastal Processes. This has included undertaking projects around most of the New Zealand coastline, Australia and various islands in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, and the establishment of an international graduate school with the University of Bremen, Germany – INTERCOAST.
Most of the Coastal Processes papers involve field trips, including measuring water properties within Tauranga Harbour and visiting a range of coastal settings to undertake site visits for problem solving exercises based on current coastal issues.
Papers within the minor include a focus on these potential coastal hazards and adopt a problem solving approach to evaluate different options for reducing risk, and include identifying the effects of human activities and evaluation of approaches that can be used to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts.
Facilities
The University of Waikato’s Coastal Marine Field Station, based in Tauranga, has become a major centre of marine research excellence, and is also a base for field activities.
Field experience includes the use of a variety of oceanographic and geophysical equipment to obtain measurements of estuaries and beaches.
Build a successful career
This minor would be beneficial for students looking for careers dealing with coastal resources (eg. fisheries), infrastructure (ports, beaches, sub-divisions), or management. Students with a minor in Coastal Processes currently tend to be employed with regulatory authorities, consulting companies, and research institutions.
Past graduates have gone on to international careers in diverse sectors such as mining, engineering and environmental consulting firms, regulatory agencies, and agencies of the United Nations and non-governmental organisations.
Key information
Study Location: | Hamilton |
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Area of Study: |
Career opportunities
- Coastal Hazards Scientist
- Environmental Scientist
- Coastal Geologist
- Coastal Oceanographer
- Marine Policy Specialist
- Coastal Planning Specialist
Papers
Available Coastal Processes papers
100 Level
Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
---|---|---|---|
EARTH101 | Introduction to Earth System Sciences - Pūtaiao Pūnaha Whenua | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga) |
A lecture and laboratory paper that explores the interacting processes that affect the surface of the Earth, producing landforms and resources, with a focus on physical processes. Topics covered include coastal processes and hazards; climate change; weathering; erosion and mass movement; soil formation; the hydrological cycle; rive... |
200 Level
Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
---|---|---|---|
EARTH241 | Oceanography | 15.0 | 24B (Hamilton) & 24B (Tauranga) |
This paper introduces students to the broad scale properties, issues, and research importance of the global ocean via the main disciplines of oceanography: particularly biological, chemical, geological and physical oceanography |
300 Level
Code | Paper Title | Points | Occurrence / Location |
---|---|---|---|
EARTH341 | Coastal Oceanography | 15.0 | 24A (Hamilton) & 24A (Tauranga) |
This paper focuses on the physical oceanography of the coastal zone. Topics include estuarine circulation, wind driven currents on the shelf, longwaves, resonance, seiching, methodologies for quantifying processes and coastal responses, waves and surfzone processes. |
Scholarships and Prizes
Selected scholarships for Coastal Processes students.
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Looking for more scholarships?
Documents
Contacts
School of Science
Phone:
Email: [email protected]
Website: sci.waikato.ac.nz
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