Geomorphological Coastal Classifications after Natural Processes and Human Disturbance

In geomorphological studies, a wide range of coastal classifications based on natural processes are available. These classifications results from very different approaches but are not necessarily incompatible. Used criteria basically include the tectonic and hydrodynamic controls, as well as the sedimentological response. Hydrodynamics control includes classifications after wave parameters, spring tidal range and a combination of both. 

A major advance in this type of classifications was the inclusion of the term megatidal, previously applied in ecological studies and later adopted in coastal geomorphology. Thus, Levoy et al. defined as megatidal the coast with tidal ranges higher than 8 m, while other authors agree to locate the limit of megatidal coasts at 6 m. Therefore, the following four types of coasts, differentiated after its tidal range, should be considered as standards for future researches: microtidal (0-2 m), mesotidal (2-4 m), macrotidal (4-6 m), and megatidal (>6 m). Read more>>>>>>>>>