MR 500 F1: Coastal Processes

This course focuses on coastal processes, with an emphasis on how waves, tides, currents, and sediment transport shape coastlines across a range of environments. Students combine theory with hands-on analysis, using remote sensing products—such as satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and digital elevation models—to quantify shoreline change, map coastal features, and interpret spatial and temporal variability. The course introduces key geospatial and remote sensing tools and emphasizes linking observations from space to the physical processes governing coastal dynamics.

A strong experiential component is built into the course through field measurements using Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs), wave gauges, and tidal sensors. Students deploy and operate these instruments to measure currents, wave characteristics, and water levels, and then process and interpret the resulting datasets to characterize coastal circulation and forcing. By integrating in situ measurements with remote sensing observations, the course trains students to connect field-scale processes with broader spatial patterns, preparing them for research and professional work in coastal science