Aspectos físicos das dinâmicas de ambientes costeiros, seus usos e conflitos

Os ambientes costeiros sao extremamente dinâmicos, neles convergem processos terrestres, oceânicos e atmosfericos, que alteram constantemente suas caracteristicas. Um dos principais desafios da geologia, oceanografia e engenharia costeiras e compreender como e porque estas mudancas ocorrem. Por outro lado a ocupacao das zonas costeiras e complexa, diversificada e gera numerosos conflitos. Apesar das diversas iniciativas para diminuir estes conflitos ainda e necessario percorrer um longo caminho para resolver os problemas. Ainda faltam definicoes importantes tais como: Que litoral nos queremos? Qual e o litoral ideal e qual e possivel de ser construido? Como gerir a zona litorânea? Ainda precisamos entender melhor como funciona o litoral do ponto de vista geologico e oceanografico; mas, sobretudo, devemos entender as inter-relacoes com as dinâmicas biologicas, economicas e sociais, politicas, legais e institucionais. Physical aspects of coastal environments’ dynamics: uses and conflicts Abstract Coastal environments are extremely dynamic. They are the meeting point of land, ocean, and atmospheric processes that are constantly changing their features. One of the main challenges posed to geology, oceanography, and coastal engineering is the understanding of how and why these changes occur. Conversely, the occupation of coastal zones is complex, diversified, and leads to many conflicts. Despite the numerous attempts at reducing these conflicts, we are still a long way from solving these problems. Important definitions are still missing: What kind of coast do we want? What is the ideal coastal area like and what can be built on it? How do we manage coastal areas? We still need to understand better how the coastline works geologically and oceanographically. But above all else, we need to understand its interrelationships with biologic, economic, social, political, legal, and institutional dynamics.