Global warming, coastal erosion, vortices and sound

It is commonly acknowledged that global warming will impact on our coastal environment by an increase in sea level, higher wave conditions and stronger storm surges. However, our capability to predict the impact this may have on the coastal environment is relatively limited and in particular the influence such changes may have on sediment (sand and mud) transport pathways are surprisingly difficult to forecast. This lack of predictability is due in part to our limited understanding of the basic mechanisms that drive sediment transport and it is in this area that acoustics has begun to make a significant contribution. We look back at recent advances in the application of acoustics to sediment transport processes and look forward to future developments.