As people come to realize the importance of the environmental impact of human activities, the study of the coastal zone has become increasingly important. In addition, new environmental legislation at regional, national, and international levels will doubtless highlight the importance of a fuller understanding of the coastal areas. Together, these factors have led to substantial new requirements for the acquisition and monitoring of relevant environmental information and for a fuller understanding of the processes at work-work for which the use of remote sensing techniques is essential.

To meet the requirements of this emerging discipline, Physical Processes in the Coastal Zone: Computer Modelling and Remote Sensing integrates basic physical processes with extensive information from remote sensing systems such as those on aircraft and spacecraft. It covers the physical processes that occur in the coastal zone, an area in which 60% of the world's population live. Written by international experts, the text provides a comprehensive, graduate-level introduction and overview that is suitable both for those entering the field and for those already working within it.