Summary
Crowded into the beautiful, narrow strip at the edge of the ocean, the large number of people who live near California's dynamic coastline often have little awareness of the hazards--waves, tides, wind, storms, rain, and runoff--that erode and impact the coast and claim property on a regular basis. This up-to-date, authoritative, and easy-to-use book, a geological profile of the California coast from Mexico to the Oregon border, describes the landforms and processes that shape the coastline and beaches, documents how erosion has affected development, and discusses the options that are available for dealing with coastal hazards and geologic instability. A completely revised and updated edition ofLiving with the California Coast(1985), this book features hundreds of new photographs and the latest data on human activity on the coast, on climate change, on rising seas levels, and on coastal erosion and protection. With its dramatic photographs and mile-by-mile maps,Living with the Changing California Coastwill be an essential resource for those intending to buy or build along the coast, those who need specific information about various coastal regions, and those who are seeking information about how this remarkable coastline has evolved. 279 photographs portray natural coastal features and processes and illustrate many instances of what can happen to buildings on the coast 81 maps, covering the entire coast, detail types of coastal landforms, coastline erosion rates, locations of seawalls or armor, and other specific areas of interest Offers specific advice for homebuyers,residents, and developers on which areas to avoid, on what safety measures should be taken, and on what danger signals should be heeded
Table of Contents
Preface: Living on the Edge |
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ix | |
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Introduction: A Perspective on the Coast of California |
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1 | (7) |
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The Evolution of the California Coast |
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8 | (10) |
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Weather, Climate Change, Sea Level, and the Coastline |
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18 | (20) |
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Understanding the Shoreline |
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38 | (37) |
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The Erosion of the Coastline |
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75 | (13) |
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Building or Buying on the Coast |
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88 | (19) |
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Responding to Coastal Hazards |
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107 | (31) |
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An Overview of California's Coastal Hazards Policy |
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138 | (25) |
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The Northern California Coast: The Oregon Border to Shelter Cove |
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163 | (29) |
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Point Delgada to Point Arena |
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192 | (12) |
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Point Arena to San Francisco |
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204 | (18) |
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The San Francisco Coastline |
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222 | (6) |
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San Francisco to Ano Nuevo |
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228 | (42) |
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Ano Nuevo to the Monterey Peninsula |
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270 | (41) |
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The Monterey Peninsula to Morro Bay |
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311 | (23) |
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Morro Bay to Point Conception |
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334 | (25) |
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Point Conception to Rincon Point |
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359 | (35) |
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Rincon Point to Santa Monica |
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394 | (33) |
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The Coast of Southern California: Santa Monica to Dana Point |
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427 | (47) |
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Dana Point to the International Border |
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474 | (41) |
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Appendix A: Useful References |
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515 | (10) |
Appendix B: Geological Time Line |
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525 | (2) |
Contributors |
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527 | (6) |
Index |
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533 | |