Coastal geomorphology and restoration

• The 2013 Binghamton symposium focused on three themes in coastal research.
• How coastal landforms respond to changes in sea level and episodic storms
• How natural and human stressors alter geomorphic-ecological interactions
• How natural-human processes are integrated to restore landforms and habitats

Increases in human development of the coastal zone, sea level rise and intensity of coastal storms will test the resilience of coastal systems. An integrated approach is needed to describe geomorphic–biologic dependencies, feedbacks between processes and responses, and determine how coastal systems can be maintained or restored. The 2013 Binghamton geomorphology symposium focused on three themes in these research areas (1) the geomorphic response of coastal landforms to changes in sea level and episodic storms; (2) the way these stressors alter geomorphic–biotic interactions and reduce the resilience of coastal environments; and (3) the way natural and human processes are being integrated to restore or maintain dynamic geomorphic and biologic linkages. This issue contains eighteen papers presented at the symposium; six papers are devoted to each of these themes. The papers point to the importance of ecological systems in modulating the responses to natural physical processes and, in turn, responding to geomorphic change and the role of humans in assisting natural processes.