InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Coastal Processes, Hazards and Society > Student Materials > Section 1: Introduction to the Coastal Zone: Society, Landforms, and Processes > Module 2: A Global Glance at Coastal Landscapes > Second Order Influence on Coastal Zones
InTeGrate's Earth-focused Modules and Courses for the Undergraduate Classroom
showLearn More
These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »
show Download
The student materials are available for offline viewing below. Downloadable versions of the instructor materials are available from this location on the instructor materials pages. Learn more about using the different versions of InTeGrate materials »

Download a PDF of all web pages for the student materials

Download a zip file that includes all the web pages and downloadable files from the student materials

For the Instructor

These student materials complement the Coastal Processes, Hazards and Society Instructor Materials. If you would like your students to have access to the student materials, we suggest you either point them at the Student Version which omits the framing pages with information designed for faculty (and this box). Or you can download these pages in several formats that you can include in your course website or local Learning Managment System. Learn more about using, modifying, and sharing InTeGrate teaching materials.

Second Order Influence on Coastal Zones

On the basis of the information discussed in the last several sections, it should now be evident to you that that plate tectonics has a strong influence on the characteristics of continental margins and the associated coastal zones. There are, however, several other key secondary influences that also affect how coastal zones evolve. These include:

  • sediment Supply,
  • glaciations (Direct and Indirect),
  • climate,
  • hydrographic Regime.

Each of these will be discussed individually in the following sections to provide a comprehensive framework of the types of processes that need to be considered when attempting to evaluate coastal characteristics and evolution.


These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »