Journal of Coastal Research

Journal of Coastal Research is a peer-reviewed scientific periodical focusing on coastal geomorphology, shoreline processes, estuarine dynamics, and coastal management. The journal publishes original research, technical notes, and review articles that address interactions among coasts, estuaries, wetlands, and human activities. Its audience includes researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers associated with universities, research institutes, and international agencies.

History

The periodical was established in 1984 under the auspices of the Coastal Education and Research Foundation and emerged alongside institutions such as the United States Geological Survey, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Smithsonian Institution. Early contributors included researchers affiliated with University of Florida, Florida State University, University of South Carolina, Texas A&M University, and University of California, Santa Cruz. The journal developed during a period marked by major events and initiatives like the Coastal Zone Management Act, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and the formation of panels such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Over subsequent decades it interacted with professional societies including the American Geophysical Union, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association, the International Geographical Union, and the International Association of Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.

Scope and topics

The journal covers a range of topics linking field studies, laboratory experiments, and numerical modeling, engaging communities connected to Deltares, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Typical subjects include coastal morphology studied at sites like Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Great Barrier Reef; sediment transport investigations referencing methods from US Army Corps of Engineers projects; estuarine circulation analyses relevant to locations such as San Francisco Bay and Hudson River; and ecological interactions with habitats like Everglades National Park and Mangrove Bay. The journal also addresses applied issues pertinent to stakeholders including World Bank, United Nations Environment Programme, European Commission, Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, and regional agencies involved in shoreline protection, restoration, and hazard mitigation following events such as Hurricane Katrina and Indian Ocean tsunami.

Abstracting and indexing

The periodical is abstracted and indexed in major bibliographic services and databases that serve coastal and marine science communities, often used alongside bibliographies from Web of Science, Scopus, GeoRef, Science Citation Index Expanded, and Oceanic Abstracts. Libraries and consortia at institutions like Library of Congress, British Library, National Library of Australia, Bibliothèque nationale de France, and Deutsche Nationalbibliothek catalogue its issues. Citation tracking involving databases maintained by Clarivate Analytics and Elsevier informs metrics used by universities such as Harvard University, University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University when evaluating coastal research outputs.

Publication and editorial information

The journal is published bimonthly by the Coastal Education and Research Foundation with editorial oversight drawn from an international board including scholars from University of Oxford, Delft University of Technology, University of Tokyo, National University of Singapore, and University of Cape Town. Submission processes align with standards promoted by organizations like the Committee on Publication Ethics and indexing services used by the Directory of Open Access Journals and major academic publishers. Editorial policies address peer review, data availability, and ethical considerations consistent with guidance from the Royal Society, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and professional codes used by societies such as the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research.

Impact and reception

The journal has been cited in assessment reports and policy briefs produced by agencies including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations Development Programme, European Environment Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and regional planning bodies. Its articles have informed projects executed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, and research programs at institutions such as NASA and European Space Agency. The publication has influenced practice in coastal engineering and management communities linked to conferences organized by the International Coastal Symposium, the Coastal Sediments Conference, and the International Conference on Coastal Engineering.

Category:Academic journals Category:Earth and atmospheric sciences journals Category:Bimonthly journals