Talk on Changing Shorelines

Kim McCoy

We have “Shores” in our name, so as part of our series of special presentations in honor of our 50^th anniversary year, we’ve invited author, oceanographer, and adventurer Kim McCoy to speak on “The Future of the Shore.”  This online presentation, free and open to all, takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.  To register for the event, go here.

Kim McCoy is the author of the recent Waves and Beaches:  The Powerful Dynamics of Sea and Coast.  This is an updating of the original Waves and Beaches, by Willard Bascom, a classic of its time, with new information and perspectives on how climate change is affecting both waves and beaches.

The talk will cover the nature, types and origins of waves; the global effects sea level rise; and water usage, weather patterns, and how they affect us at the beach. The beach-centric discussion will then become more regional and address how humans have influenced the Columbia River Watershed, its origins and sediments.  The vanishing of the town of Bayocean from Tillamook Bay’s enclosing spit (still known as “Bayocean Spit) will be touched upon as an example of human-caused coastal change from the past. Kim will also look into the future, considering adaptation strategies from many places how these positive strategies may affect us all in a globalized world.

Kim McCoy’s ocean research began with studies of the surf zone.  He has been, among many other posts, Principal Scientist with NATO in Italy, and the Marine Technology Society’s Chair for Ocean Instrumentation. Kim has examined beaches and observed waves on all seven continents; swum across the upper Amazon; journeyed along the Mekong, Nile, and Mississippi deltas; traveled the Australian coastline; plunged into the Antarctic Ocean (without a wetsuit); crossed the Pacific, Atlantic, and Drake’s Passage on ships; and sailed a boat from Africa to the Caribbean.