The Influence of Geological Structure and Historical Changes in Morphology of Delaware Bay Communities on Environmental Planning

摘要

The research reported is a combination of a geological study of the immediate shore zone and a socio-economic analysis of the inhabitants of the small villages along the western shoreline of Delaware Bay, a major estuary. By means of analysis of the various types of geological structures and sedimentary environments in the shore zone, the loci of the various villages were analyzed in terms of their viability for long term survival in a transgressive coastal setting. Characteristics of the Delaware Bay shoreline environment which were considered, include winds, which vary seasonally, but are strongest in the winter months, when their prevailing direction is from the northwest; waves, which generally follow the same patterns as winds and longshore currents.