1st Place Winner, SEDAAG 2016: Time and Tide Wait for No Man

The Dorset and East Devon Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 150 kilometers from Studland Bay to Exmouth, exemplifies the dynamic interplay between geological forces and human activities over millennia. This coastal landscape, extending through 185 million years of Earth's history, showcases the continuous battle between land and sea, shaped by erosional and depositional processes. The site's geomorphological features, including cliffs, sea arches, caves, and wave-cut platforms, are a testament to the power of waves refracted around headlands, exploiting geological weaknesses. Human influence is also evident, from historical resource exploitation and defense to modern tourism and recreational activities, which have left traces on the landscape. The study highlights the constant evolution of this environment due to eustatic and isostatic adjustments, climate change, and sea level rise, emphasizing the need for a holistic understanding of nature-human interactions. The Jurassic Coast serves as a living laboratory for studying these dynamic forces, offering insights into both geological processes and human adaptation strategies.

Tobin, G. A. (2017). 1st Place Winner, SEDAAG 2016: Time and Tide Wait for No Man. Southeastern Geographer, 57(4), 327–328. https://doi.org/10.1353/sgo.2017.0029