The rock coast of South and Central America
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R. Blanco-Chao, K. Pedoja, C. Witt, J. Martinod, L. Husson, V. Regard, L. Audin, M. Nexer, B. Delcaillau, M. Saillard, D. Melnick, J. F. Dumont, E. Santana, E. Navarrete, C. Martillo, M. Pappalardo, L. Ayala, J. F. Araya, A. Feal-Pérez, D. Correa, I. Arozarena-Llopis, 2014. "The rock coast of South and Central America", Rock Coast Geomorphology: A Global Synthesis, D.M. Kennedy, W. J. Stephenson, L. A. Naylor
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Abstract
The great variety of climatic conditions, tidal ranges and wave regimes of South and Central America act on a complex geology and tectonic framework. Many of the rock and cliffed coasts of South America are strongly controlled by the occurrence of extensive Cenozoic and Pleistocene sediments that crop out at the coast. Geology and the different uplift rates are a major factor in the whole coastal geomorphology of South and Central America, and consequently are a very important control of the processes and landforms of rock coasts. This chapter covers several aspects of the rock coast of South and Central America, with special attention to the combination of tectonic movements and Quaternary Pleistocene–Holocene sea-level changes.
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Rock Coast Geomorphology: A Global Synthesis

Rocky landforms dominate large portions of the world's coast. Cliffs and shore platforms form spectacular landscapes, yet when compared to other landforms they are relatively unstudied with many contemporary controversies dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. The past decade has seen a reinvigoration of research driven by advances in technology that now enable precise measurements of erosion to the micron scale and quantification of wave energy onto and through cliff edifices to be made, as well as being able to directly date rock surfaces. In order to integrate this diverse range of research this volume's regional approach first integrates the latest data with longstanding theory and then analyses this research through the boundary conditions that exist in each area. The volume brings together the research leaders in the field; includes chapters on nearly all the major rock coasts of the world and identifies future research needs.