The Soviet Theory of Dynamics and Morphology of the Shores of Seas and 

 Lakes - As developed by V. P. Zenkovich and the school of oceanographers 

 associated with him, the theory considers the coastal zone, below and above 

 the sea level, as a genetic unit and the changes of the relief and struc- 

 ture of the shores as a result of energy moving from the center of the sea 

 basin to its periphery. The principal energetic elements - the waves and 

 currents after reaching the coastal region, generate the motion of materials 

 on the sea bottom and the processes observed in the shore zone. According 

 to Zenkovich, the knowledge of hydrodynamics of the shore zone is very un- 

 satisfactory, despite the experience in predicting the parameters of sea 

 waves, their refraction and diffraction. Their internal structure and the 

 mechanism of their action on the sea bottom is, however, very little known; 

 also the overall hydrodynamics of the coastal zone are not convincingly 

 explored up to the present. Phenomena, such as breaking processes and 

 material-moving action of the waves, assymetry of the wave elements in the 

 proximity of the shore and floor leveling current which brakes the landward 

 movement while accelerating the seaward movement of the water, belong in 

 the category of unexplored processes. In addition, the theory of transition 

 from hydrodynamics to the dynamics of material movement in general use is 

 deficient due to difficulties experienced in laboratory model representation 

 being so far developed without substantiation by observations and measure- 

 ments under natural conditions. Extreme efforts are underway in U.S.S.R. 

 to perfect and amplify the theory of Zenkovich on the formation of accumu- 

 lative form of the shore and dynamic classification of these forms (53)., 



Behind the efforts for theoretical solution of coastal problems, the 

 main obvious purpose is to obtain a working basis for planning and mainten- 

 ance of maritime improvements. Numerous papers and studies with particular 

 regard for measurements and observations, taken under natural conditions 

 have been published (45,49,58,59,96,3-11). 



Surveys and Studies of Soviet Seashores - The Soviets have made numer- 

 ous surveys of their coastal areas, many of them of regional character, and 

 studied in detail the related physical characteristics and natural phenomena. 

 These studies are on energy transformation by the movement of water masses, 

 deformation of waves, transport of material, changes of the physical relief 

 in the coastal zone resulting from erosion or accretion (17,18,32-34, 37, 

 39, 64, 89, 115). These studies contain comprehensive and detailed informa- 

 tion on the dynamics and morphology of shores of different seas of U.S.S.R. 

 Data from the surveys and studies are compiled in regional monographs used 

 in preparation of Survey of Seashores of U.S.S.R. (Kadastr Beregov Morei 

 S.S.S.R. ),^ 36 » 105 \ The data are organized as follows: 



a) brief introduction to the theory of dynamics and morphology of 

 seashores with attention given to the local peculiarities; 



b) general characteristics of the basin, its shores and the adjoining 

 mainland - hydrometeorology, geology and geomorphology ; 



