Visualization of coastal dynamics: Scolt Head Island, North Norfolk, England

Scientific visualization, particularly through animation, has considerable potential for the better understanding of the complex space-time dynamics o f coastal change. This is illustrated, using a combination of paper map, ae rial photography and remotely-sensed source materials, for (a) decadal scal e patterns of barrier island extension; (b) inter-annual changes in interti dal and supratidal spit dynamics; and (c) intra-annual spatial variations i n vegetation productivity of saltmarsh communities. High spectral contrast and spectral stability in remotely-sensed imagery of indicator features in these environments and the need for only minimal abstraction aid the produc tion of animation sequences. Fading techniques, however, are required in th e animation of decadal changes in coastal morphology and assumptions of spa tial and temporal linearity of shoreline response limit the physical interp retation of animations. The full three dimensional visualization of coastal change only awaits the collection of appropriate data sets.