Coastal zone is a complex and dynamic earth surface natural system with strong land-ocean interaction, and also with heavy impacts from both intensive human activities and global change. This paper comprehensively analyzed the ecological and environmental problems in relation to sustainable development of coastal zone in China. It was emphasized that the research on coastal land-ocean interaction and sustainable development under influences of human pressures and climate changes extends far beyond traditional geography and oceanography. Thus the paper put forward that coastal science is a comprehensive, across and irreplaceable discipline studying the natural attributes and functions, land-ocean interaction and sustainable development in the coastal zones, and further discussed about the general research ideas, objectives and contents of coastal science for sustainable development.
Keywords: Coastal Zone; Land-Ocean Interaction; Coastal Science; Ecological and Environmental Problems; Sustainable Development
