Academic literature on the topic 'Eco-morphodynamic'

The consideration of biological processes in hydro- and morphodynamic models is an important challenge for numerical simulation in coastal engineering. Eco-hydraulic aspects will play a major role in engineering tools and planning processes for the design of coastal works. Vegetation greatly affects the hydro- and morphodynamic models in coastal zones. Most hydrodynamic numerical models do not consider influences by ecological factors. This paper focuses on the presentation of an object-oriented holistic framework for eco-hydraulic simulation. The numerical approximation is performed by a stabilized finite element method for hydro- and morphodynamic processes, to solve the related partial differential equations, and by a cell-oriented model for the simulation of ecological processes, which is based on a fuzzy rule system. The fundamental differences between these model paradigms require special transfer and coupling methods. Case studies on seagrass prediction in the North Sea around the island of Sylt show the main effects and influences on changed hydro- and morphodynamic processes and demonstrate the applicability of the coupled finite element fuzzy cell-based approach in eco-hydraulic modeling.

ABSTRACT The Paleozoic evolution of vegetation transformed terrestrial landscapes, facilitating novel sedimentary processes and creating new habitats. This transformation left a permanent mark on the sedimentary record, perhaps most strikingly via an upsurge in preserved terrestrial mudrock. Whereas feedbacks between evolving vegetation and river structure have been widely studied, Paleozoic estuaries have so far received scant attention. Located at the interface between the land and sea, the co-adjustment of estuarine morphology and plant traits are fundamentally tied to a varied range of geochemical cycles, and determine how global silicate weathering patterns may have varied over time. Here we employ an eco-morphodynamic model with an in-built vegetation code to simulate estuarine morphology through five key stages in plant evolution. An abiotic model (early Precambrian?) saw mud deposition restricted to fortuitous instances of limited erosion along bar-flanks. Estuaries colonized by microbial mats (Precambrian onwards) facilitated mud accretion that sufficiently stabilized bar surfaces to promote extensive mudflat development. Small-stature, rootless vegetation (Silurian–Early Devonian) introduced novel above-ground baffling effects which led to notable mud accumulation in lower-energy environments. The incorporation of roots (Early Devonian) strengthened these trends, with root structures decreasing the mortality of the occupying plants. Once the full complement of modern vascular plant architectures had evolved (Middle Devonian), dense colonization promoted the formation of in-channel islands accompanied with system-wide mud accumulation. These simulations suggest estuaries underwent profound change during the Paleozoic, with the greening of the continents triggering processes and feedbacks which render all previous source-to-sink sediment pathways non-uniformitarian.

Coastal foredunes are topographically high features that can reduce vulnerability to storm-related flooding hazards. While the dominant aeolian, hydrodynamic, and ecological processes leading to dune growth and erosion are fairly well-understood, predictive capabilities of spatial variations in dune evolution on management and engineering timescales (days to years) remain relatively poor. In this work, monthly high-resolution terrestrial lidar scans were used to quantify topographic and vegetation changes over a 2.5 year period along a micro-tidal intermediate beach and dune. Three-dimensional topographic changes to the coastal landscape were used to investigate the relative importance of environmental, ecological, and morphological factors in controlling spatial and temporal variability in foredune growth patterns at two 50 m alongshore stretches of coast. Despite being separated by only 700 m in the alongshore, the two sites evolved differently over the study period. The northern dune retreated landward and lost volume, whereas the southern dune prograded and vertically accreted. At the start of and throughout the study, the erosive site had steeper foredune faces with less overall vegetation coverage, and dune growth varied spatially and temporally within the site. Deposition occurred mainly at or behind the vegetated dune crest and primarily during periods with strong, oblique winds (>∼45 ∘ from shore normal). Minimal deposition was observed on the mostly bare-sand dune face, except where patchy vegetation was present. In contrast, the response of the accretive site was more spatially uniform, with growth focused on the heavily vegetated foredune face. The largest differences in dune response between the two sections of dunes occurred during the fall storm season, when each of the systems’ geomorphic and ecological properties modulated dune growth patterns. These findings highlight the complex eco-morphodynamic feedback controlling dune dynamics across a range of spatial scales.

Tidal inundation is the primary driver of intertidal wetland functioning and will be affected by sea- level rise (SLR). The morphology of estuaries and friction across intertidal surfaces influences tidal propagation; accordingly, sea-level rise not only increases inundation frequency, but will also alter other tidal parameters, such as tidal range. To investigate responses of estuarine intertidal vegetation, primarily mangrove and saltmarsh, to SLR an eco-morphodynamic modelling approach was developed that accounted for some of the feedbacks between tidal inundation and changes to wetland substrate elevations. This model partially accounts for adjustment in estuarine hydrodynamics, and was used to examine the potential effect of SLR on mangrove and saltmarsh distribution in a micro-tidal channelised infilled barrier estuary in southeast Australia. The modelling approach combines a depth-averaged hydrodynamic model (Telemac2D) and an empirical wetland elevation model (WEM) that were coupled dynamically to allow for eco-geomorphological feedbacks. The integrated model was parameterised to consider two SLR scenarios, and two accretion scenarios within the WEM. Time series of observed water levels, tidal inundation and flow velocity were used to validate the hydrodynamic model for present-day sea level, whereas wetland mapping was used to verify predictions of mangrove and saltmarsh distribution. Tidal range varied along the estuary, increasing in response to low and high SLR scenarios (by up to 8%), and responded non-linearly under high SLR. Simulations of low and high SLR scenarios indicated that wetlands mostly withstand modest SLR rates (+ 5mm yr-1) through sedimentation, but submerge and convert to subtidal areas under fast SLR rates (> 10mm yr-1). Projected changes in tidal range are linked to eco-geomorphological feedbacks caused by changing wetland extents and adjustments of intertidal wetland geomorphology through sedimentation. Potential changes arising from morphological change at the entrance and in the tidal channels is not obtained from the model. The results of this study demonstrate interconnections between hydrodynamics and intertidal wetlands, which need to be accounted for when estimating wetland response to SLR in channelised estuaries. Integrated models of estuarine-wetland systems are more precise as they account for the dynamic feedbacks between hydrodynamics and wetlands. For example, they also consider alterations to tidal range resulting from SLR and the effects of these on wetland inundation and sedimentation.

AbstractWe survey the problem of the response of coastal wetlands to sea level rise. Two opposite views have traditionally been confronted. According to the former, on the geological time scale, coastal lagoons would be ‘ephemeral’ features. The latter view maintains that marshes would keep pace with relative sea level rise as, increasing the rate of the latter, the sedimentation rate would also increase. In any case, the timescale of morphodynamic evolution is of the order of centuries, which makes it not easily perceived. For example, in Venice, the diversion of the rivers debouching into the lagoon undertaken in the Renaissance has taken centuries to display its consequences (shift from depositional to erosional environment). This process accelerated in the last two centuries due to effects of the industrial revolution and of an enhanced sea level rise. Recent research has employed powerful computational techniques and advanced models of marsh vegetation. Zero-order modeling suggests that marsh equilibrium is possible, provided the rate of relative sea level rise does not exceed a threshold depending on the availability of minerogenic sediments, quantified through a loosely defined ambient sediment concentration. Analysis of the morphological interaction between adjacent morphological units suggests that the ‘equilibrium states’ identified by zero-order modeling correspond to marshes which either prograde or retreat, i.e., are not in equilibrium. Results suggest that available techniques, e.g., artificial replenishment of salt marshes or search for more productive halophytic species, will hardly allow Venice wetlands to keep up with a strong acceleration of sea level rise.

Coastal foredunes are topographically high features that can reduce vulnerability to storm-related flooding hazards. While the dominant aeolian, hydrodynamic, and ecological processes leading to dune growth and erosion are fairly well-understood, predictive capabilities of spatial variations in dune evolution on management and engineering timescales (days to years) remain relatively poor. In this work, monthly high-resolution terrestrial lidar scans were used to quantify topographic and vegetation changes over a 2.5 year period along a micro-tidal intermediate beach and dune. Three-dimensional topographic changes to the coastal landscape were used to investigate the relative importance of environmental, ecological, and morphological factors in controlling spatial and temporal variability in foredune growth patterns at two 50 m alongshore stretches of coast. Despite being separated by only 700 m in the alongshore, the two sites evolved differently over the study period. The northern dune retreated landward and lost volume, whereas the southern dune prograded and vertically accreted. The largest differences in dune response between the two sections of dunes occurred during the fall storm season, when each of the systems’ geomorphic and ecological properties modulated dune growth patterns. These findings highlight the complex eco-morphodynamic feedback controlling dune dynamics across a range of spatial scales.