RUI: Measuring the effects of winter storms (2013-2014) on the movement of boulders in western Ireland

RUI：测量冬季风暴（2013-2014 年）对爱尔兰西部巨石运动的影响

• 批准号: 1424668
• 负责人: Rónadh Cox
• 金额: $ 7.5万
• 依托单位: Williams College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1424668&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Measuring; effects; winter; storms

a. A nontechnical explanation of the project's broader significance and importanceAs coastal populations grow, sea level rises, and climate models predict increasing storminess, there needs to be a better understanding of the effects of high-energy waves on coastal regions. The urgency of this need is underscored by landmark storms that have struck world-wide in recent years. Western Europe was ravaged by a series of unusually strong storms this past winter, which generated the largest waves ever measured in Irish waters (25 m high). Damage to coastal infrastructure will cost tens of millions of dollars to repair, and major amounts of erosion and sediment movement are now being documented. This project will use these storms as an oppportunity for before-and-after analysis that can increase our knowledge of how storm waves move large objects. Using an existing database of photographs (most taken last summer) at surveyed sites tied to specific GPS locations, this research will use repeat photography to document and measure changes wrought by the winter storms. This investigation will establish a relationship between storm power and the inland extent of boulder movement that can serve as an index of the destructive power of storm waves. The results will be applicable to coastal regions world-wide and can serve as the basis for developing effective public policy.b. A technical description of the projectThe ability of storm waves to move large objects such as boulders is controversial. Some researches have suggested that only tsunami have the power to move massive objects to higher elevations, yet the distribution of coastal boulder ridges in areas not prone to tsunami indicate a more widespread and common mechanism. This project will use existing benchmark photographs and measurements of boulder distribution at key sites in the west of Ireland to make quantitative comparisons of boulder locations before and after thw winter storms of 2013-2014. The surveys will use recent field photographs taken mostly in 2012 and 2013 to make on-the-ground comparisons with the present boulder configurations, documenting which boulders have moved and measuring both the sizes and translation distances of the transported clasts. Because these sites have been topographically surveyed, the masses and movements to elevations above high water and distances inland will be documented, thus generating relationships between the maximum sea states recorded last winter and the inland extent of boulder movements. Data generated during this project will quaintify the connection between storm waves and boulder transport. The results will be applicable to other regions at risk from severe storm damage and can be used as the basis for refining models of coastal transport. This project will train students in the process of approaching a scientific problem that has societal relevance, and will broaden their understanding of geoscience and its broader roles. Undergraduate students, a high proportion of whom are from under-represented groups, will receive intense one-on-one mentoring and training in the field and in lab, as well as hands-on experience with a variety of field and analytical tools. The international nature of the work, the wide range of techniques involved, and the relevance for public planning will help prepare these undergraduates for successful, effective careers in research and teaching.

A.对该项目更广泛的意义和重要性的非技术性解释随着沿海人口的增长，海平面的上升，以及气候模型预测的暴风雨增加，需要更好地了解高能海浪对沿海地区的影响。近年来袭击世界各地的里程碑式的风暴突显了这一需求的紧迫性。今年冬天，西欧遭受了一系列异常强烈的风暴的蹂躏，产生了爱尔兰水域有史以来最大的海浪(25米高)。对沿海基础设施的破坏将花费数千万美元进行修复，目前正在记录大量的侵蚀和泥沙移动。这个项目将利用这些风暴作为一个机会，进行前后分析，以增加我们对风暴波如何移动大型物体的了解。利用现有的照片数据库(大多数是在去年夏天拍摄的)，这项研究将使用与特定GPS位置相关的调查地点的照片，使用重复摄影来记录和测量冬季风暴造成的变化。这项调查将建立风暴威力和巨石移动的内陆范围之间的关系，作为风暴波破坏力的一个指标。其结果将适用于世界各地的沿海地区，并可作为制定有效公共政策的基础。该项目的技术描述风暴波移动巨石等大型物体的能力存在争议。一些研究表明，只有海啸才有能力将巨大的物体移动到更高的海拔，但沿海巨石脊在不容易发生海啸的地区的分布表明，一种更广泛和更常见的机制。该项目将使用现有的基准照片和爱尔兰西部关键地点巨石分布的测量结果，对2013-2014年冬季风暴前后巨石的位置进行定量比较。调查将使用最近拍摄于2012年和2013年的现场照片，与目前的巨石结构进行实地比较，记录哪些巨石移动了，并测量了运输的碎石的大小和平移距离。由于对这些地点进行了地形测量，将记录质量和向高水位以上的海拔和内陆距离的移动，从而产生去年冬天记录的最大海况与巨石移动的内陆范围之间的关系。在这个项目中产生的数据将确定风暴波和巨石运输之间的联系。这一结果将适用于其他遭受严重风暴破坏的地区，并可作为完善沿海运输模式的基础。该项目将培训学生处理一个具有社会意义的科学问题，并将扩大他们对地球科学及其更广泛的作用的理解。本科生，其中很大比例来自代表性不足的群体，将在现场和实验室接受密集的一对一指导和培训，以及使用各种现场和分析工具的实践经验。这项工作的国际性，所涉及的广泛技术，以及与公共规划的相关性，将有助于这些本科生为在研究和教学中成功、有效地职业生涯做好准备。