Processes controlling the shape and evolution of sandy spits along coastlines

沿海地区往往高度发达，海岸线位置的持续变化速度可达每年几米，比影响人类发展和基础设施的许多其他景观过程要快得多。尽管对这些动态地貌的历史和地质演化进行了长期的研究，但对海岸线变化的定量预测仍然是不可能的。该项目将通过调查对被称为沙咀的海岸特征的生长和形状的控制，向前迈出一大步。这些弯曲的沙堆是许多海岸线的共同特征。该项目将重点关注科德角的外部，这是这些特征中最容易识别的特征之一，进行现场测量并开发一个复杂的数值模型，以记录这个沙嘴的演变。该项目将通过编制关于科德角和类似地点的沿海过程的短期课程和信息材料，与受沿海变化影响的人口和决策者直接互动。本研究将探讨波浪如何影响吐槽演化，以及吐槽-岬角系统在长（千年）和短（十年）时间尺度上对波浪气候变化的敏感性。量化历史和地质时间间隔上的这些限制将有助于更好地理解科德角和岛屿地区的演变，这适用于广泛地区的沿海环境。该项目将使用数值模拟、地质调查和历史变化分析，以1)确定对吐槽形状和循环的控制，2)研究波浪气候如何影响吐槽发展和海岸线演变，3)确定历史上（10-100年）科德角地区海岸线变化的模式，4)重建更长（100 - 1000年）时期的科德角吐槽发展。

Coastal regions are often highly developed, and sustained rates of change of the position of the shoreline can be on the order of meters per year, substantially faster than many other landscape processes that affect human development and infrastructure. Despite a long history of the study of the historic and geologic evolution of these dynamic landforms, it is still not possible to arrive at quantitative prediction of shoreline change. This project will take a major step forward by investigating the controls on the growth and shape of the coastal feature known as a sand spit. These curved accumulations of sand are common features of many coastlines. This project will focus on outer Cape Cod, one of the most recognizable of these features, to conduct field measurements and develop a sophisticated numerical model that documents the evolution of this sand spit. This project will interact directly with the population and decision-makers affected by coastal change by developing a short course and informational materials about coastal processes on Cape Cod and similar settings.This research will investigate how waves affect spit evolution and the sensitivity of spit-headland systems to wave climate changes over both long (millennial) and short (decadal) temporal scales. Quantifying these constraints over historic and geologic time intervals will facilitate a stronger understanding of the evolution of the Cape Cod and Islands region that is applicable to coastal settings over a wide area. The project will use numerical modeling, geologic investigations, and analysis of historic change to 1) identify the controls on spit shape and recurving, 2) investigate how wave climate affects spit development and shoreline evolution, 3) determine patterns of shoreline change in the Cape Cod region over historic (10-100 years), and 4) reconstruct the development of Cape Cod spits over longer (100 - 1000 years) periods.