Collaborative Research: From Surface Dynamics to Strata: Quantifying the Signals of Surface Processes in Space and Time

河流三角洲是将水和沉积物从大陆输送到海洋的复杂地貌。它们对环境变化极其敏感，例如海平面上升、沉积物和供水，因此依赖这些动态和敏感地貌资源的社区处于危险之中。三角洲过去的动力学部分保存在它们的沉积记录中，这些记录为测试未来变化的预测模型提供了宝贵的模板。为了了解这些系统，研究人员建议建立一个预测框架，使他们能够将三角洲表面的水道和泛滥平原的排列与保存在其沉积物中的过去动态记录联系起来。与河流三角洲非常相似，地球科学领域也需要通过战略性地分配资源和机会，对科学界不断变化的人口结构作出反应。该项目为代表性不足的少数族裔首席科学家、早期职业调查人员提供支持，并为学生提供包容性研究经验，使研究人员能够利用来自不同研究团队的知识和经验。这里提出的支持框架可以为创建一个更加多样化和包容性的科学界提供一个有价值的模板，特别是在地球科学领域，该领域的种族和种族多样性比率仍然是所有其他STEM领域中最低的(9%)。河流三角洲沉积沉积中包含的过去环境状态的记录，尽管是地球上最完整的记录之一，但极具挑战性。这项研究的前提是三角洲体系的沉积记录是由它们的自生动力学(如撕裂作用和侧向运移速率)和异源作用力(如气候、构造、海平面)共同作用的。研究人员建议开发一个综合统计框架，以描述三角洲输运系统及其在一系列空间和时间尺度上的沉积记录。为了构建这一框架，他们将在来自物理和数值实验的数据和现场数据集之间进行迭代，提供对依赖于尺度的动力学及其对过滤地下沉积记录中存储的信号的贡献的定量约束。这些信息对于(1)发展和约束三角洲演化模型，(2)从地层记录推断古环境条件，以及(3)辅助自然资源(如沿海含水层、油气藏等)的管理是至关重要的。通过改进对一系列尺度上地下储集层性质的预测。该项目由地貌学和土地利用动态计划和既定的激励竞争研究计划(EPSCoR)共同资助。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

River deltas are complex landforms which transport water and sediment from continents to oceans. They are extremely sensitive to environmental changes, e.g. sea-level rise, sediment and water supply, and therefore communities that rely on the resources of these dynamic and sensitive landscapes are at risk. The past dynamics of deltas are partially preserved in their sedimentary records, and these records represent valuable templates for testing predictive models of future change. To understand these systems, the researchers propose to create a predictive framework that enables them to relate the arrangement of channels and floodplains on the surface of deltas to the record of past dynamics preserved in their sediments. Much like river deltas, the earth science field also needs to be responsive to changing demographics in the scientific community through strategic distribution of resources and opportunities. This project provides support for underrepresented minority lead scientists, early career investigators, and inclusive research experiences for students, allowing the researchers to leverage the knowledge and experience that comes from a diverse research team. The framework of support proposed here could be a valuable template for creating a more diverse and inclusive scientific community, particularly in earth science, which continues to have the lowest (9%) rates of ethnic and racial diversity of all other STEM fields.Records of past environmental states contained within the sedimentary deposits of river deltas, while amongst the most complete on Earth, are extremely challenging to decipher. The premise of the proposed research is that the sedimentary record of deltaic systems is mediated by a combination of their autogenic dynamics (e.g. avulsion and lateral migration rates) and allogenic forcings (e.g. climate, tectonics, sea level). The researchers propose to develop an integrated statistical framework to characterize deltaic transport systems and their sedimentary records across a range of spatial and temporal scales. To construct this framework, they will iterate between data from physical and numerical experiments, and field data-sets, providing quantitative constraints on scale-dependent dynamics and their contribution to filtering signals stored in the subsurface sedimentary record. This information is crucial for (1) developing and constraining delta evolution models, (2) inferring paleo-environmental conditions from the stratigraphic record, and (3) aiding the management of natural resources (e.g. coastal aquifers, hydrocarbon reservoirs, etc.) by improving predictions of subsurface reservoir properties over a range of scales. This project is jointly funded by the Geomorphology and Land-Use Dynamics Program and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.