C421: Building with Nature: the role of bio-physical linkages within coastal wetland restoration (Priority project with CASE partner)

该项目将探讨沿海湿地的植被和沉积物特征与管理提供波浪衰减等生态系统服务的临界阈值之间的联系。研究目标将包括：(1)利用水实验室实验数据探索较大空间植被配置与极端波浪条件之间的关系；(2)调查水动力条件、沉积物类型(如恢复的湿地和自然湿地)与地理系植被之间较小尺度的关系；(3)利用实地测量和潜在的无人机或卫星图像，利用更大空间尺度的信息进行校准；(4)利用有关尺度和具体地点变量的信息，为从事沿海湿地恢复的从业人员和决策者提供有用的产出信息。更多细节可以在我的研究计划书中找到。人们日益认识到沿海湿地系统的重要性，并认识到它们对全球退化的影响，这意味着该项目具有很强的相关性。我将很高兴有机会发展我在攻读硕士学位期间形成的关于沿海过程的研究技能和知识，并使用更多基于数据和经验的方法来更多地了解通过恢复沿海湿地来提供自然防洪的关键门槛。

This project will explore the linkages between the vegetation and sediment characteristics of coastal wetlands and thecritical thresholds that govern the provision of ecosystem services such as wave attenuation. Research objectives wouldinclude: (i) exploring relationships between larger spatial vegetation configurations and extreme wave conditions usingdata from the Hydrolab experiment; (ii) investigating smaller-scale (e.g. individual plant) relationships betweenhydrodynamic conditions, sediment types (e.g. restored wetland and natural wetland) and vegetation in the Departmentof Geography flume; (iii) calibrating this with information at wider spatial scales using field measurements and potentiallyUAV or satellite imagery; (iv) using this information about scales and site-specific variables to produce useful outputinformation for practitioners and policy makers looking at coastal wetland restoration. Further details can be found in myresearch proposal. The increasing understanding of the importance of coastal wetland systems and recognition of theirglobal degradation means that this project is highly relevant. I would relish the opportunity to develop the research skillsand knowledge about coastal processes that I have developed whilst studying for my MPhil, and use more data-basedand empirical approaches to understand more about the critical thresholds in the provision of natural flood defence byrestored coastal wetlands.