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每年可达数米，大大快于影响人类发展和基础设施的许多其他地貌变化。尽管对这些动态地貌的历史和地质演变的研究历史悠久，但仍然不可能对海岸线的变化进行定量预测。该项目将通过调查对被称为沙嘴的海岸特征的生长和形状的控制而向前迈出重要一步。这些弯曲的沙子堆积是许多海岸线的共同特征。该项目将侧重于外科德角，这是这些特征中最知名的一个，进行实地测量，并开发一个复杂的数字模型，记录这个沙嘴的演变。该项目将通过编写关于科德角和类似环境的海岸过程的短期课程和信息材料，与受海岸变化影响的人口和决策者直接互动，研究波浪如何影响海岬演变以及海岬系统在长（千年）和短（十年）时间尺度上对波浪气候变化的敏感性。 量化这些限制在历史和地质的时间间隔将有助于更好地了解科德角和岛屿地区的演变，适用于沿海地区。该项目将使用数值模拟、地质调查和历史变化分析，以1）确定对沙嘴形状和弯曲的控制，2）调查波浪气候如何影响沙嘴发展和海岸线演变，3）确定科德角地区历史上海岸线变化的模式。（10-100年），和4）重建科德角吐在更长的时间（100 - 1000年）的发展。

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.