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

该项目将探索沿海湿地的植被和沉积物特征与控制生态系统服务（如波浪衰减）提供的临界阈值之间的联系。研究目标包括：(i)利用水文实验室实验数据探索大空间植被配置与极端波浪条件之间的关系；（ii）研究地理学系水槽内的水动力条件、沉积物类型（例如修复湿地和天然湿地）和植被之间的小规模关系（例如单株植物）；（iii）利用野外测量和潜在的无人机或卫星图像，在更广泛的空间尺度上进行信息校准；（iv）利用这些尺度和特定地点变量的信息，为关注沿海湿地恢复的从业者和政策制定者提供有用的输出信息。更多的细节可以在我的研究计划中找到。人们对沿海湿地系统重要性的认识日益加深，对其全球退化的认识意味着该项目具有高度相关性。我会很高兴有机会发展我在攻读硕士学位期间发展起来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实证的方法来更多地了解恢复的沿海湿地提供自然防洪的关键阈值。

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.