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Assessing the value of eelgrass in nature-based coastal defence

Project description

Use of eelgrass as a nature-based solution for coastal defence

Eelgrass can contribute to coastal defence by attenuating waves and stabilising sediments so that coastal erosion is reduced. The EU-funded SHIEELD project will therefore develop novel tools to assess the protective value of eelgrass in coastal defence under a range of conditions. Researchers will measure the drag force of eelgrass at the patch scale and its effect on sediment mobility thresholds through a dedicated field campaign using an innovative portable flume. Findings will be used to create a policy brief so that water managers and policymakers can make more informed decisions in the context of nature-based solutions. The work will involve a strong interdisciplinary collaboration involving the fields of flow-vegetation interactions, environmental fluid mechanics and nature-based solutions for coastal defence.

Objective

Coasts worldwide are experiencing ever-increasing flood risk and coastal erosion. To simultaneously enhance the efficiency of coastal defence and improve the ecological status of coastlines, the scientific community has recently proposed the use of nature-based solutions. Eelgrass canopies have the potential to contribute to coastal defence by attenuating waves and stabilizing sediments so that coastal erosion is reduced. However, the value of eelgrass in nature-based solutions has never been assessed adequately. The ambitious goal of the SHIEELD project is to assess the protective value of eelgrass in coastal defence. To achieve this goal SHIEELD will investigate:

- The flow resistance and wave attenuation of eelgrass canopies in oscillatory flows and combined wave-current flows with laboratory experiments in an open-channel facility and using eelgrass surrogates, a novel device to measure the drag force of eelgrass at a patch scale, flow diagnostic techniques and wave gages;

- The effects of eelgrass below and aboveground biomass on sediment mobility thresholds with a dedicated field campaign using an innovative portable flume.

The project will develop novel tools, based on drag partitioning theory, to estimate eelgrass contribution to coastal defence in a range of hydraulic conditions. Findings of SHIEELD will be translated towards a policy brief so that water managers and policymakers can take more-informed decisions in the context of nature-based solutions. The proposed fellowship will enable a strong interdisciplinary collaboration between the applicant, a researcher with experience in flow-vegetation interactions, and the supervisors, an expert in environmental fluid mechanics and a world leader in nature-based solutions for coastal defence. During this fellowship the applicant will undertake advanced training to enhance his scientific, transferable and networking skills, and empower his career for a tenure track position or a consultant role.

Coordinator

POLITECNICO DI TORINO
Net EU contribution
€ 183 473,28
Address
CORSO DUCA DEGLI ABRUZZI 24
10129 Torino
Italy

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Region
Nord-Ovest Piemonte Torino
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 183 473,28