Objective
The objective of the proposal is to develop and evaluate a multidisciplinary model that enables to predict changes in surface elevation and plant species distribution in tidal marshes. The model should be 2-dimensional, simulating spatial variations within tidal marshes, and suitable for long-term (10-100years) predictions in response to changing sea level and sediment supply. In a first phase, an existing2-dimensional hydrodynamic and sediment transport model (Delft3D) will be applied to simulate spatial sedimentation patterns during individual tidal cycles. The model will be evaluated using extensive field data sets from a specific marsh in the SW Netherlands. In a second phase, these short-term simulations will be up-scaled to a long-term simulation model, using the approach of Tem merman teal.
(2003a). The long-term model will be evaluated against old topographic maps of the tidal marshes in the SW Netherlands. In a third phase, a statistical vegetation model will be developed, based on existing monitoring data from the SW Netherlands, that describes the spatial distribution of tidal marsh species as a function of salinity and elevation gradients. The vegetation model will be spatially implemented in a geographical information system and evaluated against existing vegetation maps. Finally, the sedimentation and vegetation model will be integrated to account for feedback mechanisms between changes in elevation and vegetation. After model evaluation, using historical vegetation maps, simulations will be run to assess the impact of future sea-level rise on tidal marsh dynamics. Given the world-wide and EU importance that is attached to the impacts of global change and sea-level rise, and given the opportunity to study this in collaboration with leading European institutes in this field, this research project will contribute to the development of an independent research career of the applicant.
Fields of science
Keywords
Call for proposal
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
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Funding Scheme
EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European FellowshipsCoordinator
YERSEKE
Netherlands