This project will investigate estuarine geomorphological behaviour and responses to physical modification, bioturbation, sedimentation, and flooding by integrating scientific and engineering approaches across nested time scales, supported by detailed case studies to improve understanding of estuary infilling, form change, and long-term evolution.
Estuarine geomorphological behaviour and its response to physical modification and bioturbation provides the physical backdrop for estuary change. A contemporary need is to integrate science and engineering approaches to understand estuaries on a range of nested time scales: the storm event cycle; interannual climate variability; multi-decadal climate variability; centennial to millennial sedimentological and geomorphological processes. Specifically, marine and terrestrial sedimentation determines the rate of estuarine infilling and changes in estuarine form according to its maturity (Roy et al., 2001, Structure and Function of South-east Australian Estuaries, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 53). Floods play a major role in infilling, flood plain sedimentation as well as scouring during major events. Following a review of the role of time scale in estuary development, detailed assessment of selected sites would be undertaken as case studies.
School of Science
Coastal Impact
1082 | 2042
