EU H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions


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BACKGROUND



Advances in the analysis and modelling of coastal response to energetic wave conditions have been driven by an increased recognition of the morphological impacts of storm events, associated with the societal costs of a growing exposure to storm-related coastal hazards. Exceptional coastal storms have caused intense human suffering and destruction, and their economic impacts are only expected to increase, emphasizing an urgent need to reinforce scientific knowledge regarding coastal processes and storm impacts.

Over the past decade, the coastal research focus on unconstrained linear sandy coasts has been progressively complemented by the recognition of the role of geological control (e.g. bedrock surface and sediment supply) on beach and nearshore morphologic behaviour, given the complex geomorphological setting of most natural and developed coasts. Nevertheless, understanding of coastal behaviour under energetic conditions remains incomplete, particularly in geologically controlled settings, and improvements in specialist knowledge must be obtained to anticipate and adapt to storm erosion and hazards, providing coastal management with information that will reduce societal exposure to a major cause of social-cultural and economic disruption.

On a European level, benchmark coastal projects have been developed in the past two decades addressing, amongst other themes, beach and nearshore processes on complex coastal sites (MAST-III COAST3D) and more recently the morphological impacts of extreme storms (FP7 MICORE). These and many other research initiatives have allowed significant progress in the analysis and modelling of coastal processes and coastline responses under storm conditions. However, despite advances in conceptualization of geological control on beach morphology there is still a major need to quantitatively constrain the impact of nearshore geological control. A comprehensive framework integrating hydro-sedimentary processes, morphological responses driven by energetic conditions in geologically-controlled settings, incorporating them into improved coastal modelling, is essential.



OBJECTIVES



NEARCONTROL aims to advance the knowledge of beach and nearshore morphodynamics within complex geomorphological settings, dominated by multi-dimensional geological control. The fundamental objective is to quantify the role and impact of nearshore geological control under energetic conditions. This will be accomplished by developing a ground-breaking approach, based on state-of-the-art surveying and monitoring methods to acquire unprecedented geophysical, morphological and hydrodynamic information of the beach and nearshore zones in geomorphological complex settings.


Specific scientific objectives of NEARCONTROL are:

  • Review and training of state-state-of-the-art geophysical techniques for high-resolution analysis and quantification of multi-dimensional nearshore geological control;

  • Perform detailed and innovative quantitative characterisation of superficial and sub-bottom geological framework and morphological change of the beach and nearshore for representative sites within constrained geomorphological settings in both natural and developed coastlines;

  • Undertake detailed field measurements of hydrodynamic variables during energetic events at the study sites concurrently with the morphological monitoring;

  • Integrate geophysical, morphological and hydrodynamic datasets to quantify the geological control on nearshore morphodynamics and shoreline response;

  • Implement process-based modelling of nearshore hydrodynamics and morphodynamics using XBeach to explore wave-driven currents and patterns of sediment transport in geologically controlled settings;

  • Propose innovative management approaches for geologically controlled coasts, promoting dissemination of scientific outputs to stakeholders, and engage in public dissemination of ocean and coastal research​



PROJECT INFORMATION



TITLE NEARshore geological CONTROL on coastal morphodynamics: monitoring and modelling in high-resolution


INSTRUMENT Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions


GRANT AGREEMENT 661342


TOTAL COST 203,200 €


EC CONTRIBUTION 203,200 €


DURATION 36 months


START DATE 01 February 2016


CONSORTIUM 4 partners from 4 countries (UK, South Africa, France, Portugal)


EC CORDIS DATABASE http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/196086_en.html


WEBSITE www.nearcontrol.eu


DESCRIPTORS PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY; OCEANOGRAPHY; GEOLOGY; SEDIMENTOLOGY


KEY WORDS GEOMORPHOLOGY; MARINE GEOLOGY; NEARSHORE; BEACH; MORPHODYNAMICS; MARINE GEOPHYSICS; HYDRODYNAMICS; NUMERICAL MODELLING;




Partners



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