Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Predicting landscape response to a changing climate and anthropogenic forcing is challenged by the mathematical intractability of combining and solving equations for a large range of scale-dependent processes. Numerical modeling requires simplifying assumptions that may not necessarily be representative of process mechanics, or produce results that conform to objective measurements and observations obtained in the field. At the same time, process geomorphologists are able to make relevant assessments of landscape change based on their conceptual knowledge developed through ""experience, intuition and tacit knowledge, but do not have the ability to quantitatively formalize and evaluate their conceptual knowledge and predict complex spatial patterns. It is currently not possible to integrate and numerically model our conceptual understanding of landscape change at scales relevant to geographers, engineers and planners, or to include the results of the model into climate models to predict future climate and landscape change with or without anthropogenic forcing. For example, through our research we have been able to develop robust conceptual models beach-dune interaction, barrier island transgression in response to sea level rise and the impact of anthropogenic forcing?, it is currently not possible to predict coastal response to natural and anthropogenic forcing using this understanding. Analytical Reasoning (AR) and Fuzzy Cognitive Maps (FCMs) represent an emerging geo-computational approach to formalize, implement, and test conceptual models of landscape change4, through integration with remotely sensed imagery. In this Discovery Grant period, we will use AR and FCMs to predict the response of barrier islands to natural and anthropogenic forcing at a range of spatial and temporal scales. Specifically, we will use AR and FCMs to predict: 1 ) alongshore variation in nearshore, beach and dune morphology, in response to offshore bathymetry and framework geology, 2) feedback mechanisms controlling foredune development and recovery, 3) recovery of beach and dune environments over a range of storm forcing and sea level rise, 4) barrier island transgression and evolution with sea level rise, and 5) impact of anthropogenic forcing on island response to sea level and storm activity. In this respect, the proposed research will address the theoretical and methodological shortcomings that have hindered the development of models to quantify and predict spatial patterns of barrier island response to natural and anthropogenic forcing using our conceptual understanding of barrier island geomorphology and evolution in combination with recent advances in geospatial technologies and geo-computation.