With a generous $675,000 grant from NASA, the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering and the University of California, Irvine are collaborating on a groundbreaking research project aimed at advancing flood risk assessment for sandy beaches and dunes. Led by Pietro Milillo and Brett Sanders, the research focuses on developing innovative observational strategies and techniques to measure coastal topography changes with a special emphasis on sandy beaches and dunes.
Methodology:
The research team plans to leverage state-of-the-art technologies, including interferometric synthetic aperture radar and lidar. These advanced tools will be used to collect high-resolution data on surface elevation changes in sandy beaches and dunes. In the initial phase, satellite data from the German Aerospace Center’s TanDEM-X and NASA’s IceSAT-2 will be integrated with surface elevation models and lidar observations at four beach/dune sites in Southern California. The measurements will be conducted on a monthly and, in some cases, sub-monthly basis over a three-year period.
Key Goals:
- Document surface elevation changes with high precision.
- Validate the accuracy of the satellite-based approach against proven ground-based and aerial sensors.
- Establish a framework for monthly documentation of surface elevation along global coasts.
- Provide better coverage at lower costs for coastal communities.
Significance:
The importance of this research lies in its potential to enhance our understanding of coastal dynamics, especially regarding sandy beaches and dunes. Coastal topography, a major contributor to flood risk, undergoes significant changes, sometimes exceeding a meter in a single year. By investigating these changes, the research aims to provide improved estimates of future flood risks, crucial for densely populated coastal areas facing increased risks due to sea level rise.
Anticipated Outcomes:
- Improved understanding of sand movement and identification of sand depletion hot spots.
- Early detection of beach thinning to trigger timely adaptation projects.
- Enhanced confidence in flood risk estimates for the next several decades.
Integrated Approaches:
The project includes a comprehensive approach, combining observed changes in beach topography with data on coastal waves, tides, and sea level changes. This holistic approach will facilitate accurate modeling of coastal flood risks.
Key Questions and Future Implications:
- Accurate forecasting of large-scale geological hazards in a socially relevant timeframe.
- Prediction of local sea level changes worldwide over the next decade to century.
- Understanding the processes and interactions determining rates of landscape change.
Ultimate Goal:
The project's overarching goal is to assist planning and public policy communities in developing sound strategies and infrastructure to address coastal flooding in the future. By choosing the right tools for measurement, considering effectiveness and cost, the team aims to contribute valuable insights to support resilient coastal communities.