Research

Coastal Mangrove Wetlands

Coasatl mangrove wetlands

Sea-level rise

Over the last century, the rates of sea-level rise (SLR) have nearly tripled, threatening the entire coastal systems, including 1) coastal wetlands as they may not be able to keep pace with the rising sea levels and 2) the stability of coastlines due to increased erosion and loss of land.

Studying the impacts of SLR is crucial for understanding coastal changes and developing effective strategies for mitigation and adaptation. My research focuses on understanding how SLR influences coastal systems, with a particular emphasis on the vulnerability of mangroves and the stability of coastlines.

Storms

Climate change is not only a long-term phenomenon but also a source of extreme weather events, such as storms, which can have devastating impacts on coastal areas. The frequency and intensity of storms are increasing due to global warming. Storms generate surges and large wave environments, leading to coastal sediment redistribution and threatening shoreline stability and coastal resilience.

Understanding how storms influence shoreline stability and coastal sediment transport is crucial. My research addresses this knowledge gap by utilizing numerical models and field observations to investigate the dynamics of the coastal system during storms.

Human activity

Human activity plays a significant role in shaping the coast. Humans often modify the coast to create a more convenient or desirable environment, such as by building coastal structures (e.g., dykes, causeways, and wave breakers) or altering coastal vegetation status (e.g., removing or planting mangroves, salt marsh, etc.). Human activity also extends beyond the coast, as changes made upstream (e.g., dam constructions or deforestation) can significantly affect downstream sediment availability and water movement. Over the past century, human interventions have substantially reshaped coastal landscapes and wetlands, while the evolution of coastal systems in the future remains uncertain, especially in the face of climate change.

To better understand the impacts of human activity on coastal evolution, a combination of numerical model, field measurement, and data analysis techniques have been applied. I aim to assess human intervensions on coastal evolution and wetland dynamics.

Anthro-bio-morphodynamic feedbacks

Coastal evolution is a nonlinear process that involves multiple interactions and feedbacks among physical, biological, and anthropogenic factors. Coastal environmental conditions, such as tides, waves, and sediment, vary with space and time, creating diverse and dynamic coastal landscapes and ecosystems. Climate change and human interventions, such as sea-level rise, storm waves, coastal engineering, and land-use changes, play an increasingly important role in shaping the coastal system evolution and wetland dynamics, such as mangroves and salt marshes. These factors can affect the morphology, hydrodynamics, and ecology of the coast, as well as the services and functions it provides.

To better capture future coastal evolution, I aim to understand the theory behind the anthro-bio-morphodynamic feedbacks, taking into account the effects of human activity, vegetation dynamics, sediment transport, and climate change in the coastal evolution.