<p>Many studies have been carried out in the last decade to assess the rates of sed... more <p>Many studies have been carried out in the last decade to assess the rates of sediment transport and deposition on tidal flats and salt marshes, however, a need to characterize the transport fluxes between the various habitats as a function of tidal range, their position relative to mean sea level, and flow-asymmetries in the vegetation effect remain. This study uses fieldwork data to characterize the sediment fluxes and deposition from the tidal flats towards the marsh platform, in a channel margin of the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon (south Portugal). Sediment fluxes were measured in a cross-shore transect, during neap and spring tide conditions. The dominant intertidal species are <em>Spartina maritima</em> and the seagrass <em>Zostera noltei</em>. Current measurements were used to assess bottom shear stress conditions. Deposition rates, instantaneous suspended sediment, and near-bed velocities were linked through theoretical formulas and used to characterize time-averaged conditions for sediment delivery and deposition to the site.</p> <p>The results showed that suspended sediment concentrations and sediment deposition varied across-shore with no specific relation to elevation. Maximum current velocities were recorded in the vegetated tidal flat, in the order of 0.20 m/s, and in the low marsh due to flow-plant interactions and an increase in turbulence. Deposition rates ranged between 20 to 45 g/m<sup>2</sup>/hr, after a complete tidal cycle, and were higher in the mid-upper marsh. The hydroperiod was not the main contributor to sediment deposition in the study area. Measured sediment transport was tidally driven, with shifting current angles during the cycle and major alongshore components during peak flood velocities. Flow-<em>spartina</em> interference in the low marsh significantly affected local sediment resuspension. The obtained results provide insights into the dynamics and variability of flow and mass transfer along a transition from the vegetated tidal flat to the upper marsh and can be used in sediment transport models for mesotidal marsh systems.</p> <p><em>Acknowledgments: A. Rita Carrasco was supported by the contract DL57/2016/CP1361/CT0002, and Katerina Kombiadou was supported by the institutional contract CEECINST/00146/2018, both funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). This study had also the support of FCT under the project LA/P/0069/2020 granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET and CIMA BASE UID/00350/2020.</em></p>
<p>Sustainability is a universal goal by which human development balances social, e... more <p>Sustainability is a universal goal by which human development balances social, economic, and environmental dimensions, applicable to both terrestrial and marine environments. Several authors argue that arts are valuable tools to frame and engage with current environmental issues related to sustainability, including pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. In this work, we ask - what is the role of art in the sustainability of coasts and seas? To address this question, we conducted a systematic literature review about how artistic practices contribute to sustainability in coastal and marine environments. We searched the two most important scientific databases of articles (Scopus and Web of Science) and retrieved 1352 articles. Several screening tasks were made to narrow the articles to 79 studies that address our research question. For each article, we identified and categorised the art form, target audience, geographical location, expected impact, and method to measure the impact. We found a variety of artworks from the four art categories (Literary, Media, Performing, and Visual) around the world, but more frequently in the US, UK, and Australia. In this review, we deal largely with the use of art in local issues, rather than at a global scale. Visual Art is the most frequent art category (~40%), comprising painting, carving, photography, comics, and architecture, amongst others. Nevertheless, there are mentions of 26 artworks from Performing Arts, 22 from Media Arts, and 16 from Literary Arts. We found that different artists address or are inspired by the same sustainability-related theme, for example, the ocean’s vulnerability is portrayed in a poem and in a theatre play. Only 19 articles measured the impact of artistic activities on their audience. Engagement is a highlighted pursued impact (~40%); however, other authors also intend to promote marine conservation and restoration, management, education, and activism. Art contributions to sustainability are recurrently made through raising awareness, learning, and promoting engagement and enjoyment of artistic project participants. With this systematic review, we set the current state of knowledge on an emerging topic and argue that further research and new strategies of impact measurement are needed to gain a deeper understanding of the role of art on coastal/marine sustainability.</p>
<p>Understanding and managing wetlands is a matter of great importance, giv... more <p>Understanding and managing wetlands is a matter of great importance, given the fragile nature of its habitats, survival issues under perturbation, and the need for sustainable use of its resources when competing with human print. These are environments particularly sensitive to a number of physical factors and they’re particularly suited to engage with climate change (e.g. sea-level rise and rising temperature), conservation (e.g., biodiversity, land-use management), and ecosystem services (e.g., carbon storage and water purification). Wetlands deserved raising interest in the last two decades by the scientific community, such as the ecogeomorphologic nature of its dynamics, value and resilience to natural and human drivers, and timescales of change. This interest is reflected in the existence of four EGU Assembly 2022 proposed sessions (BG2.3, GM6.2, GM6.3, GM6.4) particularly devoted to wetlands, where both natural and social perspectives can fit. Given both the scientific and the societal relevance of wetlands, how does communication between both spheres is or should be made? What do the experts think about this? Are they aligned with the deficit model and/or the dialogue model of science communication? This is the underlaying rationale for this study.</p><p>We propose to enquire the dozens of coastal experts attending EGU 2022 conference about the science communication of wetlands. Questions about wetland communication include, for example (not comprehensively): 1) What are the key topics to communicate about wetland for audiences; with questions discriminating adult, children (8-12 y) and teenagers (13-17y)? 2) Choose the two most important wetlands threatening factors to communicate; And the two least important factors. 3) Is knowing about coastal evolution more relevant than knowing the names of the most emblematic vegetation species? 4) What is the most usual way that you use to communicate about wetlands to the public?</p><p>We will collect data on wetland communication via an online questionnaire, with mostly closed-ended questions to allow a quicker analysis. We propose that a group of EGU attendees fill in the online questionnaire two days before and the first two days of the conference. The completion of the questionnaire allows anonymity. Fresh results from the survey will be presented and used as a base ground starting point for a discussion with conference participants about their own opinions.</p>
Keeping citizens informed about the sea is important because it can motivate collective actions t... more Keeping citizens informed about the sea is important because it can motivate collective actions to address threats to coastal and marine sustainability. In this article, we wondered how European science and environmental journalists cover marine issues in the print media. We conducted 26 interviews with press journalists in 13 European countries and asked about topics, triggers, and sources to write marine-related news. We found that climate change, marine pollution, and biodiversity are the most important issues and that good working relationships with both scientists and NGOs are key for this media coverage.
Several studies have investigated the interactions between vegetation and marsh bed elevation, al... more Several studies have investigated the interactions between vegetation and marsh bed elevation, although the majority of these studies have focused on only one habitat (e.g. focused on marsh habitats spanning a salinity gradient 25 ; focused on Spartina alterniflora 18 , or focused on spartina sp. 20), disregarding the sediment transference within the marsh zonation. Both 26,27 provide interesting perspectives on quantifying bed changes in salt marsh compartments, however, without describing extensive measurements of transported material across marsh succession. Likewise, observational studies provide limited insights into how much of the sediment delivered is actually retained on the tidal flat and marsh platform surfaces across the wetlands. Vegetation sedimentation feedbacks are only one of many potentially important interactions occurring at salt marsh platforms 26,28 , and a variety of methods have been developed for measuring and monitoring surface dynamics in tidal wetlands (see reviews in 28,29). The most commonly employed methods to determine suspended sediment concentration are collecting water samples at varying locations 30 , and deploying bed deposition traps across marsh succession (as described in 13). The suspended sediment concentration determines the amount of sediment that can potentially be deposited on a marsh 31 and often varies both at large scales (i.e., between marshes) and within a single marsh (e.g. 11,28,30). The sediment deposition (or retention) rate is estimated near the bed, presents high spatial variability, and is dependent on the tidal range and wind-wave conditions (e.g. 13), and on the presence of intertidal vegetation 3,32. Estimates of suspended sediment concentrations and deposition rates described in literature vary at small spatial scales, and commonly refer to spring tide conditions, likely corresponding to peak sediment transfer conditions (see examples of suspended sediment concentrations and deposition rates from literature in Tables S1 and S2). This highlights the need for fieldwork based studies that build a more comprehensive picture of marsh sedimentation dynamics from neap to spring tide cycles. Many studies have been carried out in the last decade to assess the rates of sediment transport and deposition on tidal flats and salt marshes, however, a need to characterize the transport fluxes between the various habitats as a function of tidal range, their position relative to mean sea level, and flow asymmetries in the vegetation effect remain. The present study provides new insights on sediment transport at a sediment restricted wetland, over spring and neap tide cycles, by identifying the sediment transport and deposition drivers. The field site extends over ca. 110 m of a salt marsh and vegetated tidal flat platform. The tidal ranges covered are representative of the maximum and minimum sediment input to the area, and the obtained findings are relevant to attest local marsh vulnerability and stability. The results contribute to understanding the relationship between inorganic deposition and biophysical drivers (i.e., habitat type, elevation, hydroperiod, and currents) in natural wetlands, and demonstrate the importance of considering the small spatial variations in sediment transport studies. Methods No plants were collected or harmed during this study, and all research involving plants followed relevant national, and international guidelines and legislation.
Storms are responsible for important erosion, coastal retreat and damage when infrastructures are... more Storms are responsible for important erosion, coastal retreat and damage when infrastructures are placed within their acting area. The characterisation of storm parameters and associated thresholds for erosion and damage are therefore of fundamental importance for coastal management purposes. This work presents ways of determining thresholds for important morphological changes (including erosion), overwash occurrence and damage associate to storm occurrence. These methods were tested and applied to Ancão Peninsula (South Portugal) and the results shown. The use of these approaches will enable coastal managers to have a quantitative knowledge of consequences associated to each particular storm and to act accordingly, for instance defining set-back lines, designing nourishments or implementing evacuation plans.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Engaging communities at risk of social exclusion poses a big challenge for science communicators.... more Engaging communities at risk of social exclusion poses a big challenge for science communicators. We schematize a framework for projects using science & art to promote social inclusion, composed of 3 phases — design, plan and collaboration; implementation; and evaluation. We present a case study that aimed to engage with a community of migrant senior women, mostly illiterate. Our findings suggest high engagement was achieved by building trust, involving emotions, choosing a relatable topic and following participatory practices. Inclusive activities occurred on the short-term, but for medium-term impact, community insiders need to be regarded as a second audience.
Sustainability is a universal goal that requires balancing social, economic and environmental dim... more Sustainability is a universal goal that requires balancing social, economic and environmental dimensions, and that applies to both terrestrial and marine environments. Several authors argue that arts are valuable tools to frame and engage with current environmental issues related to sustainability, including pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Accordingly, our research question is: what is the role of art in the sustainability of coasts and seas? We searched our research question on the two most important scientific databases of articles (Scopus and Web of Science) and retrieved 1352 articles. We narrowed the articles to 79 studies that actually address our question through screening. The dataset describes a variety of artworks from the four art categories (Literary, Media, Performing, and Visual) around the world, although the more frequent countries are the US, the UK, and Australia. We found that Visual Arts are more common (~40%), and engagement is a highlighted pursued impact (~40%) by these artistic practices. Other authors also intend to promote marine conservation and restoration, management, education, and activism. Only 19 articles of the dataset measured the impact of artistic activities on their audience. This subset shows evidence of art contributions to sustainability mainly through raising awareness, learning, and promoting engagement and enjoyment of project participants. Through this work, we set the current state of knowledge on this emerging topic, and argue that further research and new strategies of impact measurement are needed to thoroughly understand the effect of art on coastal/marine sustainability.
Low energy beaches are located in sheltered and fetch-limited environments. The fetch, also calle... more Low energy beaches are located in sheltered and fetch-limited environments. The fetch, also called the fetch length, is the uninterrupted distance over the sea surface for which the wind can blow without a change in direction and affects the growth of wind-waves. Fetch-limited beaches are found in estuaries and bays (e.g. Chesapeake Bay, USA), behind ocean barriers (e.g. Pamlico Sound, USA), adjacent to inlets (e.g. Tapora Bank, New Zealand), deltas (e.g. Menderes River, Turkey), eroding thermokarst (e.g. Yensei Bay, Russia), and glacial outwash fans (e.g. Canal Baker, Chile; Cooper et al., 2007). In the case of barrier island systems, the back of barrier islands facing the lagoon environments i.e., backbarrier shores are fetch-limited environments. A barrier is an elongated ridge that is composed predominantly of unconsolidated sand and/or gravel and protect the adjacent mainland from open-water processes (Figure 2.1). From the sea to the mainland, the barriers are generally compos...
Natural sciences have traditionally been disseminated in outreach activities as formal one-way 9 ... more Natural sciences have traditionally been disseminated in outreach activities as formal one-way 9 presentations. Nevertheless, innovative strategies are being increasingly developed using arts, gamming, 10 sketching, amongst others. This work aimed at testing an alternative and innovative way to engage non11 expert audiences in ocean and coastal geology, through a combination of scientific concepts explanation 12 with creative dancing. An informal education activity focusing on ocean dynamics was designed for 1013 year-old students. It combines coastal science concepts (wind, waves, currents, and sand), storytelling 14 techniques (narrative arc), and creative dance techniques (movement, imaginative play, and sensory 15 engagement). A sequence of six exercises was proposed starting in the generation of offshore ocean 16 waves and ending with sediment transport on the beach, during storm/fair-weather conditions. Scientific 17 concepts were then translated into structured creative movem...
Ecological resilience is a multi-faceted concept that is open to various interpretations, giving ... more Ecological resilience is a multi-faceted concept that is open to various interpretations, giving rise to confusion over terminology and concepts, especially across scientific fields. The present work is attempting to clarify resilience principles and concepts and bridge the gap between theory and application in the case of geomorphic systems, like barrier islands. Under this reasoning, we analyse the main aspects of ecological resilience theory and transfer them to the field of coastal geomorphology, using geomorphic environments and dimensions of barrier islands. Three panarchical levels are proposed (beach, dune, marsh), corresponding to different habitats and spatio-temporal scales of change. Based on these, the four crucial aspects of resilience, latitude, resistance, precariousness and cross-scale interactions are determined. Data from a barrier inland migration was used as a paradigm for an adaptation process, showing that the proposed geomorphic dimensions effectively capture...
The aim of the present paper is to analyse the recent morphological evolution of the sandy barrie... more The aim of the present paper is to analyse the recent morphological evolution of the sandy barriers of Ria Formosa, a multi-inlet system located in South Portugal, to assess evolution regimes and related controlling factors and to identify resilience mechanisms in response to natural and artificial drivers of change. The data collected comprise aerial photographs and wave buoy and hindcast time-series, covering the period from the 1950s to 2014. The results show that the barriers have either been growing, or remaining stable. The growth patterns were either promoted by natural mechanisms, or triggered by stabilization works and supported by natural factors (e.g. longshore transport, shoal attachment). The presence of a broad marsh platform in the backbarrier was found to promote barrier stability, while the sustainance of transgressive barriers is advocated by frequent overwash, combined with low depths in the backbarrier lagoon and localised replenishment of sand. These long-term e...
The present paper focusses on the objectives and methodology of the EVREST project regarding the ... more The present paper focusses on the objectives and methodology of the EVREST project regarding the identification of natural mechanisms that promote resilience in barrier island systems, both in oceanfront and backbarrier environments. The study area of the project is the Ria Formosa barrier island system, located in southern Portugal.
24 Overwash hydrodynamic datasets are mixed in quality and scope, being difficult to 25 obtain du... more 24 Overwash hydrodynamic datasets are mixed in quality and scope, being difficult to 25 obtain due to fieldwork experimental limitations. Nevertheless, these 26 measurements are crucial to develop reliable models to predict overwash. Aiming 27 to overcome such limitations, this work presents accurate fieldwork data on 28 overwash hydrodynamics, further exploring it to model overwash on a low-lying 29 barrier island. Fieldwork was undertaken on Barreta Island (Portugal) in 30 December 2013, during neap tides and under energetic conditions, with significant 31
Overwash hydrodynamics datasets are mixed in quality and scope, being hard to obtain due to field... more Overwash hydrodynamics datasets are mixed in quality and scope, being hard to obtain due to fieldwork experimental difficulties. Aiming to overcome such limitations, this work presents accurate fieldwork data on overwash hydrodynamics, further exploring it to model overwash on a low-lying barrier island. Fieldwork was performed on Barreta Island (Portugal), in December 2013, during neap to spring-tides, when significant wave height reached 2.64 m. During approximately 4 hours, more than 120 shallow overwash events were measured with a video-camera (at 10 Hz), a pressure transducer (at 4 Hz) and a current-meter (at 4 Hz). This high-frequency fieldwork dataset includes runup, overwash number, depth and velocity. Fieldwork data along with information from literature were used to setup XBeach model in non-hydrostatic mode. The baseline model had variable skills over the duration of the overwash each 30 minutes. The baseline model was forced to simulate overwash with different nearshore ...
Natural sciences have traditionally been disseminated in outreach activities as formal, one-way p... more Natural sciences have traditionally been disseminated in outreach activities as formal, one-way presentations. Nevertheless, innovative strategies are being increasingly developed using arts, gaming, and sketching, amongst others. This work aimed at testing an alternative and innovative way to engage non-expert audiences in ocean and coastal geology through a combination of scientific concept explanations and creative dancing. An informal education activity focusing on ocean dynamics was designed for 10-yearold students. It combines coastal science concepts (wind, waves, currents, and sand), storytelling techniques (narrative arc), and creative dance techniques (movement, imaginative play, and sensory engagement). A sequence of six exercises was proposed, starting with the generation of offshore ocean waves and ending with sediment transport on the beach during storm/fair-weather conditions. Scientific concepts were then translated into structured creative movements, within imaginary scenarios, and accompanied by sounds or music. The activity was performed six times with a total of 112 students. It was an inclusive activity given that all students in the class participated, including children with several mild types of cognitive and neurological impairment. The science and art activity aroused emotions of enjoyment and pleasure and allowed for effective communication between scientists and school community. Moreover, the results provide evidence of the activity's effectiveness in engaging children and developing their willingness to further participate in similar activities.
<p>Many studies have been carried out in the last decade to assess the rates of sed... more <p>Many studies have been carried out in the last decade to assess the rates of sediment transport and deposition on tidal flats and salt marshes, however, a need to characterize the transport fluxes between the various habitats as a function of tidal range, their position relative to mean sea level, and flow-asymmetries in the vegetation effect remain. This study uses fieldwork data to characterize the sediment fluxes and deposition from the tidal flats towards the marsh platform, in a channel margin of the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon (south Portugal). Sediment fluxes were measured in a cross-shore transect, during neap and spring tide conditions. The dominant intertidal species are <em>Spartina maritima</em> and the seagrass <em>Zostera noltei</em>. Current measurements were used to assess bottom shear stress conditions. Deposition rates, instantaneous suspended sediment, and near-bed velocities were linked through theoretical formulas and used to characterize time-averaged conditions for sediment delivery and deposition to the site.</p> <p>The results showed that suspended sediment concentrations and sediment deposition varied across-shore with no specific relation to elevation. Maximum current velocities were recorded in the vegetated tidal flat, in the order of 0.20 m/s, and in the low marsh due to flow-plant interactions and an increase in turbulence. Deposition rates ranged between 20 to 45 g/m<sup>2</sup>/hr, after a complete tidal cycle, and were higher in the mid-upper marsh. The hydroperiod was not the main contributor to sediment deposition in the study area. Measured sediment transport was tidally driven, with shifting current angles during the cycle and major alongshore components during peak flood velocities. Flow-<em>spartina</em> interference in the low marsh significantly affected local sediment resuspension. The obtained results provide insights into the dynamics and variability of flow and mass transfer along a transition from the vegetated tidal flat to the upper marsh and can be used in sediment transport models for mesotidal marsh systems.</p> <p><em>Acknowledgments: A. Rita Carrasco was supported by the contract DL57/2016/CP1361/CT0002, and Katerina Kombiadou was supported by the institutional contract CEECINST/00146/2018, both funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT). This study had also the support of FCT under the project LA/P/0069/2020 granted to the Associate Laboratory ARNET and CIMA BASE UID/00350/2020.</em></p>
<p>Sustainability is a universal goal by which human development balances social, e... more <p>Sustainability is a universal goal by which human development balances social, economic, and environmental dimensions, applicable to both terrestrial and marine environments. Several authors argue that arts are valuable tools to frame and engage with current environmental issues related to sustainability, including pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. In this work, we ask - what is the role of art in the sustainability of coasts and seas? To address this question, we conducted a systematic literature review about how artistic practices contribute to sustainability in coastal and marine environments. We searched the two most important scientific databases of articles (Scopus and Web of Science) and retrieved 1352 articles. Several screening tasks were made to narrow the articles to 79 studies that address our research question. For each article, we identified and categorised the art form, target audience, geographical location, expected impact, and method to measure the impact. We found a variety of artworks from the four art categories (Literary, Media, Performing, and Visual) around the world, but more frequently in the US, UK, and Australia. In this review, we deal largely with the use of art in local issues, rather than at a global scale. Visual Art is the most frequent art category (~40%), comprising painting, carving, photography, comics, and architecture, amongst others. Nevertheless, there are mentions of 26 artworks from Performing Arts, 22 from Media Arts, and 16 from Literary Arts. We found that different artists address or are inspired by the same sustainability-related theme, for example, the ocean’s vulnerability is portrayed in a poem and in a theatre play. Only 19 articles measured the impact of artistic activities on their audience. Engagement is a highlighted pursued impact (~40%); however, other authors also intend to promote marine conservation and restoration, management, education, and activism. Art contributions to sustainability are recurrently made through raising awareness, learning, and promoting engagement and enjoyment of artistic project participants. With this systematic review, we set the current state of knowledge on an emerging topic and argue that further research and new strategies of impact measurement are needed to gain a deeper understanding of the role of art on coastal/marine sustainability.</p>
<p>Understanding and managing wetlands is a matter of great importance, giv... more <p>Understanding and managing wetlands is a matter of great importance, given the fragile nature of its habitats, survival issues under perturbation, and the need for sustainable use of its resources when competing with human print. These are environments particularly sensitive to a number of physical factors and they’re particularly suited to engage with climate change (e.g. sea-level rise and rising temperature), conservation (e.g., biodiversity, land-use management), and ecosystem services (e.g., carbon storage and water purification). Wetlands deserved raising interest in the last two decades by the scientific community, such as the ecogeomorphologic nature of its dynamics, value and resilience to natural and human drivers, and timescales of change. This interest is reflected in the existence of four EGU Assembly 2022 proposed sessions (BG2.3, GM6.2, GM6.3, GM6.4) particularly devoted to wetlands, where both natural and social perspectives can fit. Given both the scientific and the societal relevance of wetlands, how does communication between both spheres is or should be made? What do the experts think about this? Are they aligned with the deficit model and/or the dialogue model of science communication? This is the underlaying rationale for this study.</p><p>We propose to enquire the dozens of coastal experts attending EGU 2022 conference about the science communication of wetlands. Questions about wetland communication include, for example (not comprehensively): 1) What are the key topics to communicate about wetland for audiences; with questions discriminating adult, children (8-12 y) and teenagers (13-17y)? 2) Choose the two most important wetlands threatening factors to communicate; And the two least important factors. 3) Is knowing about coastal evolution more relevant than knowing the names of the most emblematic vegetation species? 4) What is the most usual way that you use to communicate about wetlands to the public?</p><p>We will collect data on wetland communication via an online questionnaire, with mostly closed-ended questions to allow a quicker analysis. We propose that a group of EGU attendees fill in the online questionnaire two days before and the first two days of the conference. The completion of the questionnaire allows anonymity. Fresh results from the survey will be presented and used as a base ground starting point for a discussion with conference participants about their own opinions.</p>
Keeping citizens informed about the sea is important because it can motivate collective actions t... more Keeping citizens informed about the sea is important because it can motivate collective actions to address threats to coastal and marine sustainability. In this article, we wondered how European science and environmental journalists cover marine issues in the print media. We conducted 26 interviews with press journalists in 13 European countries and asked about topics, triggers, and sources to write marine-related news. We found that climate change, marine pollution, and biodiversity are the most important issues and that good working relationships with both scientists and NGOs are key for this media coverage.
Several studies have investigated the interactions between vegetation and marsh bed elevation, al... more Several studies have investigated the interactions between vegetation and marsh bed elevation, although the majority of these studies have focused on only one habitat (e.g. focused on marsh habitats spanning a salinity gradient 25 ; focused on Spartina alterniflora 18 , or focused on spartina sp. 20), disregarding the sediment transference within the marsh zonation. Both 26,27 provide interesting perspectives on quantifying bed changes in salt marsh compartments, however, without describing extensive measurements of transported material across marsh succession. Likewise, observational studies provide limited insights into how much of the sediment delivered is actually retained on the tidal flat and marsh platform surfaces across the wetlands. Vegetation sedimentation feedbacks are only one of many potentially important interactions occurring at salt marsh platforms 26,28 , and a variety of methods have been developed for measuring and monitoring surface dynamics in tidal wetlands (see reviews in 28,29). The most commonly employed methods to determine suspended sediment concentration are collecting water samples at varying locations 30 , and deploying bed deposition traps across marsh succession (as described in 13). The suspended sediment concentration determines the amount of sediment that can potentially be deposited on a marsh 31 and often varies both at large scales (i.e., between marshes) and within a single marsh (e.g. 11,28,30). The sediment deposition (or retention) rate is estimated near the bed, presents high spatial variability, and is dependent on the tidal range and wind-wave conditions (e.g. 13), and on the presence of intertidal vegetation 3,32. Estimates of suspended sediment concentrations and deposition rates described in literature vary at small spatial scales, and commonly refer to spring tide conditions, likely corresponding to peak sediment transfer conditions (see examples of suspended sediment concentrations and deposition rates from literature in Tables S1 and S2). This highlights the need for fieldwork based studies that build a more comprehensive picture of marsh sedimentation dynamics from neap to spring tide cycles. Many studies have been carried out in the last decade to assess the rates of sediment transport and deposition on tidal flats and salt marshes, however, a need to characterize the transport fluxes between the various habitats as a function of tidal range, their position relative to mean sea level, and flow asymmetries in the vegetation effect remain. The present study provides new insights on sediment transport at a sediment restricted wetland, over spring and neap tide cycles, by identifying the sediment transport and deposition drivers. The field site extends over ca. 110 m of a salt marsh and vegetated tidal flat platform. The tidal ranges covered are representative of the maximum and minimum sediment input to the area, and the obtained findings are relevant to attest local marsh vulnerability and stability. The results contribute to understanding the relationship between inorganic deposition and biophysical drivers (i.e., habitat type, elevation, hydroperiod, and currents) in natural wetlands, and demonstrate the importance of considering the small spatial variations in sediment transport studies. Methods No plants were collected or harmed during this study, and all research involving plants followed relevant national, and international guidelines and legislation.
Storms are responsible for important erosion, coastal retreat and damage when infrastructures are... more Storms are responsible for important erosion, coastal retreat and damage when infrastructures are placed within their acting area. The characterisation of storm parameters and associated thresholds for erosion and damage are therefore of fundamental importance for coastal management purposes. This work presents ways of determining thresholds for important morphological changes (including erosion), overwash occurrence and damage associate to storm occurrence. These methods were tested and applied to Ancão Peninsula (South Portugal) and the results shown. The use of these approaches will enable coastal managers to have a quantitative knowledge of consequences associated to each particular storm and to act accordingly, for instance defining set-back lines, designing nourishments or implementing evacuation plans.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Engaging communities at risk of social exclusion poses a big challenge for science communicators.... more Engaging communities at risk of social exclusion poses a big challenge for science communicators. We schematize a framework for projects using science & art to promote social inclusion, composed of 3 phases — design, plan and collaboration; implementation; and evaluation. We present a case study that aimed to engage with a community of migrant senior women, mostly illiterate. Our findings suggest high engagement was achieved by building trust, involving emotions, choosing a relatable topic and following participatory practices. Inclusive activities occurred on the short-term, but for medium-term impact, community insiders need to be regarded as a second audience.
Sustainability is a universal goal that requires balancing social, economic and environmental dim... more Sustainability is a universal goal that requires balancing social, economic and environmental dimensions, and that applies to both terrestrial and marine environments. Several authors argue that arts are valuable tools to frame and engage with current environmental issues related to sustainability, including pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Accordingly, our research question is: what is the role of art in the sustainability of coasts and seas? We searched our research question on the two most important scientific databases of articles (Scopus and Web of Science) and retrieved 1352 articles. We narrowed the articles to 79 studies that actually address our question through screening. The dataset describes a variety of artworks from the four art categories (Literary, Media, Performing, and Visual) around the world, although the more frequent countries are the US, the UK, and Australia. We found that Visual Arts are more common (~40%), and engagement is a highlighted pursued impact (~40%) by these artistic practices. Other authors also intend to promote marine conservation and restoration, management, education, and activism. Only 19 articles of the dataset measured the impact of artistic activities on their audience. This subset shows evidence of art contributions to sustainability mainly through raising awareness, learning, and promoting engagement and enjoyment of project participants. Through this work, we set the current state of knowledge on this emerging topic, and argue that further research and new strategies of impact measurement are needed to thoroughly understand the effect of art on coastal/marine sustainability.
Low energy beaches are located in sheltered and fetch-limited environments. The fetch, also calle... more Low energy beaches are located in sheltered and fetch-limited environments. The fetch, also called the fetch length, is the uninterrupted distance over the sea surface for which the wind can blow without a change in direction and affects the growth of wind-waves. Fetch-limited beaches are found in estuaries and bays (e.g. Chesapeake Bay, USA), behind ocean barriers (e.g. Pamlico Sound, USA), adjacent to inlets (e.g. Tapora Bank, New Zealand), deltas (e.g. Menderes River, Turkey), eroding thermokarst (e.g. Yensei Bay, Russia), and glacial outwash fans (e.g. Canal Baker, Chile; Cooper et al., 2007). In the case of barrier island systems, the back of barrier islands facing the lagoon environments i.e., backbarrier shores are fetch-limited environments. A barrier is an elongated ridge that is composed predominantly of unconsolidated sand and/or gravel and protect the adjacent mainland from open-water processes (Figure 2.1). From the sea to the mainland, the barriers are generally compos...
Natural sciences have traditionally been disseminated in outreach activities as formal one-way 9 ... more Natural sciences have traditionally been disseminated in outreach activities as formal one-way 9 presentations. Nevertheless, innovative strategies are being increasingly developed using arts, gamming, 10 sketching, amongst others. This work aimed at testing an alternative and innovative way to engage non11 expert audiences in ocean and coastal geology, through a combination of scientific concepts explanation 12 with creative dancing. An informal education activity focusing on ocean dynamics was designed for 1013 year-old students. It combines coastal science concepts (wind, waves, currents, and sand), storytelling 14 techniques (narrative arc), and creative dance techniques (movement, imaginative play, and sensory 15 engagement). A sequence of six exercises was proposed starting in the generation of offshore ocean 16 waves and ending with sediment transport on the beach, during storm/fair-weather conditions. Scientific 17 concepts were then translated into structured creative movem...
Ecological resilience is a multi-faceted concept that is open to various interpretations, giving ... more Ecological resilience is a multi-faceted concept that is open to various interpretations, giving rise to confusion over terminology and concepts, especially across scientific fields. The present work is attempting to clarify resilience principles and concepts and bridge the gap between theory and application in the case of geomorphic systems, like barrier islands. Under this reasoning, we analyse the main aspects of ecological resilience theory and transfer them to the field of coastal geomorphology, using geomorphic environments and dimensions of barrier islands. Three panarchical levels are proposed (beach, dune, marsh), corresponding to different habitats and spatio-temporal scales of change. Based on these, the four crucial aspects of resilience, latitude, resistance, precariousness and cross-scale interactions are determined. Data from a barrier inland migration was used as a paradigm for an adaptation process, showing that the proposed geomorphic dimensions effectively capture...
The aim of the present paper is to analyse the recent morphological evolution of the sandy barrie... more The aim of the present paper is to analyse the recent morphological evolution of the sandy barriers of Ria Formosa, a multi-inlet system located in South Portugal, to assess evolution regimes and related controlling factors and to identify resilience mechanisms in response to natural and artificial drivers of change. The data collected comprise aerial photographs and wave buoy and hindcast time-series, covering the period from the 1950s to 2014. The results show that the barriers have either been growing, or remaining stable. The growth patterns were either promoted by natural mechanisms, or triggered by stabilization works and supported by natural factors (e.g. longshore transport, shoal attachment). The presence of a broad marsh platform in the backbarrier was found to promote barrier stability, while the sustainance of transgressive barriers is advocated by frequent overwash, combined with low depths in the backbarrier lagoon and localised replenishment of sand. These long-term e...
The present paper focusses on the objectives and methodology of the EVREST project regarding the ... more The present paper focusses on the objectives and methodology of the EVREST project regarding the identification of natural mechanisms that promote resilience in barrier island systems, both in oceanfront and backbarrier environments. The study area of the project is the Ria Formosa barrier island system, located in southern Portugal.
24 Overwash hydrodynamic datasets are mixed in quality and scope, being difficult to 25 obtain du... more 24 Overwash hydrodynamic datasets are mixed in quality and scope, being difficult to 25 obtain due to fieldwork experimental limitations. Nevertheless, these 26 measurements are crucial to develop reliable models to predict overwash. Aiming 27 to overcome such limitations, this work presents accurate fieldwork data on 28 overwash hydrodynamics, further exploring it to model overwash on a low-lying 29 barrier island. Fieldwork was undertaken on Barreta Island (Portugal) in 30 December 2013, during neap tides and under energetic conditions, with significant 31
Overwash hydrodynamics datasets are mixed in quality and scope, being hard to obtain due to field... more Overwash hydrodynamics datasets are mixed in quality and scope, being hard to obtain due to fieldwork experimental difficulties. Aiming to overcome such limitations, this work presents accurate fieldwork data on overwash hydrodynamics, further exploring it to model overwash on a low-lying barrier island. Fieldwork was performed on Barreta Island (Portugal), in December 2013, during neap to spring-tides, when significant wave height reached 2.64 m. During approximately 4 hours, more than 120 shallow overwash events were measured with a video-camera (at 10 Hz), a pressure transducer (at 4 Hz) and a current-meter (at 4 Hz). This high-frequency fieldwork dataset includes runup, overwash number, depth and velocity. Fieldwork data along with information from literature were used to setup XBeach model in non-hydrostatic mode. The baseline model had variable skills over the duration of the overwash each 30 minutes. The baseline model was forced to simulate overwash with different nearshore ...
Natural sciences have traditionally been disseminated in outreach activities as formal, one-way p... more Natural sciences have traditionally been disseminated in outreach activities as formal, one-way presentations. Nevertheless, innovative strategies are being increasingly developed using arts, gaming, and sketching, amongst others. This work aimed at testing an alternative and innovative way to engage non-expert audiences in ocean and coastal geology through a combination of scientific concept explanations and creative dancing. An informal education activity focusing on ocean dynamics was designed for 10-yearold students. It combines coastal science concepts (wind, waves, currents, and sand), storytelling techniques (narrative arc), and creative dance techniques (movement, imaginative play, and sensory engagement). A sequence of six exercises was proposed, starting with the generation of offshore ocean waves and ending with sediment transport on the beach during storm/fair-weather conditions. Scientific concepts were then translated into structured creative movements, within imaginary scenarios, and accompanied by sounds or music. The activity was performed six times with a total of 112 students. It was an inclusive activity given that all students in the class participated, including children with several mild types of cognitive and neurological impairment. The science and art activity aroused emotions of enjoyment and pleasure and allowed for effective communication between scientists and school community. Moreover, the results provide evidence of the activity's effectiveness in engaging children and developing their willingness to further participate in similar activities.
The aim of the present paper is to analyse the recent morphological evolution of the sandy barrie... more The aim of the present paper is to analyse the recent morphological evolution of the sandy barriers of Ria Formosa, a multi-inlet system located in South Portugal, to assess evolution regimes and related controlling factors and to identify resilience mechanisms in response to natural and artificial drivers of change. The data collected comprise aerial photographs and wave buoy and hindcast time-series, covering the period from the 1950s to 2014. The results show that the barriers have either been growing, or remaining stable. The growth patterns were either promoted by natural mechanisms, or triggered by stabilization works and supported by natural factors (e.g. longshore transport, shoal attachment). The presence of a broad marsh platform in the backbarrier was found to promote barrier stability, while the sustainance of transgressive barriers is advocated by frequent overwash, combined with low depths in the backbarrier lagoon and localised replenishment of sand. These long-term evolution regimes and their relation to artificial and natural factors show that the barriers of Ria Formosa have been resilient during the time-frame of the study, either absorbing disturbances (Armona and Tavira), or adapting to change while maintaining their functions (rest of the barriers).
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