About the project
Globally soft coastlines represent major regions of population and biodiversity. They are under threat from rapid environmental and population growth. This research will combine long (600yr) sources of evidence found in documentary and sediment archives to fully understand how climate change – mediated via storm and surge driven flooding resulted in change to the physical, ecological and socio-economics and community response of soft coastal systems.
The research will aim to develop and test novel data syntheses, and frameworks for integrating longer term information into narratives of coastal resilience and develop case studies to illustrate how these longer term perspectives can support future coastal resilience decision making. The key study sites are located along historically one of the most dynamic soft coastlines in Europe in Suffolk, UK.
The research aim is to develop a new and deeper understanding of the socio-ecological processes responsible for the evolution and adaptation of an estuary-dominated soft coastline that is very sensitive to future climate change. This requires quantification of the interplay between coastal processes, climate, and human response over longer timescales than are normally applied.
This research will enable the long-term history of human adaptation to coastal flooding to inform and encourage current coastal communities in contemplating change, developing their own adaptation strategies, and discovering their own agency in the face of increased flooding.
Please contact the lead supervisor if you require further information about the project.
