| Description |
The ultimate objective of this project is to facilitate research into coastal sediment-transport processes and provide a mechanism to test and apply our understanding of those processes to important problems like coastal erosion and environmental quality. The primary specific goal of this project is to test and apply maintain state-of-the-art models for coastal, estuarine, and fluvial hydrodynamics, sediment-transport, and biogeochemical processes affecting environment quality. A second important goal of this project is to advance the science and technology that underpins sediment-transport modeling. This includes building software tools to facilitate modeling, conducting field research to test models, and developing instruments and protocols that allow critical measurement of sediment-transport processes.The models are intended for use on USGS projects that require a process-based numerical model for quantifying transport of sediment, pollutants, and nutrients in estuarine and shelf environments, but it is also intended as a tool for other researchers and consultants who provide expert advice to coastal decision makers. Model development (i.e., the implementation of algorithms, and code validation and maintenance) has been moved to a Core activity; this project is closely couple with those core activities and provides a project for pilot model applications and model-data comparison that will lead to improved scientific algorithms. |
| Keywords |
Disturbance index, bottom stress, harmful algal blooms, HABs, nutrients, Gulf of Maine, marine spatial planning, habitat, Massachusetts, Buzzards Bay, West Falmouth Harbor, Marthas Vineyard Coastal Observatory, MVCO, ripples, Office of Naval Research, Directed Research Initiative, Climate-Forecast Conventions, CF, Integrated Ocean Observing Systems, IOOS |
