The
research I am conducting involves quantifying the impact of vegetation in
coastal wetlands on storm surge erosion. What initially got me started in
coastal research was my professor and now mentor, Dr. Ferreira. I joined his
Flood Hazards Research Lab during my Junior year at Mason where I have been
exposed to an extraordinary research environment working closely with other
undergraduates, master and doctoral students. Among other great things, I have
obtained a deep understanding of physical processes in coastal and riverine
environments. During this time in the lab I used numerical models to analyze
the influence of sea-level rise effects on storm surge inundation in the
Chesapeake Bay. I am now expanding this research to examining the impact of the
vegetation in the marshes during storm surge events.
On
a weekly basis, I run the two-dimensional model XBeach. XBeach is a
depth-averaged two-dimensional numerical model that was originally used to
simulate dune erosion along the shore and incorporates vegetation. I simulate
hurricane like conditions in my study area, Magothy Bay, located in the
Chesapeake Bay, to quantify the amount of erosion with and without vegetation.
Not only do I run the model, this research requires vegetation data from
Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve. In the marsh, vegetation species, density,
diameter, and height will be measured to implement into XBeach.
One
thing that I have discovered so far in my research is the importance of
patience. Many issues have come up in learning XBeach and figuring out how
implement it in my circumstance. However, it is important to keep pushing
through and be patient with yourself. I know that things will get completed one
step at a time and that this experience will bring me one step closer to my dream
of becoming a well-rounded water engineer.
