PRR Project

Summary

The main tasks will be: (a) to improve the prediction of hydrodynamics, sediment transport and morphodynamics in tidal inlets, beaches and estuaries; (b) to further develop unstructured numerical models of coastal processes; and (c) to develop innovative solutions for coastal resilience in the context of climate change.The selected researcher should have (1) a strong background in coastal geomorphology, with a particular focus on tidal inlets and barrier systems, (2) an extensive experience in coastal numerical modelling (e.g. SCHISM, XBeach, WaveWatch III) in high performance computing (HPC) environments, and (3) a good track record of research publications. The researcher will (4) combine process-based numerical modelling of coastal sediment transport with geomorphological observations to address real-world challenges such as navigation channel infilling and beach nourishment, (5) analyse meteocean data in order to explore and model the relationships between climate and coastal morphodynamics at temporal scales ranging from seasons to several decades, and (6) translate results from research and consultancy studies into scientific publications. In addition, the researcher will be expected to (7) use and improve advanced monitoring and data analysis methods developed by the team (e.g. satellite imagery, data science), (8) improve the team´s services in operational oceanography (e.g. erosion and flooding, water quality), and (9) write multidisciplinary research proposals.The selected researcher will be particularly encouraged to develop a research activity on process-based modelling of hydro- and morphodynamics, leveraging data-driven methods. Indeed, if Earth-Observation data combined with Artificial Intelligence methods is becoming increasingly popular to understand and predict coastal evolution, addressing climate change in coastal areas requires to smartly integrate both methods. For instance, it is legitimate to believe that coastal evolution driven by atmospheric forces will be better resolved with data-driven approaches by implicitly accounting for most physical processes at play. However, steric and eustatic sea level rise is accelerating which means that data from the start and the present of satellite era will perform poorly when predicting end-of-century coastal behaviour. Also, coastal adaptation will require physical interventions (e.g., coastal nourishments, modification of seawalls and breakwaters, wetland restoration) that can be better resolved and altered in process-based methods. Therefore, the selected researcher will be responsible for maintaining the state-of-the-art capacity of the hosting institution in terms of sediment transport modelling, by working on a new modelling paradigm where process-based and data-driven approaches work in synergy.As climate change is projected to exacerbate the exposure of human activities to natural disasters, coastal challenges are becoming more important than ever. In this context, coastal science must continuously enhance engineering solutions for at the same time supporting the blue economy (e.g. shipping, marine energy). For decades, being at the interface science and engineering, LNEC’s coastal research unit has played this role with an experienced team of senior researchers. So this position seeks to ensure knowledge and know how continuity. Knowledge sharing and transfer will be at the heart of the selected researcher activity, with the responsibility to provide the most efficient solutions, tools and methodologies to coastal managers.