
NSF Org: |
EAR Division Of Earth Sciences |
Recipient: |
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Initial Amendment Date: | June 30, 2017 |
Latest Amendment Date: | June 30, 2017 |
Award Number: | 1734300 |
Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
Program Manager: |
Justin Lawrence
jlawrenc@nsf.gov (703)292-2425 EAR Division Of Earth Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
Start Date: | July 1, 2017 |
End Date: | June 30, 2022 (Estimated) |
Total Intended Award Amount: | $349,666.00 |
Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $349,666.00 |
Funds Obligated to Date: |
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History of Investigator: |
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Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
633 CLARK ST EVANSTON IL US 60208-0001 (312)503-7955 |
Sponsor Congressional District: |
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Primary Place of Performance: |
2205 Tech Drive Evanston IL US 60201-2919 |
Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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Parent UEI: |
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NSF Program(s): |
GVF - Global Venture Fund, Hydrologic Sciences, Geomorphology & Land-use Dynam |
Primary Program Source: |
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Program Reference Code(s): |
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Program Element Code(s): |
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Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
Interactions between water and sediments shape water bodies, set habitat for fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms, and control land stability in river floodplains and coastal regions. While the behavior of sandy systems is fairly well understood, little information is available on interactions between sand and finer sediments such as clay and mud. Mixed clay-sand deposits are very common in rivers and coastal estuaries, yet it is not currently possible to predict important behavior of clay-sand mixtures, such as changes in sand dunes, beaches, and channels following shoreline erosion. This project will advance capability to measure and predict interactions between water flow, sand, and clay in freshwater and marine systems. This capability will enable better management of critical U.S. water resources, reduce damage from coastal erosion, and facilitate shipping and military operations in shallow coastal waters.
This project aims to show that clay-sand-water coupling follows a regular and fundamental set of processes: migration of clay into sand beds, accumulation of clay deposits, and feedbacks from clay filling pore spaces and cementing sand grains. Work will be conducted jointly by U.S. and Israeli research teams. Experiments will use a suite of new optical, acoustic, and X-ray imaging methods to measure water flow, clay-sand dynamics, and sediment bed formation. These results will be used to develop new mathematical theory and computer models enabling prediction of water flow and sediment dynamics in clay-sand systems.
This award is cofunded by the Geomorphology and Land-use Dynamics Program, the Hydrologic Sciences Program, and the Office of International Science and Engineering.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
This study provides the first clear evidence that surface-groundwater interactions affect deposition and storage of natural and synthetic small particles, such as soil and microplastics, in river systems. The results have several important implications for water resources and ecosystem stability. The observed processes influence water budgets in streams and connectivity between streams, floodplains, and groundwater aquifers. Clay deposits stabilize sand beds by hindering the ability of bedforms to scour into regions of concentrated clay deposits. The accumulation of fine particles reduces the flow of water into and out of the river bed. The reduction in both exchange flow and sediment transport causes deposited particles to be stored for long periods of time.
These changes in the riverbed environment impact river ecosystems and can potentially reduce biodiversity, ecosystem productivity and resilience. Degradation of aquatic ecosystems is a major concern under the combination of land development, climate change, and increased modification of rivers. This project showed that increased fine particle inputs (such as from land development increasing erosion) clog riverbeds and reduce surface-groundwater connectivity, which decreases microbial activity and impairs river ecosystems. These processes also contribute to long-term storage of microplastics in rivers. The project showed that microplastics deposit in riverbeds and are only remobilized during flood events. As a result, a large fraction of microplastics discharged by cities are retained in urban waterways, and microplastic particles remain within rivers for years. Over time, most of the particles become deeply buried within riverbed sediments, leading to long-term storage within river systems.
The project developed methods that water resources engineers and ecosystem scientists can use to assess links between river flow, sediment transport, and ecosystem stability. Knowledge of the range of conditions that maintain riverine habitat is important to design of schemes for water resources protection and ecosystem conservation. Development of consistent tools for analysis of sediment dynamics through river networks improves the ability of planners and engineers to assess potential changes in aquatic ecosystems following development decisions. The knowledge and tools generated by this project can be used broadly in river management to maintain stream ecosystem functions and improve the resilience of water supplies.
Last Modified: 10/30/2022
Modified by: Aaron Packman
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