FuRI – Future Reef Islands

Low-lying reef islands are arguably the most exposed coastal formation to climate change due to the twin threats of rising sea levels and coral reef degradation. Reef islands are composed of sediment derived from the surrounding reef. To understand the future state of reef islands we need to know the amount of sediment produced by coral reefs, the rate of sediment transport across coral reef flats, and the mode in which islands respond to sea-level rise.

This project will:

  • Determine the quantity and characteristics of carbonate sediment produced by different calcifiers and bio-erosional processes on Heron Reef, using the SedBudget approach.
  • Determine the transport of sediment by monitoring and modelling hydrodynamic sediment transport processes.
  • Simulate the changes in sediment production and transport rates under climate change.
  • Model the future of Heron Island in these scenarios.

Contacts

  • Dr. Marleen Stuhr
    +49 (0)421 23800 - 178
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    Details

  • Dr. Meghna Sengupta
    +49 (0)421 23800 - 64
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    Details

FuRI – Future Reef Islands: Future trajectories of coral reef islands – Integrating sediment budgets and reef island models
Cooperation Partner: Dr. Daniel Harris, Beachlab, School of the Environment, University of Queensland (UQ): daniel.harris@uq.edu.au
Partner Country: Australia
Research Locations: Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef
Project Duration: 01/01/2024 – 31/12/2025
Funding: DAAD – Project-Related Personnel Exchange Program Australia
Status: ZMT is project co-coordinator
ZMT Programme Area: PA4 - Ecosystem Co-Design towards a sustainable Anthropocene

 

Working Groups

Project flyer for download