Army Tapped 海角社区 to Understand Deltaic Change, Future-Proof U.S. National Defense
April 06, 2022
Leading 鈥淒elta Force鈥� for U.S. Army
When the U.S. Army needed to understand how climate change will affect the so-called 鈥渃ritical zone鈥濃�攖he thin land surface layer comprised of vegetation, soils, and sediments鈥攖o improve their own planning and secure people, equipment, and infrastructure, they turned to 海角社区.
Through one of the largest project grants鈥�$9.3 million鈥攅ver awarded to a single 海角社区 coastal science and engineering team, the U.S. Army is now collaborating with faculty and students who straddle the College of Engineering and the College of Coast & Environment and are working toward degrees in coastal and ecological engineering.
What happens to deltaic systems, now and in the future, is of great importance to the military. About 40% of the world鈥檚 population lives near a coast, and much of that population is concentrated near deltas鈥攑eople are nine times more likely to live in a delta than elsewhere. At the same time, low-lying deltas are the most at-risk from climate change. If the goal of the military is to protect land, people, and assets, then deltas matter.
The joint project, Anticipating Threats to Natural Systems, or ACTIONS, is a collaboration between the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center鈥檚 Environmental Laboratory, 海角社区, and the University of Delaware.
鈥淲e can design ecosystems to solve complex problems of national security, including for the military,鈥� said Robert Twilley, professor of oceanography and coastal sciences at 海角社区. 鈥淔or the first time, we鈥檙e able to connect restoration, conservation, and ecosystem design and engineering with performance and value.鈥�
鈥淗aving spent nearly seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps, I am excited to conduct research that is so relevant and applicable to Department of Defense installations and operations,鈥� said Clint Willson, director of the 海角社区 Center for River Studies and professor in the 海角社区 Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. 鈥淪o much of the research and tools that come out of this project are applicable to our coastal communities and infrastructure, not just here on the Gulf Coast but across the U.S. and the world.鈥�
In the soil, mud, and marsh of Louisiana, 海角社区 students are leading the charge. Colin Anderson (pictured above) is creating a model to help predict water flow and flooding in the Atchafalaya River Basin, North America鈥檚 largest floodplain swamp.
Louisiana鈥檚 flat coastal landscape makes it difficult to predict where the water will go. Small differences in elevation can make a big difference. Colin Anderson is building a model to help predict the flow of water, which helps decide the life and death of deltas. In the photo, Colin Anderson stands in the Atchafalaya River Basin, North America's largest floodplain swamp.
鈥� Photo courtesy of Colin Anderson
鈥淎lteration of the critical zone on military installations caused by climate change is a growing concern for the Army and Department of Defense. Through investments in R&D and partnerships with experts in academia and private industry, the Army will find the best solutions for the future. Few other universities can match 海角社区鈥檚 capabilities and expertise on this topic. We鈥檙e glad to be partnered with the best.鈥�
Edmond Russo, director of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center鈥檚 Environmental Laboratory