ARRA: Collaborative Research:Ego-geomorphic Coupling: Vegetation Transition and Sedimentary Responses to Faulting

We are studying an established coastal field location in detail, which is characterized by having a known, active growth fault, which has been active for the last 40 years. Specifically, we have combined methods in geomorphology, remote sensing, litho- and bio-stratigraphy, ecology, geology, radiochemistry and spatial analysis to quantify rates of sediment accretion, rates of local subsidence, and the distributions and responses of Spartina alterniflora wetlands to changing landscape elevations. Specific objectives include the following: 1) Quantify recent and ongoing activity of the growth fault at the Matagorda, TX study site; 2) Quantify recent and historical sediment mass accumulation rates of RSL rise on respective sides of active growth faults, up to a given threshold rate. 3) Test the conceptual model that wetland accretion rates match rates of RSL rise on respective sides of active growth faults, up to a given threshold rate.