Geometric modeling of delta dynamics coupled with biogeochemical processes.

Abstract

Today, many of the world's deltas are highly populated and experiencing rapid rates of deterioration. We need tools that can explain and predict the long-term evolution of these systems to the formation of baselines for sustainable restoration. Deltas are complex systems in which diverse processes interact across a vast range of time and space scales. However, contrary to what intuition might suggest, we find that simple geometric models can be powerful at explaining the long-term system response to different external forcing. Based on this framework, we construct the first delta building model able to capture long-term interactions between organic sediment dynamics and delta evolution.