Using High Resolution Ground Survey and LIDAR Data to Monitor Embryo Dune Development in a Conservation Area, North Lincolnshire (UK)

摘要

Coastal dunes are natural features, reflecting interaction among geomorphological, biological and ecological processes and are important for landscape evolution, habitat provision and coastal defence. Coastal dune systems include embryo dunes, primary and secondary foredunes and other more established features. Despite the fact that they are often important precursors to the development of established foredunes, few studies have focused on embryo dunes. This study has monitored the development of a patch of vegetated embryo dunes (600m x 50m) of more than 1 m height using aerial photographs and LIDAR data since they first appeared in 2001. For the past year seasonal surveys of the dunes have also been conducted using high resolution terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). The embryo dunes are located within a National Nature Reserve on an accreting coastline in eastern England. Evidence from the same site suggests that embryo dunes can be important in the development of other coastal landforms such as saltmarsh, by causing seawater ponding on the landward side.