OxTalks will soon move to the new Halo platform and will become 'Oxford Events.' There will be a need for an OxTalks freeze. This was previously planned for Friday 14th November – a new date will be shared as soon as it is available (full details will be available on the Staff Gateway).
In the meantime, the OxTalks site will remain active and events will continue to be published.
If staff have any questions about the Oxford Events launch, please contact halo@digital.ox.ac.uk
Coastal flooding poses significant risks to millions of residents worldwide, particularly those in low-lying regions less than 10m above sea level. As sea levels rise and storm intensity increases due to climate change, traditional grey engineering solutions like seawalls and dykes are proving costly and ecologically disruptive. Nature-based coastal solutions (NBCS) offer a viable alternative, utilising coastal vegetation such as salt marshes, dune grasses, and mangroves to mitigate flood risks. These natural defences facilitate sediment deposition, increase surface roughness, and dissipate wave energy, reducing storm surge impacts. However, little is still known about the effectiveness of NBCSs in flood reduction under future climate uncertainties. This study, therefore, aims to explore the effectiveness of vegetation in mitigating coastal flood risks through a numerical modelling lens (LISFLOOD-FP). By investigating the influence of various vegetation ages (young, medium and old) on coastal flood risk mitigation under varying sea-level conditions and climate uncertainties through scenario-based planning, the study seeks to provide empirical data and insights that can inform more robust policy and decision-making for coastal flood risk management. The research also aims to identify the challenges and uncertainties associated with NBSCs.