• Faculty Research

Faculty Research

Evolution of Boston Harbor Islands: Professor Rosen is developing a model for the evolution of Boston Harbor Island shorelines in response to rising sealevels. Processes of bluff retreat, accretionary landforms, such as tombolos and salients, and the influence of pre-existing topography are being evaluated to understand why islands have their present forms. A previous study of stratigraphy of the harbor-bottom sediments was carried out through excavations in the landfilled areas of downtown Boston, which lead to a history of changes in the harbor as water levels increases. This study also provided an understanding of the setting of the Boylston Street fishweir, a Native American archaeological within the city. This year, another phase of the harbor studies was initiated cooperatively with Boston University Coastal Research Group to study boat wakes in the harbor and their influence on the shoreline.

Coastal geomorphology and piping plover habitat near Duxbury Beach: Professor Rosen is mapping different ecological and geological zones and relating them to bird habitat. He is using a GIS to organize and analyze the mapping data. He is also working in cooperation with researchers at Boston University who are doing ground penetrating radar to determine the stratigraphy of the barrier complex. For a MS Powerpoint presentation of findings so far, check out Duxbury Beach.