NEPF ENVIRONMENTAL FLUID MECHANICS LAB
The Nepf Lab studies the interaction of flow with aquatic vegetation and the feedbacks to sediment transport, chemical flux and ecosystem function. We develop models for physical processes that determine how vegetated habitats (green infrastructure), such as seagrasses, salt marsh, and mangroves, provide coastal protection, mitigate anthropogenic nutrient and pollutant loads, and provide blue carbon reservoirs, with the goal of applying these models to improve the management of natural resources and the design of green infrastructure.
RECENT PROJECTS
MIT News: Marshes provide cost-effective coastal protection
Maintaining marsh in front of seawall is an economically justified nature-based solution for coastal protection. In a benefit-cost analysis, the economic benefit of the marsh is represented by the cost of avoided seawall heightening that would otherwise be required to deliver the same overtopping rate without vegetation.
MIT study demonstrates patchy meadows of seagrass can have limited carbon storage
A patchy seagrass meadow, existing for more than 45 years, accumulated negligible carbon. Historical aerial images showed continual migration of patches within the meadow. The migration of patches limited carbon accretion and storage.
Study helps pinpoint areas where microplastics will accumulate
Microplastics are more likely to accumulate in porous sediment, where they can hide within pore spaces. By filling pore spaces, biofilms can prevent microplastics from penetrating the sediment bed, making them easier to resuspend.
