This dataset contains the baseline of evidence identified at the beginning of the UKGravelBarriers project. In this dataset, you will find four spreadsheets, which include peer-reviewed publications, PhD theses, grey literature and geospatial resources. This dataset is part of the UKGravelBarriers project, led by the British Geological Survey, which looks at how gravel barriers—those natural ridges of stones and pebbles along the coast—behave and change over time. These barriers are important because they help protect coastal communities from flooding and erosion, especially as climate change brings rising seas and stronger storms. The goal of this work was to give decision-makers clear, evidence-based information about how these gravel barriers might evolve in the future. To do this, the team carried out a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA). Think of an REA as a fast but structured way to review lots of scientific studies and reports to find the most relevant facts. Each spreadsheet contains further information about how the different evidence relate to each one of the six research questions. RQ#1 How do decadal-scale morphodynamics of gravel barriers respond to changes in sea level, storminess and sediment supply, and influence coastal evolution? How will this impact the ecosystems they support? RQ#2 Under future climate change, will the coastal protection role of gravel barriers be compromised, potentially triggering management interventions? RQ#3 When and how does sediment transport on gravel barriers differ from more well studied sand cases? RQ#4 What is the internal structure and composition of gravel beaches and how do variations in composition influence beach morphology and dynamics? RQ#5 What is the role of hydraulic conductivity in influencing barrier behaviour? RQ#6 Can we quantify the critical interactions between gravel barriers and the back-barrier environment (marsh, lagoon, estuary), as well as the interplay between gravel barriers and coastal structures?
