scholarly journals Relative water-level rise in the Flevo lagoon (The Netherlands), 5300-2000 cal. yr BC: an evaluation of new and existing basal peat time-depth data

2003 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Makaske ◽  
D.G. Van Smeerdijk ◽  
H. Peeters ◽  
J.R. Mulder ◽  
T. Spek
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Mean Sea Level ◽  
Water Level Rise ◽  
Depth Data ◽  
Local Water

AbstractThe rise of Holocene (ground)water level as a function of relative sea-level rise has been extensively investigated in the western Netherlands, whereas few studies focused on the Flevo lagoon in the central Netherlands. In this study, all available 14C dates from the base of basal peat overlying the top of compaction-free Pleistocene sand in the former Flevo lagoon were evaluated in order to reconstruct water-level rise for the period 5300-2000 cal. yr BC. The present basal peat 14C data set from Flevoland consists of two subsets: (1) the largely new Almere data (41 dates) representing the southern part of the former Flevo lagoon, with 26 dates especially carried out for this study, and (2) the existing Schokland data (21 dates) representing the eastern part of the lagoon. The Schokland area is located about 50 km from the Almere area. The quality of all basal peat time-depth data was palaeo-ecologically and geologically evaluated, all 14C dates were calibrated to the same standards, and error margins of age and altitude determination were estimated. After plotting the data as error boxes in time-depth graphs, lower limit curves for water-level rise were constructed for both data sets. Comparison with the mean sea-level curve for The Netherlands (Van de Plassche, 1982) suggests that water-level rise in the Almere area between 5300 and 2000 cal. yr BC corresponded closely to the rise in mean sea level. The same holds for the Schokland area for the period 5000-4200 cal. yr BC. For the period 4200-2000 cal. yr BC, however, the Schokland data suggest water-level rise to have been slower than mean sea-level rise, leading to local water levels apparently below mean sea level, which is virtually impossible. Hypothetical explanations for this discrepancy include: errors and uncertainties in mean sea-level and local water-level reconstruction, basin subsidence and temporal differences in intra-coastal tidal damping. The presently available data are inconclusive at this point and Holocene water-level rise in the Flevo lagoon awaits further investigations.

scholarly journals Determining Extreme Still Water Levels for Design and Planning Purposes Incorporating Sea Level Rise: Sydney, Australia

Atmosphere ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Phil J. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Tide Gauge ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Extreme Value Analysis ◽  
Tide Gauge Record ◽  
Value Analysis ◽  
Mean Sea Level ◽  
The Impact

This paper provides an Extreme Value Analysis (EVA) of the hourly water level record at Fort Denison dating back to 1915 to understand the statistical likelihood of the combination of high predicted tides and the more dynamic influences that can drive ocean water levels higher at the coast. The analysis is based on the Peaks-Over-Threshold (POT) method using a fitted Generalised Pareto Distribution (GPD) function to estimate extreme hourly heights above mean sea level. The analysis highlights the impact of the 1974 East Coast Low event and rarity of the associated measured water level above mean sea level at Sydney, with an estimated return period exceeding 1000 years. Extreme hourly predictions are integrated with future projections of sea level rise to provide estimates of relevant still water levels at 2050, 2070 and 2100 for a range of return periods (1 to 1000 years) for use in coastal zone management, design, and sea level rise adaptation planning along the NSW coastline. The analytical procedures described provide a step-by-step guide for practitioners on how to develop similar baseline information from any long tide gauge record and the associated limitations and key sensitivities that must be understood and appreciated in applying EVA.

scholarly journals Very severe storm tides in the German Bight (North Sea) and their potential for enhancement

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Grabemann ◽  
Lidia Gaslikova ◽  
Tabea Brodhagen ◽  
Elisabeth Rudolph
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
North Sea ◽  
German Bight ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Ems Estuary ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The North

Abstract. Storm tides are an essential hazard for the German North Sea coasts. For coastal protection and economic activities, planning information on probability and magnitude of extreme storm tides and their possible future changes is important. This study focuses on the most extreme events and examines whether they could have become more severe under slightly different conditions still remaining within the physical plausibility. In the face of limited amount of observational data on very severe events, an extensive set of model data is used to extract most extreme storm tide events for locations in the German Bight, in particular Borkum and the Ems estuary. The data set includes water levels and respective atmospheric conditions from a hindcast and future climate realizations without sea level rise describing today's and possible future conditions. A number of very severe events with water levels exceeding those measured near Borkum since 1906 has been identified in the data set. A possible further amplification of the highest events is investigated by simulating these events for the North Sea with different phase lags between the astronomical tide given at the open model boundaries and the wind forcing. It was found that superposition of spring tide conditions, different timing of the astronomical high water and atmospheric conditions during the highest storm event would cause an enhancement of the highest water level up to about 50 cm. The amplified water levels of the two highest events from the data set are used to analyse the effects in the Ems estuary using a high-resolution model of the German Bight. Additionally, the influence of an extreme river runoff and of sea level rise is studied. The extreme river runoff of 1200 m3 s−1 increases the highest water levels by several decimeters in the narrow upstream part of the Ems estuary. This effect diminishes downstream. The sea level rise increases the water level in the downstream part of the Ems estuary by the amount applied at the model boundary to the North Sea. In the upstream part, its influence on the water level decreases. This study may serve as a first step towards an impact assessment for severe storm tides and their implications for coastal areas and activities.

scholarly journals Extreme storm tides in the German Bight (North Sea) and their potential for amplification

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1985-2000
Author(s):  
Iris Grabemann ◽  
Lidia Gaslikova ◽  
Tabea Brodhagen ◽  
Elisabeth Rudolph
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
North Sea ◽  
German Bight ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Ems Estuary ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Extreme Storm

Abstract. Storm tides are a major hazard for the German North Sea coasts. For coastal protection and economic activities, planning information on the probability and magnitude of extreme storm tides and their possible future changes is important. This study focuses on the most extreme events and examines whether they could have become more severe under slightly different conditions while still remaining within physical plausibility. In the face of a limited number of observational data on very severe events, an extensive set of model data is used to extract most extreme storm tide events for locations in the German Bight, in particular Borkum and the Ems estuary. The data set includes water levels and respective atmospheric conditions from a hindcast and future climate realizations without sea level rise describing today's and possible future conditions. A number of very severe events with water levels exceeding those measured near Borkum since 1906 are identified in the data set. A possible further amplification of the highest events is investigated by simulating these events for the North Sea with different phase lags between the astronomical tide given at the open model boundaries and the wind forcing. It is found that superposition of spring tide conditions, different timing of the astronomical high water and atmospheric conditions during the highest storm event would cause an enhancement of the highest water level up to about 50 cm. The water levels of the two highest events from the data set are used to analyse the effects in the Ems estuary using a high-resolution model of the German Bight. Additionally, the influences of an extreme river runoff and of sea level rise are studied. The extreme river runoff of 1200 m3 s−1 increases the highest water levels by several decimetres in the narrow upstream part of the Ems estuary. This effect diminishes downstream. The sea level rise increases the water level in the downstream part of the Ems estuary by the amount applied at the model boundary to the North Sea. In the upstream part, its influence on the water level decreases. This study may serve as a first step towards an impact assessment for severe storm tides and towards implications for coastal zone management in times of climate change.

scholarly journals The Role of Mean Sea Level Annual Cycle on Extreme Water Levels Along European Coastline

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 3419
Author(s):  
Tomás Fernández-Montblanc ◽  
Jesús Gómez-Enri ◽  
Paolo Ciavola
Keyword(s):  
Water Level ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Extreme Events ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Coastal Flooding ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Mean Sea Level ◽  
The Impact

The knowledge of extreme total water levels (ETWLs) and the derived impact, coastal flooding and erosion, is crucial to face the present and future challenges exacerbated in European densely populated coastal areas. Based on 24 years (1993–2016) of multimission radar altimetry, this paper investigates the contribution of each water level component: tide, surge and annual cycle of monthly mean sea level (MMSL) to the ETWLs. It focuses on the contribution of the annual variation of MMSL in the coastal flooding extreme events registered in a European database. In microtidal areas (Black, Baltic and Mediterranean Sea), the MMSL contribution is mostly larger than tide, and it can be at the same order of magnitude of the surge. In meso and macrotidal areas, the MMSL contribution is <20% of the total water level, but larger (>30%) in the North Sea. No correlation was observed between the average annual cycle of monthly mean sea level (AMMSL) and coastal flooding extreme events (CFEEs) along the European coastal line. Positive correlations of the component variance of MMSL with the relative frequency of CFEEs extend to the Central Mediterranean (r = 0.59), North Sea (r = 0.60) and Baltic Sea (r = 0.75). In the case of positive MMSL anomalies, the correlation expands to the Bay of Biscay and northern North Atlantic (at >90% of statistical significance). The understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns of a combination of all the components of the ETWLs shall improve the preparedness and coastal adaptation measures to reduce the impact of coastal flooding.

Linking weather types to tense dewatering situations of the Kiel Canal (NOK)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corinna Jensen ◽  
Jens Möller ◽  
Peter Löwe
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Time Windows ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Weather Types ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Kiel Canal

&lt;p&gt;Within the &amp;#8220;Network of experts&amp;#8221; of the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI), the effect of climate change on infrastructure is investigated. One aspect of this project is the future dewatering situation of the Kiel Canal (&amp;#8220;Nord-Ostsee-Kanal&amp;#8221; (NOK)). The Kiel Canal is one of the world&amp;#8217;s busiest man-made waterways navigable by seagoing ships. It connects the North Sea to the Baltic Sea and can save the ships hundreds of kilometers of distance. With a total annual sum of transferred cargo of up to 100 million tons it is an economically very important transportation way. Additionally to the transportation of cargo, the canal is also used to discharge water from smaller rivers as well as drainage of a catchments area of about 1500 km&amp;#178;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The canal can only operate in a certain water level range. If its water level exceeds the maximum level, the water must be drained into the sea. In 90% of the time, the water is drained into the North Sea during time windows with low tide. If the water level outside of the canal is too high, drainage is not possible and the canal traffic has to be reduced or, in extreme cases, shut down. Due to the expected sea level rise, the potential time windows for dewatering are decreasing in the future. With a decrease in operational hours, there will be substantial economic losses as well as an increase in traffic around Denmark.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To get a better understanding of what causes tense dewatering situations other than sea level rise a linkage between high water levels on the outside of the canal and weather types is made. Weather types describe large-scale circulation patterns and can therefore give an estimate on tracks of low-pressure systems as well as the prevailing winds, which can explain surges and water levels at the coast. This analysis is conducted for one weather type classification method based solely on sea level pressure fields. Weather types derived from regionally coupled climate models as well as reanalyses are investigated.&lt;/p&gt;

Improving Methodology for High-Resolution Reconstruction of Sea-Level Rise and Neotectonics by Paleoecological Analysis and AMS 14C Dating of Basal Peats

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torbjörn E. Törnqvist ◽  
Mark H.M. van Ree ◽  
Ron van 't Veer ◽  
Bas van Geel
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Ground Water ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Ground Water Level ◽  
Specific Level ◽  
High Resolution Reconstruction

Sea-level research in several submerging coastal regions has traditionally been based on 14C dating of basal peats that overlie a compaction-free substratum and can be related to paleo-(ground)water levels. Provided that an unequivocal relationship between (ground)water level and sea level can be assumed, this approach contains two sources of uncertainty: (1) the paleoenvironmental interpretation of samples is usually based on inherently inaccurate macroscopic descriptions in the field, and (2) 14C ages of bulk peat samples may be erroneous as a result of contamination. Due to the uncertainties in both the altitude and the age—the two crucial sources of evidence necessary to arrive at accurate sea-level curves—sea-level index points are therefore represented by considerable, but typically not quantified, error boxes. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) opens new perspectives for this type of sea-level research, as illustrated by a paleoecological and AMS 14C study of basal peats from a small study area in the Rhine–Meuse Delta (The Netherlands), where previous (conventional) work revealed highly problematic results. A detailed macrofossil analysis has two purposes: (1) an inferred paleoecological succession indicates a relatively accurate level of paludification of the site, and hence rise of the (ground)water level; (2) suitable macrofossils from that specific level are then selected for AMS 14C dating. In spite of very small sample sizes, our results are consistent and indicate that this approach can constitute a step forward in high-resolution reconstruction of sea-level rise. The new results further enable a revision of Holocene (ground)water gradient lines for the Rhine–Meuse Delta. A knickpoint in these gradient lines can be related to the effect of faulting. This approach therefore also has considerable potential to unravel and quantify neotectonic activity in submerging coastal settings.

scholarly journals Comment on: Mid-Holocene water-level changes in the lower Rhine-Meuse delta (western Netherlands): implications for the reconstruction of relative mean sea-level rise, palaeoriver-gradients and coastal evolution by Van de Plassche et al. (2010)

2011 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.P. Hijma ◽  
K.M. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Water Level ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Level Curve ◽  
Discussion Section ◽  
Coastal Evolution ◽  
Mean Sea Level ◽  
Water Level Changes ◽  
Lower Rhine

In May 2009, Orson van de Plassche sadly passed away. In a paper of which parts, especially the discussion section, were written after his death, new data and a revision of an existing sea-level curve are presented for the Rotterdam area (Van de Plassche et al., 2010). This comment concerns two topics addressed in the discussion section: 1) connection of their revised Rotterdam relative sea-level curve for the period 7900-5300 cal yr BP (MSL-R2; Jelgersma, 1961; Van de Plassche, 1982; 1995; Berendsen et al., 2007; Van de Plassche et al., 2010) to the sea-level curve for the same area for the period 9000-7500 cal yr BP (MSL-R1; Hijma & Cohen, 2010); 2) The role of the river gradient on the calculation of the magnitude of a sea-level jump that occurred between 8450-8250 cal yr BP (Hijma & Cohen, 2010).

Effects of mean sea level rise and tidal flat growth on tides and storm surge events in the Elbe estuary

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tara Mahavadi ◽  
Elisabeth Rudolph ◽  
Rita Seiffert ◽  
Norbert Winkel
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Tidal Flat ◽  
Tidal Flats ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Elbe Estuary ◽  
Tidal Amplitude ◽  
Tidal Dynamics ◽  
Mean Sea Level

&lt;p&gt;Future mean sea level rise will influence tidal dynamics and storm surge events in estuaries. The bathymetry in estuaries and coastal areas will also be affected by mean sea level rise, since it is in a morphodynamic equilibrium with hydrodynamic forces. Tidal flats, which are an important component of coastal protection, will grow to a certain extent with mean sea level rise in case of sufficient sediment availability.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With the help of a highly resolved hydrodynamic-numerical model of the German Bight (North Sea), we analyse the potential influence of mean sea level rise and vertical growth of tidal flats on tidal dynamics and storm surge events in the Elbe estuary.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The results show an increase of tidal amplitude and storm surge water levels due to mean sea level rise. A bathymetric rise of tidal flats in the German Bight and the mouth of the Elbe estuary leads to a decrease in storm surge water level and tidal amplitude compared to the scenario with sole mean sea level rise without a change in bathymetry. Further analyses show, how geometric parameters of the Elbe estuary are changing due to mean sea level rise and tidal flat growth. These changes in geometry influence tidal dynamics and can therefore be an explanation for the observed changes in tidal amplitude and storm surge water levels.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;These findings enable a better understanding of future changes in the Elbe estuary and support coastal managers in decision making processes concerning adaptation options to reduce the impacts of climate change.&lt;/p&gt;

Groundwater salinisation in the Wadden Sea area of the Netherlands: quantifying the effects of climate change, sea-level rise and anthropogenic interferences

2012 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Pauw ◽  
P.G.B. de Louw ◽  
G.H.P. Oude Essink
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Wadden Sea ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Fresh Groundwater ◽  
Sea Area

AbstractHydrogeological research in coastal areas has gained considerable attention over the last decades due to increasing stresses on fresh groundwater resources. Fundamental groundwater flow and solute transport analyses remain essential for a concise understanding of the governing processes that lead to salinisation of fresh groundwater resources. However, the challenge of modern research is the application and quantification of these processes in real world cases. In this context, deltaic areas are amongst the most difficult study areas as they often have a complex groundwater salinity distribution. The Wadden Sea area in the northern part of the Netherlands is an example of such an area.We quantified salt water intrusion and salinisation of groundwater flow systems in two representative case studies in the Wadden Sea area, using the density dependent groundwater flow and transport code M0CDENS3D. The results indicate that sea-level rise and autonomous processes will cause severe salinisation in the future, especially in the low polder areas close to the sea. In addition, we show that enhanced land subsidence due to salt exploitation accelerates this process. Salinisation can be mitigated to some extent by raising surface water levels in polders and by creating saline groundwater collection areas that maintain a low controlled water level.

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