Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Are Wadden Sea tidal systems with a higher tidal range more resilient against sea level rise?

  • Published:
Journal of Coastal Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Accelerated sea level rise may have serious implications for the Wadden Sea ecosystem in its present state. If sediment accumulation rates on the extensive intertidal flats stay behind sea level rise, the flats will eventually submerge. Drowning of the flats has negative consequences for nature conservation and for coastal risk management. Based upon an evaluation of steady state relations for Wadden Sea tidal basins, Hofstede (Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie 59(3): 377-391, 2015) postulated that the capacity of these basins to balance sea level rise by accumulation on intertidal flats seems positively related to mean tidal range. In the present study, morphodynamical simulations with a numerical model were performed for two tidal basins in the German Wadden Sea to verify the empirically established hypothesis. The following conclusions are established. Larger mean tidal range improves the capacity of Wadden Sea tidal basins to balance sea level rise. Wadden Sea intertidal flats are effective sediment sinks and seem quite resilient against (higher rates of) sea level rise. Finally, subtidal gullies may constitute a significant sediment source for accumulation on intertidal flats in response to sea level rise. With respect to the limited comparability of the two investigated tidal systems, morphodynamical modelling of all Wadden Sea tidal systems should be conducted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

GETM:

General Estuarine Transport Model (www.getm.eu)

SLR:

Sea level rise

MTR:

Mean tidal range

MLW:

Mean tidal low water level

MHW:

Mean tidal high water level

MSL:

Mean sea level

ISV:

Inter-tidal sediment volume (amount of sediment between MLW and MHW)

P:

Tidal prism (amount of sea water between MLW and MHW at MHW time, i.e., the water volume that enters and leaves the tidal basin with each tidal phase)

References

  • Becherer, J., Graewe, U., Purkiani, K., Schulz, E. & Burchard, H. (2015): Simulation der morphologischen Entwicklung in tidalen Systemen der Westküste von Schleswig-Holstein. Research cooperation among IOW and MELUR-SH, Warnemünde: 1–65 (unpublished)

  • Becherer J, Flöser G, Umlauf L, Burchard H (2016) Estuarine circulation versus tidal pumping: Sediment transport in a well-mixed tidal inlet. J Geophys Res Oceans 121:6251–6270. doi:10.1002/2016JC011640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biegel, E.J. (1992): Impact of sea-level rise on the morphology of the Wadden Sea within the scope of its ecological functioning. Investigations on empirical morphological relations, Annex Data report ISOS*2. Rijkswaterstaat Dienst Getijdewateren, ISOS*2 project, phase 2, 18 pp

  • Burchard, H., & Bolding, K. (2002): GETM—A general estuarine transport model. European Commission Tech. Rep. EUR 20253 EN, 157 pp

  • Burchard H, Flöser G, Staneva JV, Riethmüller R, Badewien TH (2008) Impact of density gradients on net sediment transport into the Wadden Sea. J Phys Oceanogr 38:566–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burchard H, Schuttelaars HM, Geyer WR (2013) Residual sediment uxes in weakly-to-periodically stratified estuaries and tidal inlets. J Phys Oceanogr 43:1841–1861

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CPSL (2001) Final Report of the trilateral working group on coastal protection and sea level rise - CPSL. Wadden Sea Ecosyst 13:1–63

    Google Scholar 

  • CPSL (2005) Coastal Protection and Sea Level Rise – Solutions for coastal protection in the Wadden Sea region. Wadden Sea Ecosyst 21:1–47

    Google Scholar 

  • CPSL (2010) CPSL Third Report - the role of spatial planning and sediment in coastal risk management. Wadden Sea Ecosyst 28:1–51

    Google Scholar 

  • CWSS and World Heritage Nomination Project Group (2008) Nomination of the Dutch-German Wadden Sea as world heritage site. Wadden Sea Ecosyst 24:1–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R.A. (2013): A New Look at Barrier-Inlet Morphodynamics. Journal of Coastal Research Special Issue 69 – Proceedings of the Symposium in Applied Coastal Geomorphology to Honor Miles O. Hayes: 1–12

  • Dissanayake DMPK, Ranasinghe R, Roelvink JA (2012) The morphological response of large tidal inlet/basin systems to relative sea level rise. Clim Chang 113(2):253–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehlers J (1988) The morphodynamics of the Wadden Sea. A. Balkema Publishers, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 397 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Engelund F, Hansen E (1972) A monograph on sediment transport. Teknisk Forlag, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes MO (1979) Barrier island morphology as a function of tidal and wave regime. In: Leatherman SP (ed) Barrier Islands. Acad. Press, New York, pp. 1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrling G, Winter C (2014) Morphological and sedimentological response of a mixed-energy barrier island tidal inlet to storm and fair-weather conditions, Earth Surf. Dynam 2:363–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede JLA (2015) Theoretical considerations on how Wadden Sea tidal basins may react to accelerated sea level rise. Z Geomorphol 59(3):377–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede, J.L.A. & Stock M. (2016): Climate change adaptation in the Schleswig-Holstein sector of the Wadden Sea: an integrated State Governmental strategy. Journal of Coastal Conservation, this volume, 1–9, doi:10.1007/s11852–016–0433-0

  • Lesser G, Roelvink J, Van Kester J, Stelling G (2004) Development and validation of a three-dimensional morphological model. Coast Eng 51(8):883–915

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oost AP (1995) Dynamics and sedimentary development of the Dutch Wadden Sea with emphasis on the Frisian Inlet. Geol Ultraiect 126

  • Postma H (1961) Transport and accumulation of suspended matter in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Neth J Sea Res 1:148–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Purkiani, K., Becherer, J., Klingbeil, K. & Burchard, H. (2016): Variability of estuarine circulation in a tidally energetic inlet with curvature, J. Geophys. Res., in print

  • Scully ME, Friedrichs CT, Brubaker JM (2005) Control of estuarine stratification and mixing by wind-induced straining of the estuarine density field. Estuaries 28:321–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siefert W, Lassen H (1985) Gesamtdarstellung der Wasserstandsverhältnisse im Küstenvorfeld der Deutschen Bucht nach neuen Pegelauswertungen. Die Küste 42:1–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Soulsby, R. (1997): Dynamics of marine sands: a manual for practical applications. Thomas Telford

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel F (1997) Zur Morphologie der Tidebecken im schleswig-holsteinischen Wattenmeer. Die Küste 59:115–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Goor MA, Zitman TJ, Wang ZB, Stive MJF (2003) Impact of sea level rise on the morphological stability of tidal inlets. Mar Geol 202(3–4):211–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Straaten LMJU, Kuenen PH (1958) Tidal action as a cause of clay accumulation. J Sediment Petrol 28:406–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z.B. & Van der Spek, A. (2015): Importance of mud for morphological response of tidal basins to sea level rise. Proceedings of Coastal Sediments 2015, San Diego, USA

  • Wang ZB, Hoekstra P, Burchard H, Ridderinkhof H, De Swart HE, Stive MJF (2012) Morphodynamics of the Wadden Sea and its barrier island sys-tem. Ocean Coast Manag 68:39–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z.B., Townend, I.A. & Stive, M.J.F. (2014): Modelling of morphological response of tidal basins to sea-level rise revisited. Proceedings of the 17th Physics of Estuaries and Coastal Seas (PECS) conference, Porto de Galinhas, Pernambuco, Brazil

  • Wang, Z.B., Van Maren, D.S., Ding, P.X., Yang, S.L., Van Prooijen, B.C., De Vet, P.L.M., Winterwerp, J.C., De Vriend, H.J. & Stive, M.J.F. (2015): Human impacts on morphodynamic thresholds in estuarine systems. Continental Shelf Research 111, Part B: 174–183

Download references

Acknowledgements

This paper has been produced in the context of a trilateral cooperation among German, Dutch and Danish coastal administrations on the future morphological development of the Wadden Sea under climate change. The authors want to thank the partners from Deltares (NL) and Kystdirektoratet (DK) for constructive discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Energy, Agriculture, Environment and Rural Areas, Mercatorstraße 3-5, D-24105, Kiel, Germany

    Jacobus L.A. Hofstede

  2. College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences (CEOAS), Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Johannes Becherer

  3. Leibniz-Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Seestraße 15, D-18119, Rostock, Germany

    Hans Burchard

Authors
  1. Jacobus L.A. Hofstede
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Johannes Becherer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hans Burchard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacobus L.A. Hofstede.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hofstede, J.L., Becherer, J. & Burchard, H. Are Wadden Sea tidal systems with a higher tidal range more resilient against sea level rise?. J Coast Conserv 22, 71–78 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-016-0469-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-016-0469-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation