The Sensitivity of a Dike-Marsh System to Sea-Level Rise—A Model-Based Exploration
Integrating natural components in flood defence infrastructure can add resilience to sea-level rise. Natural foreshores can keep pace with sea-level rise by accumulating sediment and attenuate waves before reaching the adjacent flood defences. In this study we address how natural foreshores affect t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/1/42 |
| _version_ | 1818720764193406976 |
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| author | Richard Marijnissen Matthijs Kok Carolien Kroeze Jantsje van Loon-Steensma |
| author_facet | Richard Marijnissen Matthijs Kok Carolien Kroeze Jantsje van Loon-Steensma |
| author_sort | Richard Marijnissen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Integrating natural components in flood defence infrastructure can add resilience to sea-level rise. Natural foreshores can keep pace with sea-level rise by accumulating sediment and attenuate waves before reaching the adjacent flood defences. In this study we address how natural foreshores affect the future need for dike heightening. A simplified model of vertical marsh accretion was combined with a wave model and a probabilistic evaluation of dike failure by overtopping. The sensitivity of a marsh-dike system was evaluated in relation to a combination of processes: (1) sea-level rise, (2) changes in sediment concentration, (3) a retreat of the marsh edge, and (4) compaction of the marsh. Results indicate that foreshore processes considerably affect the need for dike heightening in the future. At a low sea-level rise rate, the marshes can accrete such that dike heightening is partially mitigated. But with sea-level rise accelerating, a threshold is reached where dike heightening needs to compensate for the loss of marshes, and for increasing water levels. The level of the threshold depends mostly on the delivery of sediment and degree of compaction on the marsh; with sufficient width of the marsh, lateral erosion only has a minor effect. The study shows how processes and practices that hamper or enhance marsh development today exacerbate or alleviate the challenge of flood protection posed by accelerated sea-level rise. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T20:28:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1211f4b11f1546989903e72c018cb057 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T20:28:01Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-1211f4b11f1546989903e72c018cb0572022-12-21T21:33:40ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122020-01-01814210.3390/jmse8010042jmse8010042The Sensitivity of a Dike-Marsh System to Sea-Level Rise—A Model-Based ExplorationRichard Marijnissen0Matthijs Kok1Carolien Kroeze2Jantsje van Loon-Steensma3Water Systems and Global Change group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The NetherlandsFaculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, The NetherlandsWater Systems and Global Change group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The NetherlandsWater Systems and Global Change group, Wageningen University & Research, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The NetherlandsIntegrating natural components in flood defence infrastructure can add resilience to sea-level rise. Natural foreshores can keep pace with sea-level rise by accumulating sediment and attenuate waves before reaching the adjacent flood defences. In this study we address how natural foreshores affect the future need for dike heightening. A simplified model of vertical marsh accretion was combined with a wave model and a probabilistic evaluation of dike failure by overtopping. The sensitivity of a marsh-dike system was evaluated in relation to a combination of processes: (1) sea-level rise, (2) changes in sediment concentration, (3) a retreat of the marsh edge, and (4) compaction of the marsh. Results indicate that foreshore processes considerably affect the need for dike heightening in the future. At a low sea-level rise rate, the marshes can accrete such that dike heightening is partially mitigated. But with sea-level rise accelerating, a threshold is reached where dike heightening needs to compensate for the loss of marshes, and for increasing water levels. The level of the threshold depends mostly on the delivery of sediment and degree of compaction on the marsh; with sufficient width of the marsh, lateral erosion only has a minor effect. The study shows how processes and practices that hamper or enhance marsh development today exacerbate or alleviate the challenge of flood protection posed by accelerated sea-level rise.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/1/42climate adaptationflood protectionsalt marsh |
| spellingShingle | Richard Marijnissen Matthijs Kok Carolien Kroeze Jantsje van Loon-Steensma The Sensitivity of a Dike-Marsh System to Sea-Level Rise—A Model-Based Exploration Journal of Marine Science and Engineering climate adaptation flood protection salt marsh |
| title | The Sensitivity of a Dike-Marsh System to Sea-Level Rise—A Model-Based Exploration |
| title_full | The Sensitivity of a Dike-Marsh System to Sea-Level Rise—A Model-Based Exploration |
| title_fullStr | The Sensitivity of a Dike-Marsh System to Sea-Level Rise—A Model-Based Exploration |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Sensitivity of a Dike-Marsh System to Sea-Level Rise—A Model-Based Exploration |
| title_short | The Sensitivity of a Dike-Marsh System to Sea-Level Rise—A Model-Based Exploration |
| title_sort | sensitivity of a dike marsh system to sea level rise a model based exploration |
| topic | climate adaptation flood protection salt marsh |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/1/42 |
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