Modeling Storm Surge Attenuation by an Integrated Nature-Based and Engineered Flood Defense System in the Scheldt Estuary (Belgium)

There is increasing interest in the use of nature-based approaches for mitigation of storm surges along coasts, deltas, and estuaries. However, very few studies have quantified the effectiveness of storm surge height reduction by a real-existing, estuarine-scale, nature-based, and engineered flood d...

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Main Authors: Sven Smolders, Maria João Teles, Agnès Leroy, Tatiana Maximova, Patrick Meire, Stijn Temmerman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/1/27
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author Sven Smolders
Maria João Teles
Agnès Leroy
Tatiana Maximova
Patrick Meire
Stijn Temmerman
author_facet Sven Smolders
Maria João Teles
Agnès Leroy
Tatiana Maximova
Patrick Meire
Stijn Temmerman
author_sort Sven Smolders
collection DOAJ
description There is increasing interest in the use of nature-based approaches for mitigation of storm surges along coasts, deltas, and estuaries. However, very few studies have quantified the effectiveness of storm surge height reduction by a real-existing, estuarine-scale, nature-based, and engineered flood defense system, under specific storm surge conditions. Here, we present data and modelling results from a specific storm surge in the Scheldt estuary (Belgium), where a hybrid flood defense system is implemented, consisting of flood control areas, of which some are restored into tidal marsh ecosystems, by use of culvert constructions that allow daily reduced tidal in- and outflow. We present a hindcast simulation of the storm surge of 6 December 2013, using a TELEMAC-3D model of the Scheldt estuary, and model scenarios showing that the hybrid flood defense system resulted in a storm surge height reduction of up to half a meter in the estuary. An important aspect of the work was the implementation of model formulations for calculating flow through culverts of restored marshes. The latter was validated comparing simulated and measured discharges through a physical scale model of a culvert, and through a real-scale culvert of an existing restored marsh during the storm surge.
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spelling doaj.art-b2f4134e9e59493cbde67486d214e28d2022-12-21T22:24:27ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122020-01-01812710.3390/jmse8010027jmse8010027Modeling Storm Surge Attenuation by an Integrated Nature-Based and Engineered Flood Defense System in the Scheldt Estuary (Belgium)Sven Smolders0Maria João Teles1Agnès Leroy2Tatiana Maximova3Patrick Meire4Stijn Temmerman5Flanders Hydraulics Research, Department of Mobility and Public Works, Flemish Government, 2660 Antwerp, BelgiumEDF R&D/LNHE & Université Paris-Est, Saint-Venant Hydraulics Laboratory (ENPC, EDF R&D, CEREMA), 78400 Chatou, FranceEDF R&D/LNHE & Université Paris-Est, Saint-Venant Hydraulics Laboratory (ENPC, EDF R&D, CEREMA), 78400 Chatou, FranceFlanders Hydraulics Research, Department of Mobility and Public Works, Flemish Government, 2660 Antwerp, BelgiumEcosystem management research group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1c, 2610 Antwerp, BelgiumEcosystem management research group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1c, 2610 Antwerp, BelgiumThere is increasing interest in the use of nature-based approaches for mitigation of storm surges along coasts, deltas, and estuaries. However, very few studies have quantified the effectiveness of storm surge height reduction by a real-existing, estuarine-scale, nature-based, and engineered flood defense system, under specific storm surge conditions. Here, we present data and modelling results from a specific storm surge in the Scheldt estuary (Belgium), where a hybrid flood defense system is implemented, consisting of flood control areas, of which some are restored into tidal marsh ecosystems, by use of culvert constructions that allow daily reduced tidal in- and outflow. We present a hindcast simulation of the storm surge of 6 December 2013, using a TELEMAC-3D model of the Scheldt estuary, and model scenarios showing that the hybrid flood defense system resulted in a storm surge height reduction of up to half a meter in the estuary. An important aspect of the work was the implementation of model formulations for calculating flow through culverts of restored marshes. The latter was validated comparing simulated and measured discharges through a physical scale model of a culvert, and through a real-scale culvert of an existing restored marsh during the storm surge.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/1/27culvert flowtelemac-mascaretnature-based flood defensestorm surge attenuation
spellingShingle Sven Smolders
Maria João Teles
Agnès Leroy
Tatiana Maximova
Patrick Meire
Stijn Temmerman
Modeling Storm Surge Attenuation by an Integrated Nature-Based and Engineered Flood Defense System in the Scheldt Estuary (Belgium)
Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
culvert flow
telemac-mascaret
nature-based flood defense
storm surge attenuation
title Modeling Storm Surge Attenuation by an Integrated Nature-Based and Engineered Flood Defense System in the Scheldt Estuary (Belgium)
title_full Modeling Storm Surge Attenuation by an Integrated Nature-Based and Engineered Flood Defense System in the Scheldt Estuary (Belgium)
title_fullStr Modeling Storm Surge Attenuation by an Integrated Nature-Based and Engineered Flood Defense System in the Scheldt Estuary (Belgium)
title_full_unstemmed Modeling Storm Surge Attenuation by an Integrated Nature-Based and Engineered Flood Defense System in the Scheldt Estuary (Belgium)
title_short Modeling Storm Surge Attenuation by an Integrated Nature-Based and Engineered Flood Defense System in the Scheldt Estuary (Belgium)
title_sort modeling storm surge attenuation by an integrated nature based and engineered flood defense system in the scheldt estuary belgium
topic culvert flow
telemac-mascaret
nature-based flood defense
storm surge attenuation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/1/27
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