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Climate change from a Coastal Engineering perspective

Climate Change Conference – Budapest, Hungry February 2009. Climate change from a Coastal Engineering perspective. Margaret R. Boshek Coastal and Marine Engineering & Management TU Delft, Delft NL. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Angel Borja, AZTI, Spain

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Climate change from a Coastal Engineering perspective

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  1. Climate Change Conference – Budapest, Hungry February 2009 Climate change from a Coastal Engineering perspective Margaret R. Boshek Coastal and Marine Engineering & Management TU Delft, Delft NL

  2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Angel Borja, AZTI, Spain • Amaia Lopez Escolar and Marta Pascual Altares, MER, Spain • Alan Brampton/Ian Townend, HR Wallingford, U.K. • Karen Edelvang, DHI, Denmark • Robert Nicholls, Mikis Tsimplis & Peter Challenor, University of Southampton, U.K. • José Jiménez, UPC, Barcelona, Spain • University of Cantabria, Spain • Wenjing Xie, University of Nanjing • Kate Davis, SOES, University of Southampton • Micheal Collins, SOES, University of Southampton • Marcel Stive, CITG, TU Delft

  3. 1.Intro 2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  4. 1.Intro 2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  5. Climate Change A change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. using statistical tests), by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. It refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. (IPCC Synthesis Report, 2007) 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  6. 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  7. 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  8. 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  9. 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  10. Coastal Systems • The Coastal Zone is that space in which terrestrial environments influence marine (or lacustrine) environments and vice-versa. The coastal zone is of variable width and may also change in time (Carter, 1998) • Coastal systems are considered as the interacting low-lying areas and shallow coastal waters, including their human components (Nicholls et al, 2007) 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  11. Nicholls, R.J., (IPCC), 2007 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  12. Kay and Alder, 2004 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  13. Sea-Level Rise 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  14. Sea-Level Rise 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  15. Sea-Level Rise 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  16. Sea-Level Rise 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  17. Sea-Level Rise Nicholls, 2000 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  18. Sea-Level Rise Estuaries • ‘An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water which has free connection with the open sea and within which sea water is measurably diluted with fresh water derived from land drainage’ (Pritchard, 1952) • Each estuary is a unique result of geology, climate, marine and ecological conditions and the accumulative effect of a number of man-made works • Estuaries are complex systems that react strongly to modifications of either the surrounding basin or the adjacent sea 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  19. Sea-Level Rise ESTUARY ROLLOVER Landward Translation 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  20. Sea-Level Rise Average depth increases 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  21. Sea-Level Rise Average depth reduces Sediment Infilling 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  22. Sea-Level Rise Sediment Expulsion 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  23. Sea-Level Rise 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  24. Wave Climate Waves are influenced by bottom bathymetry Deeper water allows for greater wave energy to impact the coast causing realignment Water level higher on structures as well as wave run-up higher on coastal defenses Changes in mean annual wave height Changes in extreme annual wave height Changes in wave direction, hence in beaches 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  25. Wave Climate Dune Migration 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  26. Storm Intensity & Frequency Increased ocean temperatures creates greater & stronger cyclones Intensified and heightened storm surge Increased offshore storm intensity translates to more ocean swell 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  27. Storm Intensity & Frequency 1.Intro2.Climate Change 3.Effects 4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  28. Consequences on the Coastline • Erosion of the coastline because of sea level rise • Changes in wind patterns and storms leading to increased/changed erosion patterns • Changes in wave patterns and extreme events • Increase in flooding risk for shallow areas • Reduced effects of existing coastal protection • Salt water intrusion in ground water • Influence on harbor constructions • Increases the rate of recession of natural cliffs/beaches • Changes in human pressures • Changes in water temperature Edelvang, 2007 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  29. The Need for Educated Coastal Engineers 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  30. Levee design did not incorporate allowances for future changes in sea level or storm intensity Levees not properly maintained/monitored Hurricane was only catalyst for New Orleans disaster; failure of levees caused most damage Hurricane strength can be linked to increased storm intensity due to climate change One of costliest natural disaster in US history Brought coastal protection issues to the forefront Hurricane Katrina Disaster 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  31. Development of World Population (Black indicates coastal population) 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  32. Areas Most Vulnerable to Sea Level Rise • Bangladesh • Egypt • Gambia • Indonesia • Maldives • Mozambique • Pakistan • Senegal • Surinam • Thailand 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  33. Adaption of Developed Coastlines Retreat Accommodation Protection soft or hard Nicholls, 2000 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  34. Coastal defense management and planning: options • Do nothing (i.e. leave the coast alone to find its own equilibrium state); • Undertake managed realignment (i.e. move the defense inland to allow the creation of new habitats); • Opt for partial set-back (allowing parts of the coast to erode while protecting others); • Maintain existing defenses (reinforce and repair); • Build new defenses (protecting previously unprotected parts of the coast); • Advance seaward (i.e. offshore breakwaters). French, 1997 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering 5.Way Forward

  35. “Building for the Future” • Recognizing climate trends and designing accordingly for the life of the project • Adjustments to human impacts on the climate may take many years to take affect • Monitoring existing sea defenses and making adjustments/replacements where necessary to ensure system strength • Education for coastal engineers on climate changes, effects, and solutions • Designing adjustable structures or using materials that allow for easy renovation 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering5.Way Forward

  36. Chap 6-1 Coasts are experiencing the adverse consequences of hazards related to climate and sea level Coasts will be exposed to increasing risks over coming decades due to many compounding climate change factors The impact of climate change on coasts is exacerbated by increasing human induced pressures Awareness: IPCC Fourth Assessment Report • Chap 6-2 • Adaptation for the coasts of developing countries will be more challenging than for coasts of developed countries due to constraints on adaptive capacity • Adaptation costs for vulnerable coasts are much less than the costs of inaction • The unavoidability of sea level rise even in the long term frequently conflicts with present day human development patterns and trends 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering5.Way Forward

  37. SUGGESTED WAYS FORWARD(on a regional scale) • Public Awareness • Establishment of coastal observatories (e.g. Channel Coastal Observatory (CCO), Southampton www.channelcoast.org • Industry/Academia linkages and collaboration (e.g. marine climate change impacts - www.mccip.org.uk/arc • Training and education in coastal processes and management (of risk) 1.Intro2.Climate Change3.Effects4.Coastal Engineering5.Way Forward

  38. QUESTIONS?

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