Abstract
When the greenhouse effect would result in an acceleration of the mean sea-level rise, it is of crucial importance for the coastal areas of the southern North Sea whether or not the mean height of the tidal flats will rise accordingly. If not, coastal protection in areas behind tidal flats will have to be adapted, since wave energy will no longer be dissipated in front of the coastline and will attack the protective dikes heavily.
An analysis of long-term data of tidal flat heights and a comparison with the sea-level rise have been carried out, including data from ~ 200 continuous and temporary tide-recording stations along the Dutch, German, and Danish coast. The results demonstrate a spatially more or less horizontal mean sea level (MSL). Its rise during this century varied between 10 and 20 cm per 100 y. Not any acceleration of this rise during the last decade has been recognized. The tidal range, however, did increase during the last two decades.
A significant height change of the tidal flats parallel to the rising sea level has not taken place. If the rate of global sea-level rise would increase rapidly in the future, the mean tidal flat height might even be reduced, due to both increasing turbulence and higher wave and current energy with rising water levels.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Barnett, T.P., 1984. The estimation of ‘global’ sea level change: A problem of uniqueness.—J. Geophys. Res. 89: 7980–7988.
Lassen, H., 1989. Oertliche und zeitliche Variationen des Meeresspiegels in der südöstlichen Nordsee—Die Küste 50 (in prep.).
Malde, J. van, 1986. Relatieve rijzing van gemiddelde zeeniveaus. In: Zee in-zicht. Symp., T.H. Delft: 53–85.
Reineck, H.E., 1978. The tidal flats on the German North Sea coast—Die Küste 32: 66–83.
Siefert, W., 1983. Morphologische Analysen für das Knechtsand-Gebiet.—Die Küste 38: 1–57.
Siefert, W., 1987. Umsatz- und Bilanzanalysen für das Küstenvorfeld der Deutschen Bucht.—Die Küste 45: 1–57.
Siefert, W. & V. Barthel, 1980. The German MORAN Project. 17th ICCE, Sydney 1980, ASCE: 443–444.
Siefert, W. & H. Lassen, 1985. Gesamtdarstellung der Wasserstandsverhältnisse im Küstenvorfeld der Deutschen Bucht nach neuen Pegelauswertungen.— Die Küste 42: 1–77.
Siefert, W. & H. Lassen, 1987. Zum säkularen Verhalten der mittleren Watthöhen an ausgewählten Beispielen.—Die Küste 45: 59–70.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Siefert, W. (1990). Sea-Level Changes and Tidal Flat Characteristics. In: Beukema, J.J., Wolff, W.J., Brouns, J.J.W.M. (eds) Expected Effects of Climatic Change on Marine Coastal Ecosystems. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 57. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2003-3_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2003-3_14
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7397-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2003-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive