Climate change and coastal evolution in Europe

Project Information

Grant agreement ID: EV5V0445

Project closed

Start date 1 June 1994

End date 31 August 1996

Funded under

• Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994

Total cost No data

EU contribution No data

Coordinated by

Rijks Geologische Dienst - Nederland
Netherlands

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Exploitable results

Climate change and coastal evolution in Europe

This project concerns the impacts of climate shifts on coastal evolution in Europe. A large array of methodologies, different coastal sites, and a variety of studied coastal forcing factors on different time scales, have led to a better understanding of coastal processes influenced by climate shifts (storm frequencies and magnitude), sea-level changes, tectonic and (isostatic) subsidence/uplift control, and sudden events (tsunami). Climate shift forcing on the mesoscale (1-100 years) and the macroscale (100-1000 years) (ie the strategic role of storms and tides, in combination with local morphology, exposure, sediment availability/delivery, and tectonic control) has been shown to be one of the major drives for coastal changes. Sediment availability plays a dominant role in the amount of change suffered by the coastal systems. It can be considered one of the most important threshold boundaries controlling the land/ocean interface. Sea-level changes will have a significant impact. There is particular concern for the tidally influenced flats and marshes, and the coastal areas with a net sediment deficit. Other areas at risk are those where isostatic uplift has countered sea-level rise until now. They are expected to be subject to coastal erosion in the near future under the accelerated sea-level rise scenario. The sensitivity/vulnerability of coastal systems to climate shifts, is largely controlled by storm magnitude and fetch, together with sediment availability. A particular case is shown to be the impact of tsunami waves. The impact of human interference is large. As long as economic pressure plays a dominant role behind any CZM policy, very little can be achieved towards an integrated coastal zone management. As such, this project contributed to a more rational, comprehensive and cost-effective ICZM approach.