The sediment capture efficiency of a managed realignment polder

The Ems Dollart estuary is facing high levels of turbidity, which hinders the growth of algae and impacts the entire ecosystem. In recent years, turbidity has increased here with 0.5 to 3% per year between 1990 and 2010, corresponding to a doubling of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) within 24 years for the upper bound of 3%. This trend is...

Hydrodynamic and morphodynamic response of Perkpolder after a managed realignment

A managed realignment is the landward relocation of a flood defence to re-establish tidal exchange on formerly reclaimed land. In a managed realignment, the newly formed intertidal area acts together with the realigned dike as a nature-based flood defence system. In this thesis, the focus is on the managed realignment of Perkpolder, a former...

The application of a continuous nourishment in a tidal inlet system: Case study Ameland Inlet

There is a demand by Rijkswaterstaat for CO2-neutral sustainable methods and technologies to maintain the Dutch coastline. The Zandwindmolen is a fixed CO2-neutral dredge, transport and nourishment concept that nourishes sediment continuously. The purpose of using a Zandwindmolen is to provide the entire surrounding area where the Zandwindmolen...

The application of a continuous nourishment on wave and tide-dominated systems

The Sandwindmill system could decarbonize the Dutch coastal protection whilst harmonizing with the building with nature approach. The system consists of a pipeline connecting an offshore borrow location to a nearshore area, where the mined sediment is discharged. The equipment is powered by wind turbines. As long as the wind blows sufficiently,...

Sediment dynamics and transport regimes in a narrow microtidal estuary

Estuarine sediment dynamics are a consequence of various forcings (barotropic, estuarine circulation, and fluvial) that vary in space and time. Here, we present a study examining sediment dynamics in a narrow microtidal estuary, the Lower Passaic River in New Jersey, USA. The analysis incorporates measurements of suspended sediments,...

Morphological Response of the Dutch Sandy Coast to Accelerated Sea Level Rise: A process-based modelling approach using Delft3D, applied to the Delfland coast

Accelerated sea level rise (SLR) is predicted to have multiple adverse impacts on the coastal zone, aggravating phenomena such as coastal erosion on sandy coasts. For climate change adaptation planning and informing policy, morphodynamic changes occurring at coastlines are becoming increasingly important. In this study, a calibrated Delft3D...

Improving XBeach non-hydrostatic model predictions of the swash morphodynamics of intermediate-reflective beaches

A very common observation is the episodic erosion of beaches during storms and the slow recovery (accretion) afterwards (Yates et al. 2009). Morphodynamic models parameterize physical processes in order to relate the fluid motions (hydrodynamics) to the bed level changes (morphodynamics) over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Despite...

The influence of the Sand Engine on the sediment transports and budgets of the Delfland coast: Analysis of bi-monthly high-resolution coastal profiles

The Sand Engine is a new innovation in coastal protection, a mega feeder nourishment. This pilot project was constructed in 2011 along the Delfland coast, which is historically prone to erosion. Since its construction, the Sand Engine is intensively being monitored to track the morphological development.<br/><br/>The objective of this thesis is...

Beach representation in morphodynamic predictions: Coupling models to improve beach behavior applied to Anmok beach

Numerical process-based morphodynamic models are widespread in coastal engineering practice and have become the new standard when it comes to assessing the impact of natural or man-made structures on coastal environments. The most common practice among engineers is to focus on a single spatial and time scale, which means either neglecting...