Details

In this study, the morphodynamic development of the coastline of the Wadden islands has been assessed using an indicator approach. The scope of this analysis is to derive useful information by looking at past morphological changes (natural and anthropogenic) to be used
as a basis for the planning of future nourishment works. In particular, the following indicators have been used in the analysis: MKL, mean low- and mean high-water line, dune foot position, and probability of breaching of the first dune row. Moreover, the impact of different
natural morphological features has been analysed: the sand wave development along the entire coastline and the morphological development of a number of tidal channels. The relative importance of those features for this stretch of coast is in fact often much larger than that one of the single nourishments. The same also holds for the large-scale developments (i.e. effects of closures), which makes the morphological development of the Wadden islands quite different with respect for example to that one of the Holland coast. It is for this reason nearly impossible to derive direct relationships between the effects of the nourishments and the indicators, which can be extrapolated to the entire region.