Development of coastal protection measures for small islands in the wadden sea using a risk-based approach

Abstract

The Halligen in the Northfrisian part of the UNESCO - World Natural Heritage Wadden Sea are exposed to extreme storm surges due to climate change and sea level rise. Existing coastal protection measures in this area do not consider the future sea state and are mainly based on tradition and expert knowledge. The presented work is part of the project ZukunftHallig (supported by the German Coastal Engineering Research Council) and has the main objective to design and evaluate new coastal protection techniques and management strategies for the Halligen. With numerical simulations hydrological parameters are investigated. Furthermore sensitivity analyses expose possible variations in future storm surges and illustrate the difference in significant wave heights for varying wind climates. This risk based approach of the project is a suitable way to ensure life for future generations on these islands under sustainable ecological und economic conditions.