Sediment dynamics and increasing anthropogenic pressure: ways forward? Discussion workshop Flanders Hydraulics. Antwerp, Belgium 1

Questions posed: Mud origin in the Belgian Coastal Zone Climate change and sediment budgets Integration of data sets, of use for management purposes Also Sources of sediments Transport rates and pathways Areas of deposition Questions posed: Mud origin in the Belgian Coastal Zone Climate change and sediment budgets Integration of data sets, of use for management purposes Also Sources of sediments Transport rates and pathways Areas of deposition

Sedimentary Environments Source: Gorsline & Swift, 1977

Source: Larson & Kraus 1995

Collins and Evans, 1986

Hard Stabilisation: Armoring

Source: Harris and Collins, 1988

Source: Grochowski et al, (1991)

Source: Velegrakis et al, 2003

Source: Collins and Evans, 1995

Source: HR Wallingford

Consequences on the coastline Erosion of the coastline because of sea level rise Changes in wind patterns and storms leading to increased/changed ersoion patterns Changes in wave patterns and extreme events Increase in flooding risk for shallow areas Reduced effects of existing coastal protection (dikes) Salt water intrusion in ground water Increased pressure on sluice capacities Influence on harbour constructions Edelvang, 2007

Some concluding remarks To mitigate the impacts of climate change on the coast, the general point of view is adaption We need to improve today’s management to address tomorrow’s challenges Climate change is an added dimension to coastal management Climate change effects must to be integrated in ICZM Edelvang, 2007

SUGGESTED WAYS FORWARD (on a regional scale) Public Awareness Establishment of coastal observatories (e.g. Channel Coastal Observatory (CCO), Southampton Industry/Academia linkages and collaboration (e.g. marine climate change impacts - Training and education in coastal processes and management (of risk)

A growing list of partners Sponsoring partners MCICP is a partnership between marine scientists and sponsors from government, its agencies and NGOs. The principal aim of the partnership is to develop a long-term multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the implications of climate change in our seas: Scientific partners The following organisations contribute to the work of MCCIP through the provision of scientific expertise on marine climate change issues.