Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 14
Modelling Coastline Change of the Darss-Zingst
Peninsula with Sedsim
Michael Meyer, Jan Harff, and Chris Dyt
Abstract Coastlines do not change because of sea level variation alone. Instead,
the changes are the result of a complex interaction between climate and geologi-
cally controlled processes. Especially on a local scale, sedimentary dynamics play
an important role. Even with a rising sea level, concurrent sediment accumulation
may prevent coastline retreat. On the other hand, erosion may accelerate marine
transgressions remarkably. The southern coast of the Baltic Sea is an impressive
example for the impact of erosion, transport, and accumulation of sediments to
coastline change during the Holocene. Since the end of the Littorina transgres-
sion the coastline morphology has been shaped here mainly by longshore sediment
transport controlled by the geological situation and glacioisostatic influence. The
longshore sediment transport is driven by wind and consequently waves shaping
young Holocene structures like the Darss-Zingst peninsula. In order to model these
processes, Sedsim (SEDimentary Basin SIMulation), a stratigraphic forward mod-
elling software, has been applied for the Darss-Zingst peninsula on a centennial time
scale. In Sedsim, the sedimentary dynamics are modelled by an approximation to
the Navier-Stokes equation. Using high-resolution digital elevation data, informa-
tion about the local wave characteristics, geology, estimates of sea level rise, and
experimental scenarios for the development of the Darss-Zingst peninsula through
the coming 840 years are presented. The results of the experiments show possible
implications to the area of investigation and may serve as a basis for decision makers
in coastal zone management.
Keywords Coast line change
·
Sediment transport modelling
·
Sedsim
·
Southern
Baltic Sea
·
Darss-Zingst peninsula
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