86
5 Challenges: Sectoral Descriptions
To not burst the scope of this book the German definition will mainly be taken as
orientation. This does not imply that other definitions are debased.
Exercise
1. Essential for water management either coastal protection management or drainage
management is the sea level. Within this section uncertainties for the determination
of sea level change in former times have been mentioned. Which uncertainties have
to be considered if the relative water level is investigated based on, for example,
archaeological finds? What are the differences regarding sea level change between
the different coastal areas along the southern North Sea Region?
2. Sea level change is one of the main driving factors in coastal areas. Especially, in
low-lying coastal areas sea level is an important constraint for coastal protection as
well as water management. There are different terms linked to sea level change, the
following questions are related to these terms. What is meant by
a. Transgression
b. Regression
c. Eustatic change of sea level
d. Isostatic change of sea level
e. Which type of sea level change is linked to global, which one to local changes?
3. In Fig. 5.12 the subsidence of the surface is shown and exemplified for The Netherlands. Has this process stopped or will it stop in the future? What are the problems
and/or challenges in the future if subsidence continues? Which options can be taken
by water management to counteract this process?
4. In Sect. 5.3.2 an excerpt of the understanding of water management tasks and duties
has been provided. The previously given historical delineation explains the development from the viewpoint of necessities emerging by the utilization of coastal
lowlands by settlers and farmers. If you compare the needs and interests of the historical development with the current tasks of water management and the anticipated
future changes what are the main challenges for water management?
5. The concentration of this section is on water quantity, the problems linked to water
quality haven’t been touched so far. Try to find out which interactions and interferences between different types of land use and water quality are due in coastal
areas.
5.4 Estuaries in the Southern North Sea Region
Estuaries indicate the transition between open sea and inland waters and the gradual
transition between land and water, by, for example, shallow water areas and periodically
inundated embankments (see Fig. 1.3). At estuaries the transportation hubs for worldwide
5 Challenges: Sectoral Descriptions
To not burst the scope of this book the German definition will mainly be taken as
orientation. This does not imply that other definitions are debased.
Exercise
1. Essential for water management either coastal protection management or drainage
management is the sea level. Within this section uncertainties for the determination
of sea level change in former times have been mentioned. Which uncertainties have
to be considered if the relative water level is investigated based on, for example,
archaeological finds? What are the differences regarding sea level change between
the different coastal areas along the southern North Sea Region?
2. Sea level change is one of the main driving factors in coastal areas. Especially, in
low-lying coastal areas sea level is an important constraint for coastal protection as
well as water management. There are different terms linked to sea level change, the
following questions are related to these terms. What is meant by
a. Transgression
b. Regression
c. Eustatic change of sea level
d. Isostatic change of sea level
e. Which type of sea level change is linked to global, which one to local changes?
3. In Fig. 5.12 the subsidence of the surface is shown and exemplified for The Netherlands. Has this process stopped or will it stop in the future? What are the problems
and/or challenges in the future if subsidence continues? Which options can be taken
by water management to counteract this process?
4. In Sect. 5.3.2 an excerpt of the understanding of water management tasks and duties
has been provided. The previously given historical delineation explains the development from the viewpoint of necessities emerging by the utilization of coastal
lowlands by settlers and farmers. If you compare the needs and interests of the historical development with the current tasks of water management and the anticipated
future changes what are the main challenges for water management?
5. The concentration of this section is on water quantity, the problems linked to water
quality haven’t been touched so far. Try to find out which interactions and interferences between different types of land use and water quality are due in coastal
areas.
5.4 Estuaries in the Southern North Sea Region
Estuaries indicate the transition between open sea and inland waters and the gradual
transition between land and water, by, for example, shallow water areas and periodically
inundated embankments (see Fig. 1.3). At estuaries the transportation hubs for worldwide