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5 Challenges: Sectoral Descriptions
Fig. 5.32 Changes of water levels in the Elbe and Schelde estuary. At the Schelde the tidal range
increased from 4.1 m to 5.5 m in 90 years at Antwerp (bottom, km 90). At the Elbe tidal range increased in Hamburg from 2.1 m to 3.6 m, at the barrier in Geesthacht tidal range increased about 2 m
in 90 years (top, km 140). Source: TIDE Project Consortium (2013)
The interventions led to increased current velocity and to an increase of the tidal range
at the inland border in the Weser river. As consequence the brackish water body was shifted
more upstream. While in former times the brackish water zone oscillated a few kilometers
depending on tides and fresh water discharge, today the oscillation extends more than
10 km. It is important to keep in mind that these estuaries were not solely affected by
human interventions but also by climate change, that is, sea level rise. The effect of sea
level rise also has an impact on water levels, the oscillation of the brackish water zone