Dealing with subsidence in the Dutch delta: do current management strategies fit todays challenge of mitigating subsidence?

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstractOther research output

Abstract

In many deltas worldwide subsidence still is an underestimated problem, although, especially in urbanizing deltas, the consequences start to become noticeable at an accelerated rate. Subsidence is driven by multiple causes like human-induced extraction of hydrocarbons and groundwater, drainage of phreatic groundwater, and loading by buildings and infrastructure and natural tectonics and loading by sediments and water (e.g. Syvitski et al., 2009, Tosi et al., 2009, 2013, Stouthamer et al., 2015). The exact contribution of the different drivers to total subsidence spatially differs within a delta and also between deltas. To mitigate subsidence and its negative impacts requires the understanding of the relative contribution of the drivers to total subsidence, and good predictions of the subsidence potential of the subsurface under different management scenarios and its impacts. This knowledge enables the development of sustainable management strategies dealing with subsidence, ensuring future delta life.
However, the knowledge on the quantitative contribution of the multiple drivers of subsidence is often lacking as well as a sustainable management strategy to deal with subsidence. Two reasons for this lacking management strategies are 1. that there is not a single problem owner or organized group of problem owners of subsidence, which makes it difficult to recognize this as a common societal issue and to develop and implement management strategies to mitigate subsidence, and related to this 2. it requires an integrated approach involving technical knowledge on the contributors to subsidence, water management, governance, legislation, socio-economic developments and spatial planning.
In our presentation we show the drivers of subsidence in the central part of the Rhine-Meuse delta, its impacts (Fig. 1) and how this is currently dealt with and we discuss the current management approach and how management strategies could be optimized.
Original languageEnglish
Pages28-28
Number of pages1
Publication statusPublished - 30 May 2016
EventSecond International Workshop on Coastal Subsidence - ISMAR-CNR, Venice, Italy
Duration: 30 May 20161 Jun 2016
file:///C:/Users/Esther/Downloads/2nd%20International%20workshop%20on%20coastal%20subsidence_rid.pdf

Conference

ConferenceSecond International Workshop on Coastal Subsidence
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityVenice
Period30/05/161/06/16
Internet address

Keywords

  • Subsidence management

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