Abstract
Many Holocene coastal deltas comprise substantial amounts of peat, which is most compressible of all natural soils. In these organo-clastic deltas, that are often densely populated, natural and human-induced compaction of peat soils may cause substantial land subsidence. An extensive field-based research in the Rhine-Meuse delta (NL), Cumberland Marshes (CA) and Biebrza National Park (PL) showed that the amount and rate of subsidence due to peat compaction in deltaic settings are highly variable in time and space, and may be in the order of meters (amount; timescale 102-103) and cm/yr (rate; timescale 100-102). Key factors influencing this variability are the (1) effective stress, which is a function of the weight of the overburden and pore water pressure, (2) thickness of the peat layer, (3) organic-matter content of peat, and (4) occurrence of intercalated clastic layers. Groundwater table lowering may cause substantial additional subsidence due to oxidation of peat above the groundwater table. The collected field data has been used to develop and calibrate a peat compaction model, which can be used to predict subsidence due to peat compaction in different Holocene deltaic settings. The commonly heterogenic composition of deltaic sequences affects the present and future potential of subsidence due to peat compaction in deltas, and thus is important information for subsidence mitigation and management strategies.
| Original language | English |
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| Pages | 22 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 30 May 2016 |
| Event | 2nd International Workshop on Coastal Subsidence - Venice, Italy Duration: 30 May 2016 → 1 May 2017 http://coastsub2.dmsa.unipd.it/ file:///C:/Users/Esther/Downloads/2nd%20International%20workshop%20on%20coastal%20subsidence_rid%20(2).pdf |
Conference
| Conference | 2nd International Workshop on Coastal Subsidence |
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| Abbreviated title | COASTSUB2 |
| Country/Territory | Italy |
| City | Venice |
| Period | 30/05/16 → 1/05/17 |
| Internet address |