Abstract
The Rif and the Engelsmanplaat form together a supra- to intertidal flat-complex at the fringe of the ebb-tidal delta and the back barrier area in the Frisian Inlet, located between the Dutch Wadden Sea Islands Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. The complex divides the Frisian Inlet into the Pinkegat Inlet in the west and the Zoutkamperlaag Inlet in the east. During the last decades the Engelsmanplaat has been suffering from serious erosion. This paper presents a study meant to find the causes for the recent erosion, especially to answer the question if the erosion is related to the human interferences in the area. The study is based on literature survey, data analysis and modelling of hydrodynamic processes. It is concluded that the recent erosion fits into the pseudo-cyclic development of the intertidal flat complex. However, the period of erosion may have been longer than normal and the rate of erosion may have been higher than normal. It is also concluded that such abnormal development is probably effects of the closure of the Lauwerszee in 1969 and not due to land subsidence caused by gas mining.
Highlights
The Rif and the Engelsmanplaat form together a supra- to intertidal flat-complex at the fringe of the ebb-tidal delta and the backbarrier area in the Frisian Inlet, located between the Dutch WaddenSea Islands Ameland and Schiermonnikoog (Figure 1)
With a tidal range of approximately 2 m the Frisian Inlet belongs to the meso-tidal inlets
The land subsidence results in locally a relative sea-level rise rate of more than 1 meter per century, which is about the critical sea-level rise rate at which the sedimentation will no more be able to keep pace with and the tidal basin will drown on the long-term
Summary
The Rif and the Engelsmanplaat form together a supra- to intertidal flat-complex at the fringe of the ebb-tidal delta and the backbarrier area in the Frisian Inlet, located between the Dutch Wadden. The land subsidence results in locally a relative sea-level rise rate of more than 1 meter per century, which is about the critical sea-level rise rate at which the sedimentation will no more be able to keep pace with and the tidal basin will drown on the long-term (van Goor et al, 2003) This concern was the initial motive of the present study. To answer these questions we first review the historical development of the Frishian Inlet and in particular the Engelsmanplaat by literature survey and analysis of available field data. By doing this the possibly abnormal development and the human interferences which can possibly have caused the abnormal development are identified.
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