Title of the project
OR ELSE project: effect of large-scale sand extractions on sand waves
Type
PhD Research
Duration
March 2023 – February 2027
Persons involved
W. Ploeg, MSc (PhD candidate)
Prof. dr. S.J.M.H. Hulscher (promotor)
Dr. ir. P.C. Roos (daily supervisor)
Dr. ir. B.W. Borsje (supervisor)
Funding of the project
Part of the NWO-funded OR ELSE project.
Summary of the research
Tidal sand waves (or marine dunes) are rhythmic bedforms observed in for example the North Sea, having a height of several meters, wavelength in the order of hundreds of meters and a migration rate of meters per year. As large amounts of sand are extracted from the North Sea for coastal reinforcement and construction purposes, these sand waves will be disturbed by the large-scale extractions, as will the sea life. This research therefore takes place on the interface of sand extractions, sand waves and sea life: what is the influence of sand extractions on bed forms and bottom life, and how do the latter two influence one another? This will be researched by combining idealized modelling approaches with complex numerical models like Delft3D.
This research takes place in the scope of the OR ELSE project, acronym for Operational Recommendations for Ecosystem-based Large-scale Sand Extraction. It aims to investigate the effect of sand extractions on sea life, with our specific work package focusing on the interaction between bed-form and sea life.
Keywords
Tidal sand waves, sand extraction, morphodynamic modelling
More information
Wout Ploeg
Room: Horst-Ring W205
E-mail: w.ploeg@utwente.nl