Climate Research Wageningen UR : Projects, researchers and expertise

Wageningen UR focuses not only on the global climate system but also on regional and local climate phenomena, taking both scientific and social aspects into account in an integral way. Wageningen UR wants to play an effective role in the transition to a world that is both climate neutral and climate proof. Our strength is using the limited space available in our delta, in a climate-proof manner, thus providing opportunities for among others agriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, recreation and living

Rapportage Voorbereiding Uitvoering Nationaal Onderzoeksprogramma Kennis voor Klimaat

Op basis van de inbreng van zowel onderzoekers, nationale en lokale overheden als stakeholders in hotspots zijn onderzoeksthema‟s en kennisvragen geïdentificeerd die essentieel zijn voor de ontwikkeling van een lokale en nationale adaptatiestrategie. Samen met de onderzoeksprogramma‟s - Leven met Water, Klimaat voor Ruimte en Habiforum heeft Kennis voor Klimaat het criterium klimaatbestendigheid verder vorm gegeven in een definitiestudie en een vijftal deeluitwerkingen op verschillende bestuurlijke niveaus. Klimaatbestendigheid zal steeds meer een criterium worden bij ruimtelijke plannen en ingrepen, bij het opstellen van structuurvisies en Milieu Effect Rapportages (MER), bij de ontwikkeling van maatregelen

Re-evaluating safety risks of multifunctional dikes with a probabilistic risk framework

It is not uncommon for a flood defence to be combined with other societal uses as a multifunctional flood defence, from housing in urban areas to nature conservation in rural areas. The assessment of the safety of multifunctional flood defences is often done using conservative estimates. This study synthesizes new probabilistic approaches to evaluate the safety of multifunctional flood defences employed in the Netherlands and explores the results of these approaches. In this paper a case representing a typical Dutch river dike combining a flood safety function with a nature and housing function is assessed by its probability of failure for multiple reinforcement strategies considering multiple relevant failure mechanisms. Results show how the conservative estimates of multifunctional flood defences lead to a systematic underestimation of the reliability of these dikes. Furthermore, in a probabilistic assessment uncertainties introduced by multifunctional elements affect the level of safety of the dike proportional to the reliability of the dike itself. Hence, dikes with higher protection levels are more suitable to be combined with potentially harmful uses for safety, whereas dikes with low protection levels can benefit most from uses that contribute to safety.</p

Klimaatonderzoek Wageningen UR projecten, onderzoekers en expertise

Klimaatverandering vormt niet alleen een bedreiging, maar ook een kans om dingen beter te doen dan tot nu toe. Het is een uitdaging om de Nederlandse kwetsbaarheid om te zetten in onze sterkte. Onze sterkte gaat om het klimaatbestendig en klimaatneutraal gebruik van de beperkte ruimte in de delta voor onder andere landbouw, tuinbouw, aquacultuur, wonen en recreëren. Wageningen UR doet op verschillende fronten onderzoek naar klimaatverandering. Deze brochure en de daarbij behorende film bieden een overzicht van de expertise van Wageningen UR op het gebied van klimaatverandering. De relatie tussen de diverse onderzoekactiviteiten is daarbij belangrij

Ondernemingsplan Waddenacademie

In de Wet op het Waddenfonds wordt n.a.v. het advies van de commissie Meijer aangegeven dat het wenselijk is een begrotingsfonds in te stellen dat strekt ter financiering van extra investeringen in met name het waddengebied. Daarmee wordt beoogd de duurzame bescherming en ontwikkeling van de Waddenzee als natuurgebied en het behoud van het unieke open landschap na te streven. De Waddenacademie is een nieuw type, gebiedsgerichte, faciliterende kennisorganisatie, die als afzonderlijk instituut bij de KNAW wordt ingebed. De Waddenacademie is er met name op gericht om de doelstelling ‘het ontwikkelen van een duurzame kennishuishouding van het waddengebied’ van dit fonds te realiseren waarbij zij eveneens geacht wordt bij te dragen aan de andere 3 doelstellingen van dit fonds

Robust, multifunctional flood defenses in the Dutch rural riverine area

This paper reviews the possible functions as well as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for robust flood defenses in the rural riverine areas of the Netherlands on the basis of the recent literature and case studies at five locations in the Netherlands where dike reinforcement is planned. For each of the case studies semi-structured interviews with experts and stakeholders were conducted. At each of the five locations, suitable robust flood defenses could be identified that would contribute to the envisaged functions and ambitions for the respective areas. Primary strengths of a robust, multifunctional dike in comparison to a traditional dike appeared to be the more efficient space use due to the combination of different functions, a longer-term focus and greater safety

Klimaatdijk een verkenning

IntroductionClimate change, land subsidence and the increasing economic value of property and activities in flood-prone areas justify the question of how we can maintain flood protection in the Netherlands at its current level, or even improve it. The changing social, scientific and technical developments and insights of our day mean that the time is ripe to consider alternatives for flood protection, other than the customary call to raise the dikes yet higher, time and again.The Climate DikeThe Climate Dike is a logical addition to the current practice of raising and reinforcing dikes. A Climate Dike is defined here as ¿a collective term for design components that result in flood defences so robust that they are virtually impossible to breach, and thus offer lasting protection, even in the face of ongoing climate change The Climate Dike concerns a type of dike that allows some wave overflow and even a limited amount of flooding, but which prevents the uncontrolled catastrophic dike breaks associated with devastating flooding of the hinterland. The number of potential victims and the resulting damage are therefore in no way comparable to those incurred when a traditional dike breaks. The risk, calculated as a product of the probability of occurrence and the resulting damage, is therefore drastically reduced.Another feature of the Climate Dike is its integrated multi-functional character. On it, a wider range of socio-economic interests can be built than on traditional dikes. This means that greater opportunities for financing also become available.Before the Climate Dike can be approached as a serious alternative, clarity is needed on the relevant information, experience, policy and knowledge that exists (and does not yet exist). The current inventory was conducted with that requirement in mind.The authors looked at, among others, projects that presented problems and challenges similar to those expected in development of a Climate Dike. These relate, among others, to technical,economic, social and spatial issues.A long time horizonBecause of its more multidisciplinary character, development of a Climate Dike requires a longer time horizon than a traditional dike. The current system of 5-yearly testing, in which dikes that fail to meet current safety standards are immediately subjected to an urgent upgrade trajectory, provides an inadequate framework for developing the Climate Dike.In the current system, evolving scientific insights, environmental conditions and safety requirements could mean that even immediately after a dike has been strengthened, the next reinforcement is just around the corner. Such a situation is clearly undesired for a multifunctional Climate Dike with, for example, buildings on it. Also, after its construction, a Climate Dike has to be able to guarantee safety for many more decades than a traditional dike, and to do so in a way that other interests can build on, literally and figuratively. A longer planning horizon and new means of anticipating on future developments are therefore essential.ChallengingThe Climate Dike has no set dimensions or form, though it does tend to be wider and less steep than traditional dikes and include a protection zone parallel to existing flood defences. It goes without saying that not every aspect of the Climate Dike concept, which is often broad in both functional and physical terms, will be applicable at every location.One of the many challenges arising in applying the Climate Dike concept is the question of how to effectively look ahead over an extremely long stretch of time (for example, a century), since we cannot predict with any certainty how society will look after such a long period. How can ideas and procedures be tailored to as yet unknown future developments? How can we best ensure the ability to adapt to new situations and insights?One of the complexities involved in developing a Climate Dike is the use of space. How can the required space be secured without having to demolish large numbers of buildings and infrastructure and without excluding large zones of land from any possible socio-economic activity, perhaps for many decades?Costs and benefitsA Climate Dike is costly, if one limits the field of vision to the safety aspect and the traditional time horizon of 50 years. Broaden the view to bring in multiple interests that over a longer time period can, literally and figuratively, build on the presence of the Climate Dike, then this form of flood protection becomes much more financially attractive. Certainly when considering other options for flood protection, such as compartmentalisation dikes or the raising of immense tracts of land.Law and legislationTo give designers and managers of flood defences more opportunity to develop the Climate Dike, modifications are required in current design guidelines and technical prerequisites. Also, it must be made clear whether and how a Climate Dike is to be subjected to the 5-yearly testing cycle. Is such testing needed if the dike is considered to be virtually impossible to breach? How do we deal with the probability of flooding versus the risk of a dike break? Current law and legislation are geared fairly specifically to the traditional dike. Alternative concepts such as the Climate Dike call for modified policies, laws and legislation, as well as newly formulated design requirements and prerequisites. Or it will have to be made clearer how these should be interpreted for such innovative concepts