23 January 2025 – 10th edition of the Brunings lecture
Coastal dune dynamics: measuring interactions with plants and effects of extreme events
Location
Pangea Lecture Hall, Victor J. Koningsbergergebouw, Budapestlaan 4a-b, 3584 CD Utrecht
Programme
13:15 welcome for coffee / tea
13:30 welcome by Prof. Maarten Kleinhans
13:35 Dr Glenn Strypsteen, Coastal Engineer, KU Leuven – Vegetation and Sand: Partners in Coastal Dune Development
14:15 questions
14:25 Dr Marion Tissier, Assistant Professor of Ocean Waves, TU Delft – High-resolution field measurements of dune erosion during storms
14:50 questions
14:55 coffee / tea
15:25 Dr Timothy Price, Assistant Professor of Coastal morphodynamics, Utrecht University – Quick Reaction Force for measuring dune erosion during storms: first results
15:40 Prof. Gerben Ruessink, Professor Wave-dominated coastal morphodynamics, Utrecht University – Delta ENIGMA: a Large Scientific Research Infrastructure for biogeomorphological research on the present and future delta landscape under extreme events
15:55 closure and walk to the Metronome lab (Earth Simulation Laboratory)
16:00 drinks and bites in Earth Simulation Lab, with delta experiments by Dr Lisanne Braat, VENI laurate
Abstracts
Dr Glenn Strypsteen – Vegetation and Sand: Partners in Coastal Dune Development
Coastal dunes form and evolve through a delicate balance of wind-driven sand transport and vegetation growth. Plants like marram grass play a crucial role by trapping sand and promoting growth over time. In this presentation, I will share insights from field studies that explore the interactions between planted vegetation and sediment dynamics, highlighting the seasonal variations in sand trapping efficiency and plant responses to changing conditions. These findings emphasize the importance of vegetation in enhancing the resilience of dunes as natural defenses against coastal hazards and inform strategies for sustainable dune management.
Dr Marion Tissier – High-resolution field measurements of dune erosion during storms
Conducting detailed measurements of dune erosion processes in the field is challenging because sufficiently large storms that significantly erode dunes are difficult to predict far in advance, leaving only limited time for instrument deployment. This explains why much of the current knowledge on dune erosion processes has been derived from laboratory experiments, where both the incoming wave field and bathymetry are highly simplified.
The Realdune/REFLEX field experiment was designed to bridge the gap between detailed but simplified laboratory measurements and real-world field conditions. During this experiment, two artificial dunes were constructed just above the high-water line, ensuring they would erode during more moderate, and thus more frequent, storms. Dense instrument arrays were deployed offshore and near the dunes to capture the hydrodynamic conditions and dune evolution. During the Brunings lecture, I will present the main findings of these experiments.