Theme 2 Conference “Impacts of Global Change
on Deltas, Estuaries and Coastal Lagoons”
Conference Report
s and
Contents
1
Introduction
4
2
Conference Program
5
3
Study visit to the Ebro Delta
12
4
Conference Sessions
16
4.1
Opening Session
16
4.2
Plenary sessions
16
4.2.1 “Coastal retreat in deltas: sea level rise versus sediment deficit”
17
4.2.2 “Are Old World Deltas Human Constructs?”
17
4.2.3 “Changing hydrological conditions and nutrient loadings in the
Po River: possible impacts on its delta and coastal lagoons”
18
4.2.4 “Basic axes of the Catalan Strategy of adaptation to climate change”
19
4.2.5 “The Anthropocene battleground: Geology, geography and human
influence on the delivery of sediment to the coastal ocean”
20
4.2.6 “Sediment imbalances in European deltas and estuaries. The case
of the Ebro delta”
21
4.2.7. “Sediment imbalances in Asian deltas”
22
4.2.8 “Sediment management in the Elbe estuary”
23
4.2.9 The Coastal Zone Community of Practice of the Group on Earth
Observations: Empowering Integrated Coastal Zone Management
through Earth Observations
24
4.2.10 “Earth observation of coastal areas in Catalonia”
25
4.2.11 “Spatial Modelling of Relative Elevation and Soil Organic
Carbon Storage in Louisiana Deltaic Wetlands with Relative Sea Level
Rise and Restoration”
25
4.2.12 “The effects of global warming on coastal Carolina”
26
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/
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4.2.13 “Managing deltas and coastal areas under a scenario of
climate change and energy scarcity”
27
4.2.14 “Coastal planning, restoration and management in
Ebro delta”
28
4.2.15 “Flood mitigation by restoring river floodplain functions
in the Lower Danube (including Danube Delta)”
29
4.2.16 “Australian estuaries: geomorphological development and
potential response to sea-level rise”
30
4.2.17 “Sustainable management and planning of Latin–American
deltas and estuaries”
31
4.3 Parallel and posters sessions
Annex – Participants List
32
37
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/
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1.
Introduction
Deltas, estuaries and coastal lagoons are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems. At
the same time, they are intensively exploited and impacted by human activities that strongly
modify habitats and fluxes of water, sediments and nutrients. Increasing alteration of river
basins together with threats of climate change, energy scarcity and biological invasions put these
systems at risk. The complexity and vulnerability of this type of system in terms of natural
functioning and human impacts makes urgent the definition and implementation of new ways to
conduct research, observations, and management to mitigate the impacts of human activities and
natural hazards in the coastal zone. Deltas are also excellent areas to study future impacts of
global change because most are subsiding and thus are often already experiencing rapid rates of
relative water level rise predicted for the near future eustatic sea-level rise.
The overarching Conference objective was to analyze and synthesize the main impacts of global
change on estuarine systems from the perspective of research, observation, management and
governance. The intention was to understand the state-of-the-art and discuss future perspectives
and strategies for collaboration between networks. The meeting considered the main specific
problems of deltaic systems, in particular water and sediment management under a scenario of
increasing sea level and flooding risks, in order to discuss solutions based on an integrated and
systematic approach. Another goal of the DeltaNet Symposium was to involve other
international networks on deltas, to hold a summit of world delta networks that will chart future
collaboration avenues.
The Conference counted with the attendance of 141 participants coming from 18 different
countries (119 from Europe; 17 from North America; 3 from Asia; 1 from Africa, and 1 from
Australia) representing 29 public administrations, 6 research centres and 25 universities from all
around the world. The attendance of local stakeholders was also important, with a total of 10
institutions represented, including administrations, socioeconomic agents and NGO’s. The
complete list of participants is provided at the end of this document.
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2.
Conference Program
The Conference was preceded by three workshops (Integrated Delta Approach, Flood Risk and
Sediment Management, and Healthy Delta Environment) performed the first conference day
(June 6); this was followed by a study visit to the Ebro delta (second day) and, two days of
plenary sessions, parallel oral sessions and poster sessions (third and fourth day). The workshop
were held in the Miami Hotel, whereas the rest of the indoor activities were carried out in the
Cultural Centre of Sant Carles de la Ràpita, thanks to the support of the City Hall.
In addition, the second day a special session on international networks of deltas and estuaries
was carried out in order to involve other international networks on deltas and estuaries to chart
future collaboration avenues. During this special session, the main goals and activities of some
of the existing networks were presented. Dr. Robert Christian represented the GEO Coastal
Zone Community of Practice; Dr. Boris Hochfeld represented the TIDE Project; Dr. James
Stefanov represented the Delta Research and Global Observation Network; Dr. Wim van Driel
represented the World Delta Alliance and Mrs. Liesbeth Vernaeve represented the DeltaNet
network.
The detailed program is presented below:
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DELTANET INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Impacts of Global Change on Deltas, Estuaries and Coastal Lagoons
Research, observation and management
Ebro Delta, Catalonia, Spain
June 6-10, 2011
FINAL PROGRAM
June 6, Monday. DeltaNet Project Workshops (Miami Hotel, only by invitation).
10 h – 13.30 h. Workshop 3, Integrated Delta Approach (theme 1)
10 h – 13.30 h. Workshop 1, Healthy Delta Environment (theme 3)
13.30 h – 14.30 h. Lunch
14.30 h – 17.30 h. Workshop 2, Flood Risk and Sediment Management (theme 2)
17.30 h – 18.00 h. Coffee break.
18.00 h – 20.00 h. Steering Committee of the DeltaNet Project.
June 7, Tuesday. Conference registration, study visit and Deltas Summit
9 h. – 18 h. Conference Registration.
9 h. – 11 h. Meeting of DeltaNet partners (responsible theme partners).
11.30 h – 17.30 h. Study visit to the Ebro Delta. Visit to the main research, restoration,
management and observation projects taking place in the Delta (includes lunch).
18 h. – 19 h. Summit of Delta Networks. Presentation of the goals and activities of the networks
working on deltas and estuaries.
• Dr. Robert Christian, GEO Coastal Zone Community of Practice
• Dr. Boris Hochfeld, TIDE Project
• Dr. James Stefanov, Delta Research and Global Observation Network
• Dr. Wim van Driel, Delta Alliance
• Mrs. Liesbeth Vernaeve, DeltaNet
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19 h. – 20 h. Meeting of Delta Networks.
June 8, Wednesday. Conference Sessions
9 h. Opening Ceremony.
Dr. Josep-Enric Llebot, Secretary of Environment and Sustainability, Government of Catalonia.
Mr. Ramon Inglès, Delegate of the Spanish Government in Tarragona Province.
Mr. Xavier Pallarès, Delegate of the Catalan Government in the Ebro Region.
Mr. Mark de Buck, Deputy, Province of East Flanders, Belgium.
Mr. Miquel Alonso, Mayor of Sant Carles de la Ràpita.
Dr. Josep Maria Monfort, General Director of IRTA.
9.30 h – 11.15 h. Plenary Session
Responses of deltas, estuaries and coastal lagoons to sea level rise and extreme climatic
events (including responses of natural and human systems)
Chair: Dr. James Stefanov
• Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, Politechnical University of Catalonia, Spain. Coastal retreat in
deltas: sea level rise versus sediment deficit.
• Liviu Giosan, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA. Climate and human impacts
in deltas: lessons from past civilizations.
• Pierluigi Viaroli, University of Parma, Italy. Changing hydrological conditions and
nutrient loadings in the Po River: possible impacts on its delta and coastal lagoons.
• Gabriel Borràs, Government of Catalonia. Basic axes of the Catalan Strategy of
Adaptation to Climate Change.
11.15 h. – 11.30 h. Coffee break
11.30 h – 13.30 h. Plenary Session
Sediment imbalances and management solutions (from local to watershed scales)
Chair: Dr. Enrique Reyes
• James Syvitski, University of Colorado, USA. Geology, geography and humans battle for
dominance over the delivery of sediment to the coastal ocean.
• Carles Ibáñez, IRTA Aquatic Ecosystems, Spain. Sediment imbalances in European deltas
and estuaries. The case of the Ebro Delta.
• Yoshiki Saito, Geological Survey of Japan, Japan. Sediment imbalances in Asian deltas.
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• Boris Hochfeld, Hamburg Port Authority, Germany. Sediment management in the Elbe
estuary.
13.30 h – 15.00 h. Lunch
15.00 h – 16.30 h. Parallel Sessions
- Responses of deltas, estuaries and coastal lagoons to sea level rise and extreme climatic events
(including responses of natural and human systems)
- Sediment imbalances and management solutions (from local to watershed scales)
16.30 h – 17.00 h. Coffee break & poster session.
17.00 h – 18.30 h. Parallel Sessions, continuation
21.00 h. Conference Dinner
June 9, Thursday. Conference Sessions
9 h – 11.00 h. Plenary Session
Observation, monitoring and modelling of coastal systems
Chair: Dr. Jordi Corbera
• Robert Christian, East Carolina University, USA and Gregory Steyer, US Geological
Survey, USA. International initiatives for the observation and monitoring of coastal areas.
• Josep Lluís Colomer, Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya, Spain. Earth observation of coastal
areas in Catalonia.
• Gregory Steyer, University of Missouri, USA. Spatial modelling of relative elevation and
soil organic carbon storage in Louisiana deltaic wetlands with relative sea level rise and
restoration.
• Enrique Reyes, East Carolina University, USA. Modelling the effects of global warming
on coastal Carolina.
11.00 h. – 11.15 h. Coffee break
11.15 h – 13.30 h. Plenary Session
Low-energy and low-carbon management and planning of coastal areas (including urban
and natural areas)
Chair: Dr. Patrick Grillas
• John W. Day, Louisiana State University, USA. Managing deltas and coastal areas under
a scenario of climate change and energy scarcity.
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• Jordi Galofré, Ministry of Environment, Spain. Coastal planning, restoration and
management in the Ebro Delta.
• Iulian Nichersu & Adrian Constantinescu, Danube Delta Research Institute, Romania.
Flood mitigation by restoring river floodplain functions in the lower Danube River and
Delta.
• Colin Woodroffe, University of Wollongong, Australia. Australian estuaries:
geomorphological development and potential response to sea-level rise.
• Alejandro Yáñez-Arancibia, INECOL, Mexico. Sustainable management and planning
of Latin-American deltas and estuaries.
13.30 h – 15.00 h. Lunch
15.00 h – 16.30 h. Parallel Sessions
- Observation, monitoring and modelling of coastal systems
- Low-energy and low-carbon management and planning of coastal areas
16.30 h – 17.00 h. Coffee break & poster session.
17.00 h – 18.30 h. Parallel Sessions, continuation
June 10, Friday. Optional excursions.
9 h. – 18 h. Day-excursions to the Ebro Delta and Barcelona.
Supporting Institutions
Institutional support
DeltaNet Network (Interreg IVC Program, European Union), Catalan Government, Spanish
Government, City Council of Sant Carles de la Ràpita and UNESCO – Centre UNESCO de
Catalunya.
Scientific support
Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF), Coastal Global Terrestrial Observing System
(CGTOS), Delta Research and Global Observation Network (DRAGON), Estuarine and Coastal
Sciences Association (ECSA), Geo Coastal Zone Community of Practice (GCZCP), Global Land
Cover Network (GLCN), Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya - Programa Català d’Observació de la
Terra (ICC-PCOT), Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), International
Association of Sedimentologists (IAS) RedMarismas Network.
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Committees
Scientific Committee
Dr. John W. Day (President), Louisiana State University, LA, USA.
Dr. Jimmy Adegoke, University of Missouri – Kansas City, KA, USA.
Dr. Rhoda Ballinger, Cardiff University, Wales, UK.
Dr. Nuno Caiola, IRTA Aquatic Ecosystems, Catalonia, Spain.
Dr. Jordi Corbera, Director of the Catalan Earth Observation Program, Catalonia, Spain
Dr. Robert Christian, East Carolina University, USA.
Dr. Victor de Jong, Institute of Estuarine & Coastal Studies, Netherlands.
Dr. Jordi Galofré, Director of the Coastal Management Service of Tarragona, Spain.
Dr. Liviu Giosan, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA, USA.
Dr. Patrick Grillas, Tour du Valat, Research Centre for the conservation of Mediterranean
wetlands, France.
Dr. Boris Hochfeld, Hamburg Port Authority, Germany.
Dr. Carles Ibáñez, IRTA Aquatic Ecosystems, Catalonia, Spain.
Dr. Antoni Munné, Water Agency of Catalonia (ACA), Catalonia, Spain.
Dr. George Postma, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
Dr. Enrique Reyes, East Carolina University, NC, USA.
Dr. Albert Rovira, IRTA Aquatic Ecosystems, Catalonia, Spain.
Dr. Yoshiki Saito, Geological Survey of Japan, AIST, Japan.
Dr. Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Catalonia, Spain.
Dr. Xavier Simon, University of Vigo, Galicia, Spain.
Dr. Mircea Staras, Danube Delta National Institute, Romania.
Dr. James Stefanov, U.S. Geological Survey, MO, USA.
Dr. James Syvitski, University of Colorado, CO, USA.
Dr. Reginald Uncles, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK.
Dr. Wim van Driel, Delta Alliance, Netherlands.
Dr. Pierluigi Viaroli, University of Parma, Italy.
Dr. Alejandro Yáñez-Arancibia, INECOL, Veracruz, Mexico.
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Honorific Committee
Secretari d’Universitats i Recerca, Departament d’Economia i Coneixement, Generalitat de
Catalunya.
Secretari de Medi Ambient i Sostenibilitat, Departament de Territori i Sostenibilitat, Generalitat
de Catalunya.
Director General de Medi Natural i Biodiversitat, Departament d’Agricultura, Ramaderia, Pesca,
Alimentació i Medi Natural, Generalitat de Catalunya.
Director General de Sostenibilidad de la Costa y el Mar, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Rural y
Marino, Gobierno de España.
Delegat del Govern a les Terres de l’Ebre, Generalitat de Catalunya.
Presidente de la Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Rural y
Marino, Gobierno de España.
Director de l’Agència Catalana de l’Aigua, Departament de Territori i Sostenibilitat, Generalitat
de Catalunya.
Alcalde de Sant Carles de la Ràpita.
President del Consell Assessor del Desenvolupament Sostenible, Generalitat de Catalunya.
President del Centre Unesco de Catalunya.
President del Consell Promotor de la Reserva de la Biosfera de les Terres de l’Ebre.
President de la Comissió per a la Sostenibilitat de les Terres de l’Ebre, Departament de Territori i
Sostenibilitat, Generalitat de Catalunya.
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3.
Study Visit to the Ebro Delta
The main goal of the study visit was to show and discuss the main research, observation and
management issues related to the Conference theme (“Sediment management and flooding
risks”). For that purpose, a field trip guide of the study visit was distributed to the almost 70
participants that were attending the visit. Overall, four main stops were performed: 1) “La
Tancada lagoon and Sant Antoni wetlands”; 2) Riet vell experimental plots; 3) “La
Encanyissada and El Clot lagoons” and 4) Ebro River mouth and “El Garxal” lagoon. In
addition to these formal stops the participants were informed of other undergoing activities
during the bus journeys.
In “La Tancada lagoon and Sant Antoni wetlands”, Mr. Mariano Cebolla (from the private
foundation Obra Social Catalunya Caixa) and Mr. Carles Ibáñez (Conference chair, IRTAAquatic Ecosystems) were giving detailed explanations of the Life project Delta-lagoon. They
presented in situ the main goals of this project: “to improve the ecological status of the Alfacada
and Tancada lagoons through habitat restoration and management measures, such as the
improvement of hydrological function, the elimination of infrastructure that interferes with
connectivity, and the creation of new lagoon habitats in existing rice fields and abandoned
aquaculture facilities”. The main restoration works were discussed by the participants.
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 12
In addition, Mr. Jordi Galofré (Head of Coasts of Tarragona Province, Ministry of Environment)
made a brief presentation of the main plans and restoration projects carried out by the Spanish
Government in order to improve the environmental quality of the Ebro Deltas coast by means of
the restoration of wetlands, dune systems and the construction of a small coastal dike (artificial
dunes), in order to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion, subsidence of the delta plain and sea
level rise (due to climate change).
In the Riet Vell farm, participants visited the experimental plots of the research project
“Development of methods and techniques to mitigate the effects of subsidence and sea-level rise
on the Ebro Delta wetlands”. There, Dr. Carles Ibáñez explained the main goals of the project:
“to develop a long term field experiment to assess optimal flooding depths, sediment delivery
and water chemistry into and out of wetland restoration plots established in abandoned rice
fields of the Ebro Delta”, as well as the main methods and parameters analyzed (vertical soil
accretion, generation of organic matter and water purification effects of these restored
wetlands). Dr. Carles Ibáñez also indicated that “the Ebro delta is a representative coastal
system vulnerable to the effects of accelerated sea-level rise and reduced inorganic sediment
inputs from the adjacent River”. Overall, water and sediment management measures to be
implemented in restored wetlands were discussed.
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In Encanyissada and El Clot lagoons the new “Network of environmental indicators of the Ebro
Delta” was explained by Dr. Carles Ibáñez and Dr. Albert Rovira (IRTA-Aquatic Ecosystems):
“the main objective of the Network of Environmental Indicators (XIADE) is to establish a long
term data acquisition system of relevant environmental parameters of the lower Ebro aquatic
ecosystems. The parameters considered as relevant are related to hydro-morphology (flow,
water level, sediment concentration, subsidence/elevation rate, etc.), water quality
(physicochemical parameters, nutrient loading, contaminants, etc.) and biological indicators of
the Water Framework Directive (phytoplankton, phytobenthos, macrophytes, benthic
macroinvertebrates and fish fauna)”. Participants were discussing about the needs of a common
methodology to compare data along time and across water bodies. In addition, the construction
of wetlands for agricultural water treatment was explained and discussed: “These wetlands are a
eco-technology that uses soil, vegetation and aquatic micro-organisms associated to these
environments to remove nutrients and contaminants from water, allowing drainage water
coming from rice fields and passing through the wetlands to improve its quality before draining
into the bays and sea”.
In the Ebro River mouth and Garxal lagoon Dr. Carles Ibáñez was illustrating the past and
present evolution of the Ebro delta related to the human activities and the future scenarios of the
Ebro delta: “past and present management of the Ebro catchment have altered water, sediment
and nutrient fluxes of the lower Ebro River and its delta. The construction of the Mequinensa
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and Riba-Roja dams during the 1960s disrupted the sediment transport continuity. As a result,
the lower Ebro River and its delta are facing a reduction in sediment delivery which is estimated
to be up to 99% of its original yield (about 3 x 107 t/yr). Consequently, about 45% of the
emerged delta will be under the mean sea level by 2100 due to subsidence and sea level rise,
whereas the delta coast is retreating at a rate of several meters per year in the mouth area” stated
Dr. Carles Ibáñez.
In addition, during the field trip short explanations of other environmental problems and
restoration projects related to the Conference theme were explained: “problems and solutions for
the management of Ebro Delta coastal lagoons, water management issues in the Ebro delta,
restoration of fresh water marshes and ponds, etc.”
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Conference sessions
4.1.
Opening Session
The Conference stared with a short opening ceremony conducted by several authorities: Mr.
Josep-Enric Llebot, Secretary of Environment and sustainability of the Government of Catalonia;
Mr. Xavier Pallarès, Delegate of the Catalan Government in the Ebro Region; Mr. Miquel
Alonso, Mayor of Sant Carles de la Ràpita; Mr. Josep Maria Montfort, General Director of the
IRTA; Mr. Ramon Inglès, Delegate of the Spanish Government in Tarragona Province; and Mr.
Mark de Buck, Deputy, Province of East Flanders, Belgium.
4.2.
Plenary sessions
The presentations addressed the main specific problems of deltaic and estuarine systems, in
particular the challenges of water and sediment management under a scenario of increasing sea
level and flooding risks, in order to discuss and propose solutions based on an integrated and
systematic approach. These issues were discussed by renamed experts like Professor John W.
Day from Louisiana State University (USA), Dr. Pierluigi Viaroli from Parma University (Italy)
or Dr. Yoshiki Saito from the Geological Survey of Japan.
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4.2.1. “Coastal retreat in deltas: sea level rise versus sediment deficit”
Professor Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla, UPC, Spain
Mr. Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla started his presentation by drawing attention to the complexity and
fragility of the deltas: “Deltas are sedimentary bodies at the land-ocean border, resulting from
the interplay of riverine and marine factors at a variety of time scales. This results in a dynamic
behaviour, which is in conflict with many of our present uses and infrastructures. The expected
change or even acceleration in some of the meteorological and oceanographic factors which
model deltaic evolution is likely to result in a modified behaviour, which will produce an
aggravated level of conflicts”. Mr. Sánchez Arcilla presented the Ebro delta as a result of recent
past river liquid and solid discharges, which have formed a relatively simple deltaic shape. This
sedimentary body, after the nearly complete river catchment basin regulation, has started to
reshape and will next erode in a steady manner. This morphodynamic behaviour will also
change if the main marine drivers, such as waves, storms surges and shelf circulation are also
modified due to climatic variability. In addition, Mr. Sánchez-Arcilla showed some of the
available projections for these marine factors and how they can affect deltaic evolution in terms
of erosion and flooding. He indicated that” these projections will serve to analyze the midterm
management of the sedimentary body in a proactive manner. At a shorter time scale, the analysis
of the behaviour of those environments under extreme events (like a marine storm) will be the
basis for a proactive management, based on present operational forecasting capabilities”.
4.2.2. “Are Old World Deltas Human Constructs?”
Dr. Liviu Giosan, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA
Mr. Liviu Giosan talked about delta vulnerability: “deltas are vulnerable sedimentary landforms
at the land-sea interface that are influenced by both terrestrial and marine processes”. He
indicated that “worldwide deltas are heavily impacted by human activities; in particular river
damming has reduced the amount of sediment reaching the coast. Large dams are relatively
recent phenomena, but human alteration of landscapes has been ongoing ever since the advent
and expansion of agriculture”. Combining field data and modelling, Mr. Liviu Giosan discussed
how human activities have significantly influenced the formation of the modern Old World
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deltas including the Danube and Ebro deltas in Europe and the Indus delta in Asia: “Can rates of
growth of these deltas be attributed to climate change, land-use impacts, or both?”
The inverse effects of Holocene deltaic landscape changes on ancient, historic and current
civilizations are also significant. Understanding the historic and future morphologic change in
deltas has become increasingly important as sea levels rise and sediment loads feeding deltas
continue to be sequestered behind
dams in the hinterland. Traditionally
deltas have been densely populated
while providing disproportionately
high
ecosystem
services
and
resources to society; pointed out Mr.
Giosan. In regions that have been
affected by humans, deltas can serve
as a record of climate and land-use
changes across large watersheds.
Mr. Giosan concluded that “...if human activities are in some degree responsible for the
development of the world’s deltas, this would provide an important context for understanding
how humankind will manage these resources over the coming centuries, particularly as climate
changes and humans continue to alter these landforms...”.
4.2.3. “Changing hydrological conditions and nutrient loadings in the Po River: possible
impacts on its delta and coastal lagoons”
Professor Pierluigi Viaroli, University of Parma, Italy
Mr. Viaroli gave a general overview of the Po River and its delta and the main associated
problems: “The Po river watershed accounts for up to 40% of the Italian gross domestic product
and is heavily impacted by both agriculture and urban area development. Tributaries and some
ten thousand kilometres of canals are regulated, man-managed and often deeply altered. In such
context, frequent persistent summer drought and extreme floods occurred in the last two
decades, which induced significant changes in both timing and amount of water discharge, water
quality and their impacts on the river delta and adjacent coastal zone”.
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In his presentation, three main topics were addressed: 1) a brief synthesis of the main river
modification since mid 1900s, which have deeply altered hydro-geomorphology with effects on
both river discharge and solid transport. 2) long term changes of river hydrology, solid transport,
and organic and nutrient loadings and,
3) short term studies of effects of
persistent drought conditions on river
discharge, nutrient delivery to the
coastal zone, nutrient stoichiometry,
and saline wedge oscillations. Mr.
Viaroli explained that in the last two
decades, in dry years, the saline wedge
in the Po delta has penetrated about
20-25 km upstream in the deltaic branches, causing severe impacts on freshwater supply and
transitional aquatic ecosystems. Under these circumstances, up to 30-40% of P loading is
delivered in less than two months by flash-flood events, of which up to 90% is in the suspended
particulate fraction and refractory; whereas, N load is not related to floods, and composes
mainly of dissolved nitrates. Such patterns are responsible of unbalanced nutrient ratios with
possible effects on natural and man managed processes in coastal lagoons, e.g. macro-algal
blooms, hypoxia and shellfish farming. He concluded with a discussion about the salinity and
nutrient (N, P, Si) stoichiometry in the context of changing freshwater discharge, which poses
new challenges for studying transitional and coastal aquatic ecosystems.
4.2.4 “Basic axes of the Catalan Strategy of adaptation to climate change”
Mr. Gabriel Borràs, Oficina del Canvi Climàtic, Catalonia, Spain
Mr. Gabriel Borràs was presenting the first draft of the Catalan strategy on Climate Change
(ESCAC) or the Adaptation strategy to the Climate Change in Catalonia (AC3). Mr Borràs
explained that “the main goal of the Catalan strategy is to foresee the potential impacts of the
climate change in Catalonia and how to adapt to these, in other words, how to mitigate (be less
vulnerable) to these impacts”. Mr. Borràs explained the structure of the adaptation strategy “the
document is composed by 10 principal points; namely: 1) recent background in the world,
Europe, Spain and Catalonia; 2) Why a Catalan strategy for adapting to the Climate Change? 3)
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Why an strategy and not a plan?; 4) Objectives and timing of the strategy; 5) Coordination and
management; 6) Research promoting; 7) Budget and funding sources; 8) International
cooperation; 9) Glossary of terms and, 10) Creation of a bank of knowledge for information
exchange”.
4.2.5. “The Anthropocene battleground: geology, geography and human influence on the
delivery of sediment to the coastal ocean”
Professor James PM Syvitski, University of Colorado, USA
Mr. James Syvitsky talked about the multiparameter model BQART. The multiparameter model
BQART captures the scaling for the influence of geology, geography and human disturbance in
drainage basins: 1) the chemical breakdown of the rocks and thus soil formation, 2) mechanicalbased erosion (frozen soils and river beds, freeze-thaw cycles, precipitation intensity, vegetation
influences), 3) latitudinal variation in lapse rate, 4) storage or release of melt water, 5) floodwave dynamics associated with different forms of rainfall (frontal vs. convective, monsoons,
typhoons), 6) glacial influences, 7) basin lithology, 8) sediment trapping by lakes and reservoirs,
9) human accelerated soil erosion, and 10) soil conservation practices.
Mr.
Syvitsky
indicated
that
“the
BQART predictions fall within 38% of
the measured loads on average for 488
global rivers. BQART captures the
wash load; bed-material algorithms
suggest a river’s total load could be
increased by 1% to 20% for locations
near a river’s mouth”. He said that
“BQART has also been used for withinbasin predictions of loads, leading to a
new effort to develop terrestrial coverage predictions. BQART shows us that sediment yield
decreases with increasing size of the basin as larger basins have proportionally more areas with
low relief producing less sediment and more sediment traps on floodplains and tectonic
depressions. Other factors are both influential and highly variable, e.g.: 1) while mountains often
receive a greater proportion of a basin’s precipitation, many environments, such as the Niger
River, experience most of the rainfall and runoff across their lowland plains; and 2) softer
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 20
lithologies are often located in lower elevations, yet for the Mackenzie River, hard Precambrian
granites occupy the lowest elevations. River mouth fluxes are the great integrators of these kinds
of spatially variable factors throughout a drainage basin”. Mr. Syvitsky pointed out that “one of
the most spatially variable influences on a river’s load is from the impact of humans. This is
witnessed where a river crosses a political boundary and the change in socioeconomic
conditions”. He was illustrating that dynamics by means of different examples: for the Mekong,
it is China that has developed most of the reservoirs impacting the river’s load as it passes
through downstream countries. Human influences push in both directions. The enhanced
sediment load of the upstream Yellow River due to deforestation and poor farming practices is
presently being offset by sediment retention behind downstream dams. Human activities also
magnify climate events. A proliferation of small farms employing poor tilling practice on top of
a prolonged drought in the central U.S. in the early 1930’s led to the loss of 12.5 Gt of topsoil.
In Taiwan, sediment released through a typhoon’s intense precipitation events is often
preconditioned by deforestation and farming on steep mountainous slopes that trigger landslides
during the precipitation event.
4.2.6. “Sediment imbalances in European deltas and estuaries. The case of the Ebro delta”
Dr. Carles Ibáñez, IRTA, Aquatic Ecosystems Program, Catalonia, Spain
Mr. Carles Ibáñez began his talk by presenting a general overview of the main results obtained
from the analysis of the principal drivers of sediment imbalances in European estuarine systems:
“...the analysis found that
deltas, mostly located in the
Mediterranean, show problems
of sediment deficit leading to
coastal
erosion
and
subsidence; while estuaries,
mostly located in the Atlantic
and North Sea, often show
problems
aggradations
of
sediment
leading
to
siltation of ports and waterways”. Mr. Ibáñez explained that “in both regions several problems
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 21
of sediment contamination were identified, especially in the Elbe estuary and the Ebro River. He
concluded that ”in terms of flooding risks most of the systems showed significant vulnerability,
which may be exacerbated by unsustainable management practices and sea level rise due to
global warming”.
The second part of his presentation was focused on the Ebro delta case. The Ebro Delta is an
ecologically important wetland under threat from sea level rise, subsidence and reduction of
fluvial sediment inputs. The main hypothesis of the study was that marshes receiving inorganic
sediments and fresh water amendments from the Ebro River would exhibit significantly higher
rates of soil accretion and elevation gain, resulting in a greater resistance to subsidence and sea
level rise compared to isolated salt marsh habitats with no river subsidy. Marsh sites
representative of the wetland ecosystems found in the Ebro Delta were selected based on plant
community type, salinity, and landscape position. Mr. Ibáñez indicated that “the results partially
supported the hypothesis, suggesting that a marshes that receives sediment subsidies (i.e., from
the Ebro River or from the sea) exhibited a significantly higher rate of vertical accretion
compared to more hydrologically isolated salt marsh systems. However, some isolated fresh
water marshes also showed high rates of vertical accretion”. This research provides the first
quantitative record of marsh subsidence and accretion dynamics in the Ebro Delta using Surface
Elevation Tables (SET), marker horizons, and 210Pb techniques. Mr. Ibáñez concluded that
“this study also illustrates the importance of sediment and fresh water subsidies in deltaic
environments, as well as the key role played by salinity and organic matter”.
4.2.7. “Sediment imbalances in Asian deltas”
Professor Yoshiki Saito, Geological Survey of Japan, Japan
Mr. Saito started his presentation
by drawing attention to the
vulnerability of the Asian coast:
“Asian coasts are characterized
by
large-river
deltas,
called
megadeltas, which are identified
as one of most vulnerable areas
in the world with respect to
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 22
global climate change currently (e.g., WG-2, Fourth Assessment Report of IPCC)”. These deltas
have serious problems, which are characterized by shrinking and sinking deltas, caused mainly
by a decrease of sediment supply from rivers and/or by a relative sea-level rise”. Asian
megadeltas were initiated at ca. 8.0 ka after a rapid sea-level rise at 8.4-8.5 ka. Outbuilding
(progradation) of mega-deltas has occurred continuously seaward, related to huge sediment
supply and relatively stable sea level since the middle Holocene. Mr. Saito pointed out that
“continental large rivers in Southeast and East Asia together supplied ~2.5 × 109 tons/y of
suspended sediment 30-40 years ago, which was more than 10 % of global sediment discharge,
and formed more than 40 km2 of new land annually as delta plains, resulting from increased
sediment discharge by human activities (e.g., deforestation) on a millennial scale. However they
are delivering less than 1 × 109 tons/y currently because of other human activities, which are
dam construction, irrigation, afforestation and so on, resulting in the abrupt reduction of
sediment supply”. He explained that “another human activity, e.g. groundwater and oil/gas
extraction, has been also impacting deltas seriously, resulting in subsidence”. Finally, Mr. Saito
concluded that “current sediment supply is close to a pristine level of sediment discharge on
these rivers in the middle Holocene. Shoreline migration seaward has come to a standstill, and
some deltas show landward migration of the shoreline by coastal erosion. The delta morphology
also has been reshaping recently related to these changes”.
4.2.8. “Sediment management in the Elbe estuary”
Dr. Boris Hochfeld, Hamburg Port Authority, Germany
Mr. Boris Hochfeld stared his talk pointing out the importance of the Elbe estuary: “the Elbe
estuary, situated in northern Germany,
embraces the roughly 120 km long
tidally influenced part of the River
Elbe between Hamburg and the North
Sea. It is not only one of Europe’s
most
valuable
estuarine
habitats,
protected within the network of Natura
2000, but also, among many other
aspects, one of the world’s leading sea
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 23
bound waterways, connecting the Port of Hamburg, Europe’s third largest, to the rest of the
world”. He explained that “sediment management is absolutely crucial to keep the port
competitive, especially after dredging necessities increased within the last decade as a result of
many hydro morphological changes over the last centuries”. The Hamburg Port Authority,
responsible for the maintenance of the port and waterways in Hamburg, faces this challenge in
close cooperation with the Federal Agency for Navigation and Waterways by setting up a
comprehensive sediment management scheme. It consists of the following elements: i) Most of
the dredged material is relocated within the waters, partly to the state border at Neßsand and,
since 2005, to a location in the North Sea in order to avoid sediment circles. This sensitive
relocation is accompanied by an extensive monitoring. ii) The most contaminated sediment is
being treated and deposited on land. An innovative sediment treatment plant separates silt from
sand and thus reduces the volumes and improves the ability to be deposited on a landfill. In
addition, other uses for the sediments are being investigated such as dyke building material,
ceramics or landfill sealing material. iii) Last but not least Hamburg, together with the Elbe
states, invests in the cleaning up of the catchment basin in order to achieve a better sediment
quality –an active contribution to a cleaner North Sea.
4.2.9. “The Coastal Zone Community of Practice of the Group on Earth Observations:
empowering Integrated Coastal Zone Management through Earth Observations”
Professor Robert Christian, East Carolina University, USA
Mr. Christian was talking about the international initiatives for the observation and monitoring
of coastal areas. His conference started by giving a general overview of the complexity of the
coastal areas and its importance: “Coastal zones are complex areas of significant ecological,
social, and economic value where many conflicting interests need to be resolved to ensure
sustainable development”. He indicated that “growing coastal population, urbanization, and
climate-induced changes are increasing stress in coastal zones, posing serious risks to human
health and safety, and reducing the capacity of coastal ecosystems to support critical goods and
services” to introduce the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) which is
supported by the Coastal Zone Community of Practice (CZCP), and the Global Earth
Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The GEO provide timely observations informing
decisions concerning the coastal zone. High priorities for the Global Earth Observation System
of Systems (GEOSS) are improved forecasts of sea-level rise and the associated increase in
frequency and extent of coastal inundation, which may be exacerbated by an increase in the
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 24
frequency of extreme weather, as well as changes in water quality and ecosystem health and
productivity. Timely information on other hazards impacting the coastal zones, such as
earthquakes, tsunamis, and subsidence are also a priority for GEOSS.
Mr. Christian explained that the CZCP brings together experts in an effort to support coastal
zone management through utilization of Earth observations and derived products. It interacts
directly with the GEO User Interface Committee and a number of GEO Participating
Organizations. One of the main activities of the CZCP is a series of Regional Workshops titled
“GEOSS Support for Decision-Making in the Coastal Zone: Managing and Mitigating the
Impacts of Human Activities and Natural Hazards in the Coastal Zone’’. Other CZCP activities
building on the legacy of the Coastal Zone Theme Report prepared by the Integrated Global
Observation Strategy - Partnership (IGOS-P) include the updating of requirements and the
implementing recommendations. The CZCP provides support for GEO Work Plan Tasks.
Finally, Mr. Christian invited the participants to contact or join the CZCP.
4.2.10. “Earth observation of coastal areas in Catalonia”
Dr. Josep-Lluís Colomer, Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya, Catalonia, Spain
Mr. Colomer was explaining the main task and projects developed by the Institut Cartogràfic de
Catalunya (ICC) which is the official mapping Agency of the Government of Catalonia. The
ICC was created by the Parliament of Catalonia to produce the basic cartography and thematic
maps of the country. In addition, the ICC regularly collects remotely sensed imagery with a
variety of airborne and space-borne multi and hipper-spectral cameras, and produces high dense
and accurate digital elevation models with an airborne laser scanner. Mr. Colomer drawed
attention in that “the generated geographic information might prove useful for environmental
and coastal planning, monitoring and management”. In addition, he indicated that “another
useful source of information might be the series of old maps and the sequences of satellite
imagery and vertical and oblique aerial and terrestrial photography dating from the mid of the
past century. This material is freely available at the Map Library of Catalonia”. Altogether, his
communication reviewed and summarized the technologies and datasets available at the ICC
and reported on results of pre-operational tests and projects with these sensors.
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 25
4.2.11. “Spatial Modelling of Relative Elevation and Soil Organic Carbon Storage in
Louisiana Deltaic Wetlands with Relative Sea Level Rise and Restoration”
Dr. Gregory D. Steyer, USGS, National Wetlands Research Center, Louisiana, USA
The conference of Mr. Gregory Steyer was focused on the carbon storage capacity of the
Mississippi delta wetlands and the potential impacts of the climate change. Mr Steyer started
explaining that “coastal wetlands as a whole are net sinks for greenhouse gases and sequester a
significant amount of carbon within soils. Although global sea level rise (SLR) is approximately
3.1 mm/yr, a much higher land subsidence rate (as high as 35 mm/yr in Mississippi Delta Plain)
is estimated for coastal Louisiana. Therefore, the benefit of future wetland restoration projects
should be evaluated based on predicted landscape response to the combination of rising sea level
and high subsidence”.
He was presenting some methodological aspects used to predict the delta changes in elevation
under different scenarios of sea level rise (SLR): a pre-compaction relative elevation model
(grid cell size=500m, domain boundary=37,781km2, time step=annual) was used to predict
changes in coast-wide vertical accretion and elevation from 2010-2060 under varying scenarios
of accelerated SLR, subsidence and restoration projects. Vertical accretion and organic matter
accumulation rates were calculated from simulated annual rates of mineral sedimentation, and
site-specific soil bulk density and percent organic matter sediment core data. Mineral sediment
accumulation was derived from a coast-wide compartment-based hydrodynamic model.
Sediment distribution within each compartment was projected utilizing a raster-weight surface,
which represents the likelihood of sediment delivery and accumulation for each pixel based on a
combination of environmental variables. Bulk density and percent organic matter among
combinations of 9 hydrologic basins and 7 vegetation types were calibrated using soil core data
from Louisiana’s Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS).
Using this empirical relative elevation model, coast-wide soil organic carbon stocks were
assessed under these natural and anthropogenic factors. Finally, Mr. Steyer summarized the
main results: “...spatial modelling results indicated that a substantial portion of the Mississippi
River Delta wetlands, under future without project scenarios, would be submerged in the next
half-century under high SLR and subsidence rates. As a consequence, carbon storage capacity of
the delta wetlands was significantly diminished. The magnitude of carbon lost will depend upon
the area of wetland loss and the locations of that loss within hydrologic basins and vegetation
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 26
types...”. He concluded that modelling results suggest that significant restoration project
investments are needed to reduce soil elevation and associated carbon loss.
4.2.12. “The effects of global warming on coastal Carolina”
Professor Enrique Reyes, East Carolina University, USA
Mr. Enrique Reyes was talking
about the long-term habitat response
under present environmental and
future global warming scenarios in
the Neuse River. He stared talking
about the main features of the North
Carolina’s coastal wetlands: “these
environments are highly susceptible
to flooding and erosion due to being
low-land areas with highly interconnected channels. Because of this physical setting, coastal
wetlands can be lost due to a combination of several climatic and regional factors...”. In
addition, Mr. Reyes pointed out that “... there is a need to examine the pattern of the relationship
between accelerated sea-level rise and coastal habitat changes and land loss”. At that point,
Professor Reyes explained how the watershed simulation model was developed: several
computer models were linked across large spatial and temporal scales to examine the response
of North Carolina’s Neuse River coastal forest and marsh vegetation.
Forecast scenarios looked at the potential of wetland survival to increased storm frequency and
intensity, variable precipitation and drought and sediments inputs, and increased sea-level rise.
He concluded that “this model integrated present environmental conditions and, by modifying
those conditions in a step-wise manner, its results could be used as a casuistic management tool
for predicting the effects of regional impacts on structural landscape level changes”.
4.2.13. “Managing deltas and coastal areas under a scenario of climate change and energy
scarcity”
Professor John W. Day, Louisiana State University, USA
Mr. John W. Day started his talk showing the main problems and consequences that, nowadays,
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 27
are affecting the deltas: “Deltas constitute the largest contiguous coastal ecosystems in the
world. During the 20th century, deltas have been dramatically altered due to a variety of
activities including levees isolating the delta plain from the river, upstream reductions of
sediment and water input, disruptions of internal hydrology, and deterioration of water quality.
These changes have resulted in salinity stress, reduction of flow, increased flooding of wetlands,
reduction of sediment input to wetlands, and wetland loss”. Mr. Day commented that
historically, most deltas have been managed for activities such as navigation and agriculture
under a complicated array of government regulations. This often resulted in disorganized,
contradictory, and ineffective management. Recognition of the severity of the environmental
problems in deltas has led to a growing effort worldwide to restore deltas. Early restoration
efforts were often focused on small scale, and often unrelated projects. More recently, there has
been a realization that restoration must be a comprehensive, integrated effort based on natural
functioning of deltas that fundamentally alters the way that people live and work in deltas.
During the 21st century, it is likely that climate change will threaten deltas due to accelerated
sea level rise, stronger storms, and changes in freshwater input and that delta restoration will
become more challenging. Growing energy scarcity will make delta restoration more difficult
because of the energy intensive nature of large-scale restoration. Finally, Mr. Day pointed out
that: “...to be more sustainable, delta restoration will have to be based on the natural functioning
of deltaic ecosystems. This will include reconnection of deltas to the rivers that built them...”.
4.2.14. “Coastal planning, restoration and management in Ebro delta”
Mr. Jordi Galofré, Head of the Service of Coasts of Tarragona Province, Ministry of
Environmental, Rural and Marine Affairs, Government of Spain, Spain.
Mr. Galofré was presenting the main
restoration
measures
projects
projected
and
by
mitigation
the
Spanish
Government in the Ebro delta in order to
mitigate the presently deficit of sediment
from the Ebro river and to compensate the
potential effects of the sea level rise
because the climate change.
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 28
In detail, Mr. Galofré was focused on the restoration project of the Northern coastal fringe of the
Ebro Delta: “The North waterfront of the delta, in particular, the beaches of “Pals”, “Bassa de
l'Arena” and “Nen Perdut” have degraded considerably by the regressive nature of the coast and
the agricultural use (mainly rice fields). Rice fields have replaced wetlands and dune system that
served as protection in front of the sea storms”. Mr. Galofré explained that in 2010, the Spanish
Ministry of Environment purchased the coastal fringe including the first 500 meters in order to
restore beaches, dunes and wetlands. “The main actions of the project are: 1) Construction of a
coastal dike by means of artificial dunes (500 m from the coast); 2) Construction of a footpath
and a bicycle path parallel to the coastal dike; 3) Construction of artificial wetlands; 4)
Restoration of dune systems and, 5) Diffusion of the natural values and public use of this space,
by means of informative panels, environmental education tours and fauna lookouts”. In addition,
Mr. Galofré presented the project to construct artificial wetlands in the Bombita farm, located in
the northern hemidelta: “On 17/2/2010, the Spanish Ministry of Environment decided to acquire
the “Bombita” property for its incorporation as maritime-terrestrial public domain. The property
was bought to the current owner Mr. Ricardo Torres Rocamora for 9.5 million euros; which
should add a total of 14 million for its restoration. Restoration works include the recovery of the
former lagoon called “l’Estrelleta” that was dried and transformed into rice fields”.
Mr. Galofré commented that “in the Bombita farm has been defined four different zones: Zone 1
designed as a priority preservation area. There, actions will be focused on: the improvement of
the water quality of the lagoon (salinity > 15‰); dredging the “Providero El Trastellador”;
creation of a new fresh water input in “El Racó de l’Escarabat” and, agreement with hunters,
fishermen and farmers for water management. In Zone 2 the main action in this area will be the
restoration of wetlands and the creation of organic rice fields. In Zone 3 (public area), works
will be focused on rice field maintenance as well as restoration and conservation of protected
habitats. In Zone 4 designed as Service area, the main actions will be the restoration of the
“Bombita” building and of parking areas”. Mr Galofré concluded indicating the importance of
these projects as an ecological measure to compensate and mitigate the present and future
impacts of the climate change in the Ebro delta”.
4.2.15. “Flood mitigation by restoring river floodplain functions in the Lower Danube
(including Danube Delta)”
Dr. Iulian Nichersu, Danube Delta National Research Institute, Tulcea, Romania
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 29
Mr. Iulian Nichersu was talking about the main restoration works carried out in the Danube
delta to mitigate the flooding risk in this area. He started explaining the main goals of the
restoration projects: “embankments have been built along the Danube River and part of its Delta
in order to protect human settlements and agriculture land”, but he pointed out that “the risk of
flood events has not been eliminated”. The extreme high flood events from 2006 have resulted
in long term damages of settlements along to the Lower Danube and also the upper part of the
delta”. However, the lower part of the delta with villages surrounded by natural wetlands the
peak flows have been mitigated in a natural way. Mr Nichersu commented the extensive study
carried out by DDNI in the period 2006-2007, supported by Romanian Ministry of
Environment: “this project has proved the feasibility of flood reduction by means of restoration
of water storage function of the Danube river floodplain”.
The approach was based on the concepts aiming to reduce floods in a natural way reducing the
peak flows by overflowing inside the riparian and floodplain areas what slows down the wave of
flood, mitigating the risk and saving in defences and compensations. It is, in fact, a new defence
system, a resiliency strategy, opposite to the traditional resistance strategies (dikes,
embankments, etc.). This strategy is in line with both EU Water and Floods Directive
requirements. Finally, he explained the new project started in 2010, funded by EU SSE
Programme. That project is focused on flood risk and hazards mapping in the Danube riparian
countries, including pilot areas for integrating flood risk reduction into territorial planning
processes. Finally, Mr. Nichersu pointed out that “the results of both projects will be presented
by the authors with emphases to proposed relevant good practices for Delta Net project (Themes
2 & 3): Floodplain wetland restoration and Restoration of lateral connectivity. These two
measures are synergic and interconnect Theme 2 & 3 of the DELTANET project”.
4.2.16. “Australian estuaries: geomorphological development and potential response to
sea-level rise”
Professor Colin D. Woodroffe, University of Wollongong, Australia
Mr. Colin D. Woodroffe started his talk explaining the main differences between deltas and
estuaries: “deltas are shaped predominantly by riverine processes, particularly peak discharge
and the volumes of sediment supplied from the catchment, whereas estuaries are more
responsive to incident wave climate and the tide regime at the coast”; and between Asian rivers
and Australian large rivers: “large rivers of southern and eastern Asia deliver substantial
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 30
sediment loads to their complex deltas, in contrast the Australian mainland is much drier; its
rivers carry little sediment and its coastal waterways are influenced predominantly by wave and
tidal processes”. Stratigraphy and dating of coastal sedimentary sequences indicate distinct
patterns of development for Australian estuaries, contrasting wave-dominated systems in the
south with tide-dominated systems in the north.
The second part of his talk was focused on the discussion of the extent to which it is possible to
place the deltas and estuaries of Australia into a framework based on the relative influence of
river, wave and tide processes. Mr Woodroffe explored how these have changed over time and
the time lags associated with limited sediment supply: “The morphology of Australian estuaries
is an outcome of the final stages of postglacial sea-level rise, and the relative stability of sea
level that has been experienced over the past 6000 years. The likely response of these systems to
future sea-level rise is considered, emphasizing the geographical variations around the
Australian margin and the spatial variability within individual systems”.
4.2.17. “Sustainable management and planning of Latin –American deltas and estuaries”
Professor Alejandro Yáñez-Arancibia, INECOL, Mexico
This talk was finally cancelled due to problems with the visa of Mr. Yáñez.
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 31
4.3 Parallel sessions and posters
A total of four parallel sessions and two poster sessions were held during the Conference. The
number of presentations in the parallel sessions was 32 and the number of posters was 18. The
list of oral presentations and posters was the following:
PARALLEL SESSIONS
JUNE 8th at 15.00
MAIN ROOM
Responses of deltas, estuaries and coastal lagoons to sea levels rise and extreme
climatic events
15.00
Tom Bucx, M. Marchand, B. Makaske, Cees van de Guchte
Comparative assessment of the vulnerability and resilience of 10 deltas
(Presented by Wim Van Driel)
15.15
Joao Pedro Costa, M. Matos Silva, J. Camilo Alves
Introducing the agenda of Climate Adaptation in urban areas. The Lisbon case
15.30
Simona Dalla Riva, Deborah Bellafiore, Pierpaolo Campostrini, , Christian Ferrarin, Georg
Umgiesser, Davide Tagliapietra
Lagoons under Climate Change: inundation dynamics of salt marshes and its ecological
implications
15.45
Javier Marco Barba
Holocene sea-level rise, human influence and management policies in coastal lagoons, a case of
study the Albufera de Valencia (Spain)
16.00
Luis Buenfil López, Minerva Rebollar Plata, Norma Patricia Muñoz Sevilla, Bruno Juárez
León, Graciela Alcalá Moya
Efects of sea level rise and seismic activity on coastal lagoons in the Southern Pacific of
Mexico
16.15
Maria Matos Silva
Urban flood adaptation through public space
SMALL ROOM
Observation, monitoring and modelling of coastal systems
15.00
Rezgui Atef
Hydrodynamic and ecological functioning of the Tunis North Lake by a numerical modelling
approach
15.15
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 32
Camille Traini, Kerstin Schrottke, Karl Stattegger
Indication for human induced estuarine processes within the São-Francisco Delta (Brazil)
15.30
Silvia Rodríguez, Nuno Caiola, Carles Ibáñez, Carlos Alcaraz, Gloria Muñoz, Alfonso Nebra
Salinity as the main factor structuring assemblages of small size fish in hidrologically altered
Mediterranean coastal lagoons from the Ebro Delta (NE Spain).
15.45
Laia Rovira, Rosa Trobajo, Manel Leira, Carles Ibáñez
The response of benthic estuarine diatom assemblages to natural and anthropogenic stressors:
application of the existing diatom indices in a Mediterranean salt wedge estuary: The Ebro
River Estuary (Catalonia, NE Spain).
16.00
Olivier Dufour, Nuno Caiola, Carles ibáñez, Albert Bertolero, Carlos Alcaraz
Habitat preferences of the Spanish toothcarp in artificial ponds: criteria to optimize ecosystem
restoration and species conservation
16.15
Margarita Fernández-Tejedor, Gemma Giménez, Pablo de la Iglesia, Jorge Diogène
Phytoplankton and biotoxins monitoring in the Ebro delta bays: Alfacs and Fangar
16.30 -17.00 Poster Session and Coffee-break
MAIN ROOM
Responses of deltas, estuaries and coastal lagoons to sea levels rise and extreme
climatic events
17.00
Michael S. Kearney, J.C. Alexis Riter, and R. Eugene Turner
Diversions in the Mississippi Delta Make Marshes More Vulnerable to Hurricane Impacts
17.15
G. Paul kemp, John W. Day, J.K. Vrijling, G. P. Shaffer, I.Li. Van-Heerden, R. Storesund, R.G.
Bea, S.A. Binselam & K. Westphal
Effects of navigation channels on surge and wave dynamics in the MISSISSIPPI RIVER
DELTA east of New Orleans, USA, during Hurricane Katrina
17.30
R. Eugene Turner
Consequences of Increased Nutrient Loading to Deltaic Marshes Belowground
17.45
Juan Calvo-Cubero, Carles Ibáñez, Albert Rovira, Peter J. Sharpe, Carles Alcaraz and Enrique
Reyes
Factors controlling water quality and vertical accretion in experimental constructed wetlands (Ebro
Delta, Spain)
18.00
John R. Durand, Peter B. Moyle
Habitat complexity and the ecology of flooding islands (poulders) in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta, USA
18.15
Josep Anton Morguí, Rosa Arias and Xavier Rodó
An atmospheric site for modelling estuarine systems
18.30
Asher Wishkerman, Rosa Trobajo, Carles Ibáñez
Are deltas, estuaries and coastal lagoons an important methyl bromide source?
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 33
JUNE 9th at 15.00
MAIN ROOM
Observation, monitoring and modelling of coastal systems
15.00
D. Phil Turnipseed, Sarai C. Piazza, Gregory D. Steyer
Coastwide Reference Monitoring System: Wetland Data to Support Restoration Assessment in
the Mississippi River Delta, USA
15.15
Nuno Caiola, Carles Ibáñez, Albert Rovira, Rosa Trobajo
Implementation of a long-term Environmental monitoring network in the lower Ebro River and
its Delta
15.30
Andrew W. Tweel, R. Eugene Turner
A novel approach to understanding habitat change applied to the Mississippi River delta
15.45
Luisa E. Castillo, Clemens Ruepert, Carlos Brenes, Daniel Ballestero, Seiling Vargas,
Benjamín Alvarez, Jonas Gunnarsson
Environmental changes and associated agrochemical impacts in a tropical coastal lagoon in the
Caribbean area of Costa Rica.
16.00
Patricia Prado, Nuno Caiola, Carles Ibañez
Abiotic factors strongly influence macrofaunal assemblages within coastal lagoons of the Ebro
Delta
16.15
Carles Alcaraz, Silvia Rodríguez-Climent, Nuno Caiola, Carles Ibañez, Alfonso Nebra, Gloria
Muñoz-Camarillo, Dolors Vinyoles, Frederic Casals, Adolfo de Sostoa
Gillnet selectivity and its implication for the fishery management of the sand smelt (Atherina
boyeri) in the Ebro Delta coastal lagoons
16.30- 17.00 Coffee-Break and Poster Session
MAIN ROOM
Observation, monitoring and modelling of coastal systems
17.00
Philippe Chauvelon, Aurélien Loubet, Olivier Boutron
Hydrological modelling of the Vaccarès lagoon system (Rhone delta, France): quantifying
hydro-saline and sedimentary fluxes, exploring adaptation scenarios.
17.15
Peter Domonkos
Homogenisation of observational time series
17.30
Constanta Boroneant, M. Brunet, J. R. Coll. M. Castella
Observed changes in summer drought conditions in Ebro basin in relation with large scale
circulation and global sea surface temperature
17.45
Pere Quintana-Seguí , M.C. Llasat , M. Llasat-Botija, M. Turco, J. J. Salas
The river flow of the Ebro: simulation, reconstruction, future scenarios, impacts and risks.
18.00
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 34
Albert Rovira, Carles Ibáñez
Suspended sediment transport at the Lowermost Ebro River Basin (Catalonia, Spain)
18.15
Andrew Ashton, Liviu Giosan, Jaap Nienhuis , Albert Kettner, Carles Ibañez
Modeling the evolution of wave-dominated deltas: influence of wave angle distribution and
sediment supply variation on plan-view morphologies, with application to the Ebre Delta, Spain.
18.30
Vicenç Gracia, García M., Solé J.M., Alomar M., Tolosana R., Fernández J., Pallarès E.,
Jiménez J., Sánchez-Arcilla A.
Modelling barrier beaches under storms with XBEACH: The case of the Trabucador bar.
POSTER SESSION
Albert Bertolero, Carles Ibáñez, Nuno Caiola, Sofia Rivaes
Habitat restoration and management in two coastal lagoons of the Ebro Delta (LIFE09
NAT/ES/000520 Delta–Lagoon)
Alvaro Burgos, M. Seder-Colomina, J. Maldonado, A. Solé, I. Esteve
COPPER SENSITIVITY OF DIFFERENT PHOTOTROPHIC MICROORGANISMS
DETERMINED BY CLSM COUPLED TO A SPECTROFLUOROMETRIC DETECTOR
Robert Christian, Paul DiGiacomo, Hans-Peter Plag
The Coastal Zone Community of Practice of the Group on Earth Observations: Empowering
Integrated Coastal Zone Management through Earth Observations
Alexandre Clistenes, Leonardo E. Moraes, Marcelo F. G. Brito, Aline F. Barreto, Marconi
P. Sena, Edjane P. Santos, Bruna Tanure
Evidence of red tide affecting the ichthyofauna of the Baía de Todos os Santos, Bahia, Brazil
María José Fernández, Antonia Jiménez, Laura Serrano
Aquaculture production in Veta La Palma (Doñana Natural Area, Spain): the enhancement of
the natural values of a river estuary.
Filip Florin
On the evolution of Chilia distributary in Danube delta
Gisela Loran, Francisco Cabrera
Climate change effects in the Ebro’s Delta. Strategies for prevention and adaptation.
Juan Maldonado, Antonio Solé, Elia Diestra, Isabel Esteve
Cyanobacteria and its role as bioindicators for metal pollution in Ebro Delta microbial mats
Marta Manzanera, Carolina Solà, Dani Boix, Nuno Caiola, Josep Caixach, Jordi Camp,
Albert Palanques, Marta Pérez, Susana Pinedo, Maria Rieradevall, Mariona de Torres,
Antoni Munné.
Ecological status assessment of transitional and coastal waters in Ebro Delta
Candela Marco-Méndez, Patricia Prado, Luis Miguel Ferrero-Vicente, Carles Ibáñez, Jose
Luis Sánchez-Lizaso
Seasonal influence of waterfowls on submerged vegetation (Ruppia cirrhosa and Potamogeton
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 35
pectinatus) from Ebro Delta lagoons
Zully Puyén, E. Villagrasa, J. Maldonado, I. Esteve, A. Solé
Combined methodologies to determine the effect of heavy metals in Micrococcus luteus
DE2008, a heterotrophic microorganism isolated from Ebro delta microbial mats.
Julia Reschke, Christian Hüttich, Manfred Keil, Gürdogar Sarigül
Wetland Mapping in Mediterranean coastal Wetlands in Turkey based on Landsat Time Series
using subpixel spectral Signatures of RAMSAR Wetland Types
Inmaculada Romero. Pachés, M., Marti, C.M., Martínez-Guijarro, R., Hermosilla, Z.
Changes in phytoplankton composition in a stratified estuary with a micromareal regime in the
Comunitat Valenciana (Cullera Estany)
Albert Rovira, Carles Ibáñez
Sediment Budget of the Lowermost Ebro River Basin (Catalonia, Spain)
Alejandro Sánchez-Chardi, Ciro A. Oliveira-Ribeiro, Jacint Nadal, María José LópezFuster
Metal impact in a protected coastal marshland: a multimarker approach in the shrew, Crocidura
russula
Alejandro Sánchez-Chardi, Marian García-Pando, María José López-Fuster
The effects of pollution on shrew populations of the Ebro Delta: a tool for the management of
protected wetlands
Alejandro Sánchez-Chardi, María José López-Fuster, Juan José Egozcue
Statistical methods for the ecotoxicological assessment of metal pollution in a protected delta
Montserrat Solé, Berta Sánchez, Sofia Vega, Inmaculada Varó
Is the invasive species Solea senegalensis more adaptable to the anthropogenic Ebro Delta
region than its native counterpart Solea solea?
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 36
Annex – Participants List
Name
Institution
Country
Albizua Aguinaco Amaia
Universitat Autònoma Barcelona
Spain
Alcaraz Carles
IRTA
Spain
Almousa Ahmad
Environment Public Authority
Kuwait
Alonso Herrera Miquel
Ajuntament de Sant Carles de la Ràpita
Spain
Arias Rosa
Institut Català de Ciències del Clima (IC3)
Spain
Arrufat Jordi
Patronat Catalunya del Món
Spain
Ashton Andrew
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
USA
Azevedo Joseph
AML
Portugal
Ballesteros Fernández Gracia
ACUAMED, SA
Spain
Bardina Mònica
Agència Catalana de l'Aigua
Spain
Bertolero Albert
IRTA
Spain
Bonfill Molina Elisabet
Associació Catalana d'Oceanògrafes
i Oceanògrafs
Spain
Boronea Constantant
Centre for Climate Change (C3)
University Rovira i Virgili
Spain
Borràs Calvo Gabriel
Oficina Catalana del Canvi Climàtic
Spain
Bravo Lola
Agbar
Spain
Bucx Tom
Deltares
Holland
Buenfil Luis
CIIEMAD, IPN
Mexico
Burgos Àlvaro
Universitat Autòmoma de Barcelona
Spain
Cabrera Tosas Francisco José
Taller d'Enginyeria Ambiental, SL
Spain
Caiola Nuno
IRTA
Spain
Calvo Boyero Diana
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain
Calvo-Cubero Juan
IRTA
Spain
Castillo Luisa
Universidad Nacional
Costa Rica
Catalán Pau
IRTA
Spain
Chauvelon Philippe
Fondation Tour du Valat
France
Christian Robert
East Carolina University
USA
Cid Favà Óscar
Camp d'Aprenentatge del Delta de l'Ebre
Spain
Colomer Alberich Josep Lluis
Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya
Spain
Concha-Dimas Aline
Institut Geològic de Catalunya
Spain
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 37
Name
Corbera Jordi
Institution
Institut Cartogràfic de Catalunya
Country
Spain
Costa João Pedro
Technical University of Lisbon
Portugal
Cromheecke Mark
Province of East Flanders
Belgium
Cuadrado Gabriela
Oldenburg University
Germany
Curriu Carlota
Tecnoambiente
Spain
Curto Subirats Juan José
Observatori de l'Ebre
Spain
Dalla Riva Simona
Corila
Italy
Damman Eline
Flemisch Government
Belgium
Day John
Louisiana State University
USA
de Alcantara Santos Alexandre Universidade Estadual de Feira
Clistenes
de Santana
Portugal
de Buck Mark
Province of East Flanders
Belgium
de Mulder Frank
Province of East Flanders
Belgium
Dominguez
Dolores
Garcia
Maria Universidade de Vigo
Spain
Domonkos Peter
Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Campus Terres de Spain
l’Ebre
Dufour Olivier
IRTA
France
Durand John
University of California, Davis
USA
Esteve Isabel
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain
Farguell Joaquim
University of Barcelona
Spain
Fernandes André
Universidade Nova de Lisboa/
Área Metropolitana de Lisboa
Portugal
Fernández Margarita
IRTA
Spain
Fernández Rodríguez María Universidad Pablo de Olavide
José
Spain
Fernández Tejedor Margarita
IRTA
Spain
Florin Filip
Marine and Fluvial Research
University of Bucharest
Forés Ejarque Vanesa
-
Spain
Furqan Rifki
Oldenburg Univeristy
Holland
Galofre Jordi
Ministry of Environment
Spain
Garcia-Amorena Mar
Tecnoambiente
Spain
Giosan Liviu
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
USA
Station
- Romania
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 38
Gracia Vicenç
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Name
Institution
Spain
Country
Grillas Patrick
Tour du Valat
France
Hochfeld Boris
Hamburg Port Authority
Germany
Ibáñez Carles
IRTA
Spain
Jagodzinska Ewa
Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Poland
Voivodeship
Jané Silvia
Tecnoambiente
Spain
Jiménez Rodríguez Antonia
Universidad Pablo de Olavide
Spain
Jornet Torrén Lluis
IRTA
Spain
Kearney Michael
University of Maryland
USA
Kemp G. Paul
National Audubon Society
USA
Llebot Josep-Enric
Generalitat de Catalunya
Spain
Llorca Càrdenas Ignacio Javier
Departament
Territori
generalitat de Catalunya
López Roldán Ramon
CETAQUA
Spain
Loran Gisela
Taller d’Ingeniería Ambiental, SL
Spain
Luque Pino Pere
Museu del Montsià
Spain
Mackay Mònica
Manners Congressos
Spain
Maldonado Juan
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain
Marco Méndez Candela
Universidad de Alicante
Spain
Marco-Barba Javier
Universitat de València
Spain
Martinez Gomez Luis
Universidade de Vigo
Spain
Masia Marsa Manuel
Comunitat General Regants Canal Dreta Ebre
Spain
Mateu Vilella David
IRTA
Spain
Matos Silva Maria
Technical University of Lisbon
Portugal
Monfort Josep Maria
IRTA
Spain
Montero Ruano Carlos
CETAQUA
Spain
Moré Gerard
CREAF
Spain
Morgui Castello Josep Anton
Institut Català de Ciències del Clima (IC3)
Spain
Munné Antoni
Agència Catalana de l'Aigua
Spain
Muñóz Gloria
IRTA
Spain
Murad Dawood
Environment Public Authority
Kwait
Nichersu Iulian
Danube Delta National Institute
Romania
i
Sostenibilitat, Spain
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 39
Owen Gwilym
Severn Estuary Partnership
UK
Pallarés Xavier
Generalitat de Catalunya
Spain
Parker Paul
Severn Estuary Partnership
UK
Name
Peralta Bravo Azahara
Institution
ACUAMED, SA
Country
Spain
Perozo Mur Miriam
Aqua Ambiente
Spain
Prado Patricia
IRTA
Spain
Prats Jordi
Technical University of Catalonia
Spain
Puyen Zully
Universitat Autòmoma de Barcelona
Spain
Quintana Seguí Pere
Observatori de l'Ebre (CSIC - URL)
Spain
Reverté Carmen
IRTA
Spain
Reyes Enrique
East Carolina University
USA
Rezgui Atef
Societé de Promotion du Lac de Tunis
Tunisia
Ripoll Mechó Ignasi
SEO/Birdlife
Spain
Rivaes Sofia
IRTA
Spain
Rodríguez Climent Sílvia
IRTA
Spain
Romero Rafael
Ebro Basin Authority
Spain
Romero Gil Inmaculada
Universitat Politècnica de València
Spain
Rovira Laia
IRTA
Spain
Rovira Albert
IRTA
Spain
Saito Yoshiki
AIST
Japan
Salas Pérez Jose de Jesús
Observatori de l'Ebre
Spain
Samitier Martí Salvador
Oficina Catalana del Canvi Climatic
Spain
Sanchez Berta
ICM-CSIC
Spain
Sanchez-Arcilla Agustín
Laboratori d'Enginyeria Maritima
Spain
Sánchez-Chardi Alejandro
Universitat de Barcelona
Spain
Seder-Colomina Marina
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain
Solà Carolina
Agència Catalana de l'Aigua
Spain
Solé Montserrat
CSIC
Spain
Solé Antonio
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain
Staras Mircea
Danube Delta National Institute
USA
Stefanov James Edward
US Geological Survey
USA
Steyer Gregory
USGS, National Wetlands Research Center
USA
Syvitski James
INSTAAR
USA
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 40
Traini Camille
Christian Albrechts University of Kiel
France
Trobajo Rosa
IRTA
Spain
Trujillo Martínez Antonio José
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain
Tudor Marian
Danube Delta National Institute
Romania
Name
Turner R. Eugene
Institution
Louisiana State University
Country
USA
Turnipseed David Phil
U.S. Geological Survey National Wetlands USA
Research Center
Tweel Andrew
Louisiana State University
USA
Valmaña Rosa
IRTA
Spain
Van Driel Wim
Delta Alliance
Netherlands
Vega Bresciano Sofia
ICM-CSIC
Spain
Verdú Joan
Agència Catalana de l'Aigua
Spain
Vernaeve Liesbeth
Province of East Flanders
Belgium
Vervoort Dries
Flemish Government
Belgium
Viaroli Pierluigi
University of Parma
Italy
Vidal Joan Ramon
Tecnoambiente
Spain
Villagrasa Eduard
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain
Wasil Rafal
Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Poland
Voivodeship
Wessels Margarita
IRTA
Spain
Wishkerman Asher
IRTA
Spain
Woodroffe Colin
University of Wollongong
Australia
Conference “Impacts of Global Change” . 2011/ 41