Transport pathways, exchange and dispersal in the Wadden Sea
2312 BS, Netherlands
NCK symposium: Transport pathways, exchange and dispersal in the Wadden Sea
Research in recent years has demonstrated that the Wadden Sea features a high temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity in the transport of particles, freshwater, and dissolved or suspended matter. This variability is clearly observed in the transport time scales. The fact that the system cannot be considered as statistically steady poses a challenge for the quantification of the exchanges of materials such as nutrients, pollutants, sediment and microplastics between the tidal basins, and between the Wadden Sea and North Sea. Yet, recent numerical modelling and field measurements have provided a deeper understanding of how the Wadden Sea works, even opening the prospect for novel operational transport models, for example, based on Machine-Learning techniques.
In this symposium, we bring together researchers from various universities and institutes to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art knowledge on transport modelling in the Wadden Sea and to identify lacunae in our understanding. The latter aspect receives special attention during the closing discussion, where possible new avenues of research will be explored.
Organizers: Theo Gerkema (NIOZ, Yerseke) and Matias Duran-Matute (TU/e)
Financially supported by NCK and NWO-ENW.
Program:
| 09:30 - 10:15 | Registration and coffee |
| 10:15 - 10:30 | Opening |
| Chair: NN | |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Hans Burchard (IOW): The physical oceanography of the Wadden Sea |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Jeancarlo Fajardo Urbina (TU/e): Lagrangian transport in the Dutch Wadden Sea: results from multi-decadal simulations |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Siren Rühs / Erik van Sebille (UU): Simulating surface plastic dispersal in the Wadden Sea / Preliminary results of a drifter release experiment in the western Wadden Sea |
| 12:00 - 12:30 | Johan van der Molen (NIOZ): Potential micro-plastics dispersal and accumulation in the North Sea, with application to the MSC Zoe incident |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch |
| Chair: NN | |
| 13:30 - 14:00 | Aditi Mitra (NIOZ): Flushing age of the Dutch Wadden Sea, based on a multi-decadal model simulation |
| 14:00 - 14:30 | Stuart Pearson (TUD): Sediment connectivity: analyzing coastal sediment pathways using Network Analysis Techniques |
| 14:30 - 15:00 | Vera Sidorenko (AWI): Oyster larvae pathways and connectivity between Marine Protected Areas in the German Bight |
| Chair: Hans Burchard (IOW) | |
| 15:00 - 15:30 | Panel discussion: Direction of future research Speakers & audience |
| 15:30 - 16:30 | Drinks |
Practical information:
Location: Wereldmuseum Leiden (previously Museum Volkenkunde), Steenstraat 1, Leiden (This is a 6-minute walk from Leiden Central Station)
Date: 7 February 2024, 10:00-16:30
Participation free, but registration required (before Sunday January 28th). Please note that there is a limited number of places available (first come, first served), so if you registered but are no longer able to join, please send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
