Description
The assessment of vulnerability of the Arctic coast to climate changes will be performed. Special attention is paid to coastal protection and enhanced erosion of the coast due to waves and global warming. The main goal of the project is to recognize all physical processes that occur during the erosion of the Arctic shore. The analysis will be performed by numerical and physical modelling of impact of waves on permafrost shore. Project outcome includes the following main activities: data from field and laboratory measurements, theoretical studies, verification of numerical results. Measured data sets from field expeditions and experimental studies will be used for realization of the project but will also constitute a unique and very extensive data base. The conducted research is very important at international level for scientific and local communities. Thematic partner meetings, technical visits and consultations between the engaged researchers are planned. The assessment of vulnerability of the Arctic coast to climate changes will be performed. Special attention is paid to coastal protection and enhanced erosion of the coast due to waves and global warming.
Summary of project results
The Arctic region is affected strongly by climate change. Due to increased air and water temperatures, the permafrost coasts for the Arctic are increasingly exposed to erosion caused by the combined effects of melting coastal bluffs, reduced sea ice and consequently larger shear stress induced by larger waves. At the same time, the Arctic region is becoming relevant exploring resources such as oil or minerals which leads to a build-up of a coastal infrastructure. As a result, there is a strong need in understanding the causes, processes and effects of arctic coastal erosion. This has been achieved in the current project through combined numerical, experimental and field studies which have been carried out jointly by the researchers at NTNU Trondheim in Norway and the Institute of Hydro-Engineering PAS in Gdansk. At IBW PAN, the original methodology of experimental study on permafrost exposed to wave action was developed. The unique comprehensive database of experimental results was complemented by in-situ measurements of water waves and currents collected during two consecutive polar expedition to Svalbard. At NTNU Trondheim, the open-source hydrodynamics software package REEF3D has been extended to incorporate sediment transport due to current and waves. The cutting edge three-dimensional numerical model REEF3D has been extensively tested, validated and applied to important local scour phenomena in coastal and arctic engineering. Finally the research group from IBW PAN proposed a novel groundbreaking concept of PCRI and applied it to the selected polar regions and the whole Arctic coastline. It constitutes a scientific-driven approach and a useful tool designed for managers , policy-makers and scientist involved in polar region research and management.
Summary of bilateral results
The bilateral exchange of knowledge through meetings and joint seminars, ad hoc communication allowed to strengthen the collaboration between project partners. New perspectives for future cooperation in research-based project were established. The fruitful discussions led to better understanding of the physical processes acting in polar coastal zones from different points of view, i.e. experimental, field-based and numerical studies. The innovative and original concepts developed and upgraded in the ARCOASTS project were the results of bilateral partnership and cooperation. The increased visibility of project outcome was the effect of the significant contribution to the dissemination activities of both partners finalized by the organization of a successful close-up event in Trondheim.