Prof. Dr. Bert Vermeersen

I am studying how the sea level of the Wadden Sea may change in the future. This depends on factors such as land subsidence and land uplift, but also on the supply and removal of sand, sea currents, and wind direction. It even depends on differences in the warming of seawater and changes in gravity when large amounts of water are displaced. We have incorporated all these factors into a single computer model that offers scenarios for the Wadden Sea in the coming decades. Ministries, provinces, and municipalities can use the model to decide on measures to protect the coast. This is not only important for people, but also for animals and plants in coastal areas.