In cooperation with Deltares and the KNMI, Royal Haskoning is studying the effects of Climate Change on the hydraulic parameters near the Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier. The famous surge barrier has been built as part of the Delta Works, after the disastrous flooding of the Zeeland area in 1953. Globally renowned for its innovative design, providing both safety to the hinterland as well as free passage of valuable sea water into the estuary, the hydraulic structure is continuously under maintenance in order to guarantee flood safety requirements.



The most recent climate model results are used to define the effects of a changing climate on wind speed and direction, water levels and waves. Sea level rise will result in an extreme water level increase outside the Eastern Scheldt Surge Barrier. Possible consequences of this include an increase of the closure frequency of the surge barrier, as well as an increase of loads on structural components of the Barrier. This will probably result in a maintenance increase of the Storm Surge Barrier. Changing wind patterns, both in terms of wind speed and in terms of wind direction, will have an effect on the storm surge level within the Eastern Scheldt. This will have a, positive or negative, effect on the safety level of levee sections within the Eastern Scheldt estuary. The statistics found in this study will be used to estimate the impact of Climate Change on the safety level and the operational management of the Eastern Scheldt Surge Barrier.

Royal Haskoning and Deltares provide an overview of the different climate models which are used in the Netherlands. This information is than used to adapt the extreme value distributions such that climate change is incorporated in the statistics.