AreaNorth Sea - more storm surges in future

Christian Tiedt

 · 10.11.2023

Area: North Sea - more storm surges in futurePhoto: BAW
Towards the end of the century, climate change could lead to weather conditions on the German North Sea coast favouring more frequent storm surges than today. This is shown by studies carried out by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) in collaboration with the Federal Waterways Engineering and Research Institute (BAW)

According to BSH President Helge Heegewaldt, climate change presents society with "enormous challenges" that can be tackled with the help of scientific research. "We are therefore making the findings available to a wide range of stakeholders. For example, shoreline structures can be fortified with foresight and measures can be taken to make shipping more resilient to extreme events," Heegewaldt continues.

The studies look at the conditions that favour storm surges and storm seas in the German Bight - as recently seen at the end of October - and how these could change in the future as a result of climate change

The focus is on atmospheric conditions such as weather patterns and storm intensity, as well as sea level rise. The simulations shed light on what the future could look like: Without further climate protection measures, around 10 per cent more days per year on average could occur in the German Bight towards the end of the century with atmospheric conditions that are a prerequisite for a storm surge. Rising sea levels will further intensify the effect of high water levels.


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Christian Tiedt

Christian Tiedt

Editor Travel

Christian Tiedt was born in Hamburg in 1975, but grew up in the northern suburbs of the city - except for numerous visits to the harbor, North Sea and Baltic Sea, but without direct access to water sports for a long time. His first adventures then took place on dry land: With the classics from Chichester, Slocum and Co. After completing his vocational training, his studies finally gave him the opportunity (in terms of time) to get active on the water - and to obtain the relevant licenses. First with cruising and then, when he joined BOOTE in 2004, with motorboats of all kinds. In the meantime, Christian has been able to get to know almost all of Europe (and some more distant destinations) on his own keel and prefers to share his adventures and experiences as head of the travel department for YACHT and BOOTE in cruise reports.

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