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Project properties |
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| Title | What affects the moisture regime of the sand surface of beach and dune? |
| Group | Soil Physics and Land Management group |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 24-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | Sjoerd vd Zee |
| Examiner(s) | Coen Ritsema |
| Contact info | |
| Begin date | 2020/05/19 |
| End date | |
| Description | In the past decade, sand nourishments (or sand supply) to Dutch fore-shores and beaches have been undertaken to provide an additional protection against the sea. One of the protective mechanisms is that sand transports over the beach into the dune area, thus reinforcing the dunes. Both for the eolian transport of sand into the dunes, including the formation of embryo and fore dunes, and for the establishment of plants that stabilize the dunes, the water content of the top soil, and in particular the upper mm (in the beach area) are of great importance. Intention of this MSc thesis research is to acquire understanding of the water dynamics at the beach and the dunes as it results from capillary rise of water from the shallow groundwater (that may be fresh or saline) and wetting of the top layer by rainfall and condensation of water, and modified by evaporation. This project will involve computer modelling in 2D of the unsaturated zone, literature research and participating in the acquisition (sandy) soil hydraulic properties for input to the modelling software. In addition, water in the unsaturated zone is monitored with advanced instruments. This research will support research by Caroline Hallin (TUDelft & Univ. Stockholm) regarding the wetness of the top layer of sand.
If wished, it is possible to join in June a field practical in Terschelling of the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group PEN and to co-operate with a student of this group that addresses ecological issues of the beach-dune transition area. Start date: as soon as possible. The project will contribute to the NWO (Dutch Science Foundation) funded DuneForce project of TUDelft and WUR, with support and cooperation of several scientific institutes, consultancy firms and SMEs. If you are interested in participating in this research, please contact Sjoerd van der Zee (sjoerd.vanderzee@wur.nl), Michel Riksen (michel.riksen@wur.nl) or Juul Limpens (juul.limpens@wur.nl) In the past decade, sand nourishments (or sand supply) to Dutch fore-shores and beaches have been undertaken to provide an additional protection against the sea. One of the protective mechanisms is that sand transports over the beach into the dune area, thus reinforcing the dunes. Both for the eolian transport of sand into the dunes, including the formation of embryo and fore dunes, and for the establishment of plants that stabilize the dunes, the water content of the top soil, and in particular the upper mm (in the beach area) are of great importance. Intention of this MSc thesis research is to acquire understanding of the water dynamics at the beach and the dunes as it results from capillary rise of water from the shallow groundwater (that may be fresh or saline) and wetting of the top layer by rainfall and condensation of water, and modified by evaporation. This project will involve computer modelling in 2D of the unsaturated zone, literature research and participating in the acquisition (sandy) soil hydraulic properties for input to the modelling software. In addition, water in the unsaturated zone is monitored with advanced instruments. This research will support research by Caroline Hallin (TUDelft & Univ. Stockholm) regarding the wetness of the top layer of sand. If wished, it is possible to join in June a field practical in Terschelling of the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group PEN and to co-operate with a student of this group that addresses ecological issues of the beach-dune transition area. Start date: as soon as possible. The project will contribute to the NWO (Dutch Science Foundation) funded DuneForce project of TUDelft and WUR, with support and cooperation of several scientific institutes, consultancy firms and SMEs. If you are interested in participating in this research, please contact Sjoerd van der Zee (sjoerd.vanderzee@wur.nl), Michel Riksen (michel.riksen@wur.nl) or Juul Limpens (juul.limpens@wur.nl) |
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