RISQ2009-1 : Natural hazards in coastal zones: coastal erosion, harbour protection, natural and induced subsidence, seawater intrusions, impact of climatic changes, tsunami

University of Liege | Version française

Academic year 2014-2015

Value date : 12/05/2015

RISQ2009-1

Natural hazards in coastal zones: coastal erosion, harbour protection, natural and induced subsidence, seawater intrusions, impact of climatic changes, tsunami

Duration :

18h Th, 18h Pr

Number of credits :

Advanced Master in Natural hazards Management		3

Lecturer :

Jean-Marie Beckers, Alain Dassargues, André Ozer

Coordinator :

N...

Language(s) of instruction :

French language

Organisation and examination :

Teaching in the second semester

Course contents :

JMB Properties of sea water and sea ice. Formation of ice. Stabilitty of a water column. Introduction to the dynamics of ocean currents. Salt water intrusion in rivers. Wind driven and tidal currents. Wave theory.
AD For the part given by A.Dassargues, the following topics are briefly addressed: - natural and induced subsidence: understanding the processes, study of the main influencing parameters, examples. - seawater intrusion in groundwater: understanding the processes, study of the main influencing parameters, examples.
AO Littoral morphology: coastal processes. Mechanisms of the marine erosion on rocky coasts. Action of the sea on crumbly coasts. Sea currents. Theory of Zenkovitch. Coastal marshes and estuaries. Sub-marine morphology: means of prospection. Morphology of the continental shelf and slope. Underwater canyons. Variations of the shorelines : Quaternary variations. Causes and consequences of the current rise in the sea level. Principle of Bruun. Sedimentary balance of the beaches. Classification of the coasts. Regional examples: Belgian, corsican and sardinian coast but also Vietnam and Morocco.

Learning outcomes of the course :

JMB My contribution to these lectures is to give students basic physical oceanography with a particular attention to natural risks (sea level changes, intrusion of salt water, storm surges, tsunamis, El Nino,...).
AD At the end of the course, the student will be able to: - understand theoretical and practical concepts and conditions leading to land subsidence due to groundwater pumping; - understand theoretical and practical concepts and conditions leading to groundwater salinisation by seawater intrusion and by irrigation practices.
AO The coastal environment at the air-ground-sea contact is one of most fragile. It undergoes currently, directly or indirectly, a continually increasing anthropic pressure. It results from it that 90% of the worldwide littorals are today in erosion. For a adapted coastal planning, it is important to control the causes of this degradation in order to reduce their consequences.

Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :

Mathematics, physics and chemistry at a level of bachelor of sciences (Scince ans Applied Sciences Faculty)

Good knowledge in Geology, Climatology and Geomorphology.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

The course is composed of "ex-cathedra" lectures.
The course is focused on the understanding more than on knowledge aspects. Students should be active during the lectures and the lecturer will give rise to interactions/discussions with the students.
Exercices are direct applications of theorical concepts given during the lectures.
Practical works on the field. One day will be devoted to the study of the estuary of the River Scheld (Netherlands) and another at the Opal Coast (France).

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :

18h of theorical courses organized in 6 sessions of 3h.
2 days of field trip in France and the Netherlands.
For the air-sea interactions : written open book exam.