METAscales - Marine Extremes Transforming coAsts - pathways for coastal adaptation across scales
Subject: Coast, extreme events, physical-oceanographic extreme scenarios, adaptation measures
Study site: North Sea coast, Germany
Funding: BMBF
Duration: 36 months
Contact: Prof. Dr. Claudia Künzer, Dr. Felix Bachofer
The third DAM research mission focuses on the interactions between short-term, multiple, and complex marine extreme events and natural hazards, as well as their long-term impacts on coastal society. METAscales aims to develop effective regional strategies for monitoring, assessment, and adaptation at various spatial and temporal scales, specifically tailored to address specific physical-oceanographic extreme scenarios. This includes analyzing and evaluating the interplay with other compound marine extreme events and natural hazards, considering factors such as sea level rise, changes in coastal morphology and dynamics, as well as hinterland drainage. The objectives of the project encompass quantifying projected damages and losses, as well as improving proactive strategies for disaster risk reduction related to physical-oceanographic hazards. METAscales encompasses a wide range of temporal scales, capturing both rapid extreme events and slow onset natural hazards. Consequently, it provides response actions and options while considering technical, natural, social, and planning aspects, all integrated within the socio-political context, within and beyond the conventional design horizon of coastal protection structures. In addition to temporal and spatial considerations, METAscales adopts a comprehensive approach, examining natural hazards and marine extreme events across various system scales. The overarching goal of METAscales is to enhance the resilience of coastal societies by establishing together a collaborative framework for planning, protecting, and managing the disaster risks associated with coastal areas.
The METAscales subproject of JMU contributes to the above objectives with information products of Earth observation, geospatial analysis and numerical modeling. The research takes place in the areas of understanding drivers and variability of marine extreme events and natural hazards and the impact of marine extreme events and natural hazards on coastal space, as well as their opportunities and risks. JMU analyzes in METAscales sea surface temperature and shoreline dynamics determined from Earth observation data in the context of marine extreme events. In addition, the current land use and critical infrastructure of the coastal zone are assessed, and development of relevant land use is projected into the future.
