Hydro-ecological relations in the Delta Waters

- wrgbolegical differmes wititin tk hasin axe smothed; channels
silt up. sandy shoals degrade (Fig. 4%).
A.
tidol volume INCREAf;E
8
tidol volume DEGREASE
Figure P
eeneral respame mechanisms of the tial landsrape in cmcel
and estuarine envirgnnenrs to chmsas Ln the tidal volnme
l'hesn wtatemencs on general response oecbariisms pumide weful
'llypoFpoMeses' eo be tested on observations 03 the major chaees fn the
rMaI landscape over tBe last 30 rears (Section 3).
The respanae mechmism no change* of tide1 volume trends to create a
new dgnsJaic equillbbl-ium hemeen tlie tidal volume end the shape and
dimeasions of the tidal landscape. The comtinuing sSltatiun of the
hLelL&tlht and erosion of the 0ostere;ehelde during the 19th centruy, Cn
respanse to dsastic charrges of their tidalvolme &ring the 15th and
16th ceutlvry (see seation 2.1). indieaces abe time scale sf
geomotphologfcal remetlens: a net? dwmic equilibrium takes centuries.
The tnqract of hum iqterfm-e
hecornea Fncueasingly appirrent tiuough the ages.
on deu@lop@ents of the tidal landscape
Duriry: the Late Miadle Ages man was a mjor cause of the land losses
alwg the Ealiaim and Oasternobelde es';narl.es.
The constlvction of
palGers (sinee &ant lIOD RD.), the artificial Lmprovel~e~~t of dr&age
and extensive salt srining initwed large scale lowerinrg of the limd
level. Consequently the land beeam a more
prey to storm ~uzges
(Van den Bezg. 19863. Man indirectly initiated major changes in the
tLd& voluures P£ the estuaries.