Current Research projects

Current Ph.D. studies and staff research that is relevant in the framework of the Delta Evolution Program, is listed here.

Staff studies

A 4D (time-space) process-based alluvial architecture model
The Rhine-Meuse delta, looking east. 3D model of the top of the Pleistocene topography. Late Weichselian eolian dunes can be seen as hills in the Late-Glacial floodplain. The hills in the background are ice-pushed ridges.
Aim: To construct a 4D-(time-space) process-based alluvial architecture model, and to test this model against real world alluvial architecture data.
Funding: Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO-ALW-MEERVOUD: Dr. E. Stouthamer), and Utrecht University
Duration: 2002-2006
Researchers: Dr. E. Stouthamer, Dr. D. Karssenberg & Prof. Dr. J. Bridge
Supervision: Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen
Interaction of Early Holocene coastal evolution and fluvial dynamics
Aim: To develop qualitative and quantitative concepts on the interaction of Early Holocene coastal and river mouth evolution.
Funding: Utrecht University, Utrecht Centre of Geosciences
Duration: 2005-2008
Researchers: Dr. K.M. Cohen, Dr. G. Hoffmann & Drs. M. Hijma
Supervision: H.J.A. Berendsen & Prof. Dr. P. Hoekstra
Palaeogeographic development of the Old Rhine river mouth in relation to coastal evolution (Rhine-Meuse delta, The Netherlands)
Digital elevation image of the Schoonrewoerd channel belt in the western part of the Alblasserwaard. The channel belt meanders from NE to W in the image. Small tidal creeks are visible, perpendicular to the channel belt. This shows, that the lower portion of the active channel belt was influenced by tides in the Meuse estuary. Width of image approximately 12 km.
Aim: To analyse and explain the Holocene geological development in the downstream part of the Old Rhine system, and its relation to marine influences and coastal topography.
Funding: German Science Foundation
Duration: 2005-2008
Researchers: G. Hoffmann & Drs. M. Hijma
Supervision: Dr. K.M. Cohen, Dr. E. Stouthamer, & Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen
Sand-depth map of the IJssel valley
Aim: To construct a sand depth map of the IJssel Valley and the IJssel delta.
Funding: Province of Gelderland
Duration: 2005-2009
Researchers: Dr. K.M. Cohen
Supervision: Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen
Sand depth map of part of the Bommelerwaard (Berendsen et al. 2002).
Late Glacial evolution of the Niers valley
Aim: To reconstruct fluvial response to climate change at the transition from the Weichselian to the Holocene.
Funding: Utrecht University
Duration: 2002-2006
Researchers: Dr. W.Z. Hoek & Dr. C. Kasse (VU Amsterdam)
Supervision: Dr. W.Z. Hoek
Soil map of the Province of Utrecht, scale 1:25.000
Aim: To make a soil map of the peat areas in the Province of Utrecht, to investigate the vulnerability of the peat areas to subsidence, to map the thickness of covering clay layers, and to map groundwater levels.
Funding: Province of Utrecht
Duration: 2006-2007
Researchers: Dr. E. Stouthamer (project leader), Drs. J. Peeters, Drs. M. Bouman, Dr. K.M. Cohen (GIS), Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen (advisor), Drs. F. van den Oever (Tauw B.V.), Drs. M. Blankers (Tauw B.V.)
Supervision: Dr. E. Stouthamer & Dr. H. Middelkoop
Signing of the contract for this important project at the 'Provinciehuis' (County Seat).

PhD. Studies

Biogeomorphological interactions within floodplains and their role in sediment transport and ecological transformation processes in the lower Rhine delta
Aim: to quantify the influence of floodplain vegetation on flow patterns and deposition of sediment and heavy metals.
Funding: NWO-LOICZ
Duration: 2002-2007
Researchers: M. Straatsma
Supervision: Dr. H. Middelkoop
Facies characterisation and grainsize distribution in the fluvial deposits of the Kreftenheye Formation, Netherlands
The white material in this laquer peel is pumice from the eruption of the Laacher See volcano (11063 14C yr BP) occurs in the Younger Dryas terrace (the so-called Terrace-X or Kreftenheye-6 deposits of Verbraeck 1984). Lacquer peel by J. van der Staay.
Aim: 1) to assess the spatio-temporal evolution of the Rhine-Meuse river system, from the fluvial deposits of the Kreftenheye Formation in the central Netherlands, 2) to determine the distribution and volumes of sand and gravel fractions in the fluvial deposits, 3) to assess the contributions of climate, tectonics, eustasy and glacio- hydroisostasy to the evolution of the Rhine-Meuse river system, during the deposition of the Kreftenheye Formation, 4) to model the grainsize distribution and the 3D evolution of the river system using numerical techniques.
Funding: Netherlands Geological Survey, Rijkswaterstaat, VU Amsterdam
Duration: 2002-2007
Researchers: F.S. Busschers
Supervision: Prof. Dr. J. Vandenberghe, Dr. R. van Balen & Dr. C. Kasse
The dual control of sediment flux and rate of relative sea-level change investigated by quantitative, analogue experimental models of the river-shelf-basin system
Aim: to model delta evolution as a result of discharge and sealevel variations.
Funding: Department of Earth Sciences
Duration: 2003-2007
Researchers: M. van Dijk
Supervision: Prof. Dr. P. de Boer & Dr. G. Postma
The influence of climate, vegetation and human impact on the fluvial dynamics in the Rhine drainage basin during the last 15,000 years
Aim: to establish the relation between upstream sediment delivery in the Rhine drainage basin and downstream sedimentation in the delta as a result of vegetation changes since the end of the Weichselian.
Funding: Utrecht University
Duration: 2003-2008
Researchers: G. Erkens
Supervision: Dr. W.Z. Hoek, Dr. K.M. Cohen, Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen & Prof. Dr. E.A. Koster
Downstream fining of bed sediment in the Dutch Rhine branches
Aim: The principal objective of the research is to determine the relative contribution of these four processes to the downstream fining of bed sediments in the lower course of the river Rhine.
Funding: Rijkswaterstaat
Duration: 2003-2007
Researchers: R. Frings
Supervision: Dr. M. Kleinhans, Dr. J.H. van den Berg, Prof. Dr. E.A. Koster & Prof. Dr. L. van Rijn
Quantification of parameters describing the alluvial architecture of Holocene channel belts in the Rhine-Meuse and Mississippi River deltas
Channel belt width (blue line) and channel width (red line) for the river Nederrijn-Lek. Near coordinate 100 channel belt width is equal to channel width. This means that lateral accretion is virtually zero: the size of the sandbody is equal to the size of the channel. In the eastern part of the delta the channel belt is ~ 10 times wider than the channel. The decrease of channel belt width between coordinates 160 and 190 is related to the crossing of the upthrown Peel Horst.
Aim: 1) to quantify and compare parameters describing Holocene alluvial architecture, 2) to establish how alluvial architecture is related to upstream and downstream controls, and 3) to compare alluvial architecture data with model results.
Funding: Utrecht University
Duration: 2003-2007
Researchers: M. Gouw
Supervision: Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen, Dr. E. Stouthamer & Prof. Dr. E.A. Koster
Characterisation and comparison of facies distribution of Holocene and Early Pleistocene fine-grained fluvial and clastic lake deposits in the Netherlands
Aim: to construct a conceptual facies model of distal fluvial deposits at delta scale.
Funding: Netherlands Geological Survey
Duration: 2005-2009
Researchers: I. Bos
Supervision: Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen, Dr. E. Stouthamer, Dr. H.J.T. Weerts (Netherlands Geological Survey) & Prof. Dr. E.A. Koster
From lowstand to highstand delta: evolution of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene near-coastal area of the Rhine-Meuse delta in the Netherlands
Aim: to (1) establish a detailed facies-architecture model for the barrier-lagoon-fluvial system. This model should be applicable to the Middle-Late Holocene deposits and for Late Glacial - Early Holocene deposits at the base of the coastal prism. (2) quantify the facies distribution of these deposits over time and space for further use in 3-D models of the subsurface. (3) relate the coastal-lagoonal-fluvial real-world evolution to sequence stratigraphic and delta evolution theory.
Funding: Utrecht University, Netherlands Geological Survey
Duration: 2005-2009
Researchers: M. Hijma
Supervision: Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen, Dr. K.M. Cohen, Dr. S. van Heteren, Dr. A. van der Spek & Prof. Dr. P. Hoeksta
Discharge variations of the Rhine and Meuse over time, quantified using oxygen-isotope characteristics
Aim: To quantatively estimate discharge variations over time, using shells from river deposits of the Rhine and Meuse.
Funding: NWO, VU Amsterdam
Duration: 2005-2009
Researchers: E. Versteegh
Supervision: Dr. S. Troelstra (VU, Amsterdam)
The influence of peat compaction on river channel diversions (avulsions) and alluvial architecture
Compaction of peat in the western Netherlands since 1000 AD is on average approximately 4.5 m. Average sea level has risen approximately 1 m between 1000 AD and 2000 AD. The diagram shows two periods with accelerated compaction: after ditches were dug during the reclamations of the peat areas (1000-1100), and when windmills were used to keep the polders dry (1500-1700). Since 1600 the land surface is below the water level of ebb tide. This makes permanent pumping necessary.
Aim: to: (1) determine the magnitude and rate of compaction using field data from the Holocene Rhine-Meuse delta and other sources; (2) determine from field data how compaction influences topographic slopes, the geometry of floodplain deposits, and deposition rates; (3) examine avulsion sites and river courses in order to determine if compaction has had an influence; (4) make a numerical model of compaction; (5) incorporate a compaction module into a next generation 4-D (time-space) process-based alluvial architecture model, and try to model the effects of compaction on avulsion and alluvial architecture, and (6) test this 'compaction module' against real-world alluvial architecture data.
Funding: NWO-ALW
Duration: 2006-2010
Researchers: S. van Asselen
Supervision: Dr. E. Stouthamer & Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen
Environmental response to rapid climatic changes in NW-Europe during the Bølling/Allerød interstadial
Aim: To investigate how and to what extent climatic oscillations during the Bølling/Allerød interstadial (GI-1b and GI-1d, or Gerzensee and Aegelsee oscillations) led to environmental changes in NW-Europe.
Funding: NWO, Toptalent grant
Duration: 2007-2011
Researchers: N. van Asch
Supervision: Dr. W. Hoek, Dr. H. Middelkoop