Delta evolution program
Aim
Delta evolution is a long-term informal research program of the Faculty of Geosciences (Department of Physical geography and Department of Earth Sciences), aiming to reconstruct and simulate the evolution of fluvial dominated deltas, especially in the Netherlands, on various time scales from the Tertiary to the present. The program brings together scientists with a common scientific interest in fluvial sedimentology and geomorphology in an informal way, without administrative hassles, management interference or overhead deductions. Researchers that participate in publications with one of the staff members of Utrecht University automatically become members of the program.
Rationale
- Delta, formed by a braided river in a lake
Delta evolution, as a result of the interplay of climate, tectonics, glacio-isostacy and glacio-eustacy and its effects on river aggradation and degradation, is of prime importance for the understanding of the architecture and geophysical properties of the substrate of the Netherlands, and for the construction of models of fluvial deposition and the testing of sequence stratigraphical concepts. The Rhine-Meuse (Dutch: Rijn-Maas) river system, that existed since the Miocene, offers a great opportunity to study the interplay of the driving forces climate, tectonics and isostatic and eustatic movements, because deposits in the downstream area are, at least partly, preserved in the subsiding Rhine-Basin and in the North Sea basin. The study of these deposits is important from both a scientific point of view (understanding the evolution of deltas and river systems), and a practical point of view (extraction of hydrocarbons and water, flood protection, and applied geotechnics). The extensive knowledge on delta evolution in the Netherlands that is already available, and that will be extended further by this research program, may serve as an important source of information for other deltas in the world.
Organization
The Department of Physical geography of Utrecht University has an extensive database of over 200,000 borehole descriptions that contain information on delta evolution on various time scales. The research program studies the evolution of the Netherlands' Rhine-Meuse (Rijn-Maas) delta system. The program includes several Ph.D. and postdoc studies, funded by Utrecht University (UU), NWO (Netherlands Science Foundation), TNO, and other institutions and companies. There is a cooperation with the NCR (Netherlands Centre for River Studies), NCK (Netherlands Centre for Coastal Studies) and NCL (Netherlands Centre for Luminescence dating). Utrecht University (Department of Physical geography) studies the more fundamental aspects of delta evolution. NCR and NCK focus on applied aspects of river management and coastal management respectively, and TNO focusses on applied studies of sediment characteristics and architecture.
All Ph.D. students in the Delta evolution program are incorporated in the ICG research school (Interuniversity Center for Geo-ecological Research). A full description of all Ph.D. projects is available from the ICG research school. New projects will be added over time, depending on available funds.
Program leaders
- Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen and Dr. E. Stouthamer
Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen and Dr. E. Stouthamer. They can be reached at:
Faculty of Geosciences,Department of Physical Geography,
Utrecht University,
Heidelberglaan 2,
3508 TC Utrecht.
Participating staff members of Utrecht University
- Dr. J.H. van den Berg
- Dr. K.M. Cohen
- Prof. Dr. Ir. M.F.P. Bierkens
- Dr. W.Z. Hoek
- Prof. Dr. P. Hoekstra
- Dr. M. Kleinhans
- Dr. H. Middelkoop
- Dr. D. Karssenberg
- Dr. G. Postma
- Dr. E. Stouthamer
Emeritus participants
- Dr. H.J.A. Berendsen
- Prof. Dr. E.A. Koster
External participants
- Dr. W. Autin (Suny College, Brockport, USA)
- Dr. G. Biserni (University of Siena, Italy)
- Prof. Dr. J.S. Bridge (Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA)
- Dr. W. ten Brinke (Rijkswaterstaat, The Netherlands)
- Drs. F.S. Busschers (Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
- Dr. A. Fontana (University of Padova, Italy)
- Prof. Dr. J. Holbrook (University of Texas at Arlington, USA)
- Dr. C. Kasse (Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
- Dr. E. Lohof (State Service for Archaeological Investigations, Amersfoort, The Netherlands)
- Drs. P. Kiden (Geological Survey - TNO, the Netherlands)
- Dr. B. Makaske (Alterra, The Netherlands)
- Prof. Dr. W. Schirmer (University of Düsseldorf, Germany)
- Dr. T.E. Törnqvist (Tulane University, New Orleans, USA)
- Dr. J. Wallinga (Netherlands Centre for Luminescence dating, Delft)
- Dr. H.J.T. Weerts (Geological Survey - TNO, the Netherlands)
- Dr. G.J. Weltje (Technical University, Delft, The Netherlands)
- Drs. W. Westerhoff (Geological Survey - TNO, the Netherlands)
- Dr. H. Wolfert (Alterra, The Netherlands)
Participating institutes
- ICG (Interuniversity Centre for Geo-ecological Research)
- TUD (Technical University of Delft, the Netherlands)
- ROB (Netherlands' State Service for Archaeological Investigations)
- Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Water Works)
- Alterra (The Netherlands)
- Netherlands Geological survey (TNO)
- University of Düsseldorf (Germany)
- University of Padova (Italy)
- University of Tulane at New Orleans (USA)
- University of Texas at Arlington (USA)
- University of Binghamton (NY, USA)
- Suny College (Brockport NY, USA)
Other partners are welcomed to participate.