Storm surges cause slight loss of sand on islands
The first winter storms of the season with storm surges have caused slight sand losses on some East Frisian islands. Sand was lost from dunes on the islands of Juist, Norderney, Langeoog, Spiekeroog and Wangerooge, for example, as the Lower Saxony State Agency for Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation announced in an interim report on Friday.
Wear bodies were also affected - these are sand deposits that are washed up by coastal protection to protect dunes against wind and waves. Over the past few days, employees of the state agency had recorded and measured the sand losses on the islands.
According to the NLWKN, storm "Niklas" at the end of last week led to a total of four minor storm surges in the Ems region and two on the rest of the Lower Saxony coast.
The coastal protection authorities see a foreseeable need for action following the sand erosion on the north-east dunes on the island of Wangerooge. The losses were not as severe as in previous storm surges. However, it is already clear that the dunes in the affected area will have to be reinforced again next year. "There is still no danger and therefore no immediate need for action due to the existing width and height of the protective dunes," said Frank Thorenz, head of the NLWKN office responsible for island protection in Norden.
On the island of Langeoog, the sand deposit that was washed up in front of the protective dune at Pirolatal in 2022 was affected. Break-offs with a depth of five to ten meters were recorded there. Around 70 percent of the wear body is still functional.
On Juist, the past storm surges led to dunes breaking away in some places. On the neighboring island of Norderney, sand was removed from the recently reinforced dune section at the Kugelbake. According to the information provided, an average depth of two meters was lost there.
The environmental impact of these storm surges extends beyond the sand loss, as they also affect the natural ecosystems and wildlife inhabiting the islands. Civil protection measures will be necessary to prevent further erosion and protect the islands' habitats. The floodwaters have adversely impacted several nature reserves on the coast, threatening the delicate balance of the coastal ecosystem.
Source: www.dpa.com
