EUROSION Case Study
ROSSLARE WEXFORD COUNTY (IRELAND)
Contact:
Paul SISTERMANS Odelinde NIEUWENHUIS
DHV group
Laan 1914 nr.35, 3818 EX Amersfoort 21 PO Box 219 3800 AE Amersfoort The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)33 468 37 00 Fax: +31 (0)33 468 37 48
[email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
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EUROSION Case Study
1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA
1.1 Physical process level
1.1.1 Classification
Unlike the UK, Ireland has been rising out of the sea since the last ice age. Scientists think that the island has stopped rising and the sea level rise will become a bigger threat in the future. The biggest threat is climate change. The increase in sea level and high tides will produce a new threat to the coastline and with it fears for buildings and infrastructure along the shore. The case area is located at St. Georges Channel.
The case area consists of soft glacial cliffs at the southern end and sandy beaches at the northern end. According to the typology in the scoping study the case area consists of:
1b. Tide-dominated sediment. Plains. Barrier dune coasts Fig. 1: Location of case area.
2a. Soft cliffs High and low glacial sea cliffs.
1.1.2 Geology