Memo

To
Deltaprogramma Wadden
Dat e
10 December 2013
Number of pages
45
From
Zheng Bing Wang
Albert Oost
Di rect l ine
+31 (0)88 33 58 202
E-mai l
zheng.wang@deltares.nl
Subject
Analysis of water level data for the Ems-Dollard Estuary
1 Introduction
In the last decades the human interferences have led to two changes in the Ems-Dollard
Estuary: increase of the turbidity and intensifying of the tidal intrusion. The two changes are
related to each other and they strengthen each other. However, it is still not clear which human
interference (land reclamation, harbour development, deepening of the navigation channels,
Sperrwerken, etc.) have had the most influence for the observed changes. Also the
morphological development in the estuary, natural or not, can have had influence on the
observed changes. Improved insight in which human interferences and morphological
development have led to the largest changes in the water movement is important for the long-
term safety strategy.
The objective of the present study is to find out which human induced changes have had most
effects on the changes of the hydrodynamics in the Ems-Dollard Estuary.
The changes of the hydrodynamics is evaluated by analysing the data collected at all the tidal
gauges in the system, from seawards side to landwards side: Huibertgat, Borkum, Emshaven,
Delfzijl, Knock, Nieuwe Statenzijl, Emden, Leerort, Papenburg, Herbrum. The time series at
each station is divided in periods of about a lunar day (two tidal cycles). For each period the
tidal characteristics are analysed in order to obtain detailed information concerning the
development in time of the tidal amplification, tidal asymmetry, etc.. Further a detailed
inventory of the human interferences is made. By comparing the development of the
interferences to that of the tidal characteristics we hope to obtain better insight into which
interference led to which changes in the hydrodynamics.
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2 Available data and methods of analyses
2.1 Study area and ti dal data
The Ems-Dollard Estuary under consideration includes the Outer-Ems, the Dollard and the
Ems River. A distinction between the inner and outer parts of the estuary will be made with as
boarder between the two the barrier Sperrwerk. Figure 1 shows the study area with the
positions of the tidal stations.
Figure 1. The Ems-Dollard Estuary and the tidal stations (mi snog Borkum and Herbrum).
On the Dutch side there are four stations, Huibertgat, Emshaven, Delfzijl and Nieuw Statenzijl.
At these stations the water levels have been measured with different starting dates. In the past
the measurements were recorded with a 1 hour time interval and the more recent data are with
a time interval of 10 minutes. In table 1 the periods in which data with the two time intervals are
available are given for each station.
Table 1. Tidal records at the Dutch stations
Station Period 1 hour interval data Period 10 minute interval data
Huibertgat 19-01-1973 - 02-09-1987 Since 03-09-1987
Emshaven 29-12-1978 07-01-1988 Since 07-01-1988
Delfzijl 01-01-1971 -31-12-1986 Since 01-01-1987
Nieuw Statenzijl 01-01-1979 - 07-01-1988 Since 07-01-1988
On the German side there are eleven stations, from seawards to landwards: Borkum-S,
Borkum-F, Knock, Emden, Pogum, Terborg, Leerort, Weener, Papenburg, Rheden and
Herbrum. At these stations The HW-LW data are available with different start-date are given in
Table 2.
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Table 2. HW LW records at the German stations
Station Start date HW-LW data
Borkum-S 31-10-1935
Borkum-F 1-10-1963
Knock 1-11-1977
Emden 1-10-1949
Pogum 1-10-1949
Terborg 1-11-1969
Leerort 1-10-1949
Weener 1-1-1970
Papenburg 1-10-1949
Rheden 1-11-1982
Herbrum 1-10-1949
Furthermore, for the most recent period, since end last century, water level records with a time
interval of 1 minute are available for a couple of stations. As the period of this dataset is
relatively short and the longer dataset of HW-LW already supply the characteristics of the
development of the tide in the estuary it is not used in this study.
2.2 Analysis methods
The water level data at the four Dutch stations have been analysed by dividing the whole
period into intervals of 24 hours and 50 minutes. For each of the intervals, a Fourier series is
determined. This method is first applied to the Guadalquivir River for analysing the effects of
river flood events on the tidal amplification in the estuary (see Wang et al., 2013). For the
period in which only 1 hour interval data is available the data is first linearly interpolated to 10
minutes time interval in order to be able to make the same analysis for the whole period in
which water level records are available.
The analysis produces for each time interval of about a day (50 minutes more) the averaged
water level, amplitudes and phases of the diurnal, semi-diurnal and quarter-diurnal tidal
components. Note that e.g. the semi-diurnal component is the combined result of al semi-
diurnal tidal constituents (M2, S2, N2, ).
With respect to a standard harmonic analysis (see e.g. Pawlowicz et al., 2002) or the
admittance method (Munk and Cartright, 1966) this method is better suited for identifying
sudden changes as it provides day to day variations. A drawback of this method is that the
results show scatters due to short-term variations. However, this can be filtered out by time
averaging using a proper averaging period.
For the 11 German stations the HW-LW records are analysed. Each record contains the water
level (LW or HW) and the time in the format dd-mm-yyyy-hh-mm. The method of analysis is
depicted in Figure 2. Each time a time frame indicated by the box is considered. The first 4
records are used to determine (averaged) LW and HW. The last record is needed for
determining the (averaged) rising and falling periods. Each time the box is moved by one data
point, resulting in the same number of records in the output- file as in the input-file. The
averaged HW (/LW) is equal to the average of the first two HW (/LW) values. The tidal range is
equal to the difference between the averaged HW and the averaged LW. The mid-tide is
determined as the average of the averaged HW and the averaged LW. The daily difference is
determined by taking the averaged value of the difference between the two HW values and that
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between the two LW values. The rising (/falling) period is determined by taking the averaged
value of the two rising (/falling) periods.
Figure 2. Analysis of the HW-LW dataset.
The Dutch data and the German are different and they are analysed using different methods.
However, the results of the two analyses contain similar information for the same
characteristics of the tidal wave in the estuary. In Table 3 an overview of the characteristics of
the tide and the corresponding parameters in the output of the two analyses is given. In the
present study emphasis is put on the tidal amplification and the tidal asymmetry in the estuary.
These two aspects are respectively discussed in the next two chapters.
Table 3. Corresponding parameters from the two analyses for the various characteristics of tide
Characteristic tide Fourier series HW-LW analysis
Mean water level Average water level a
0
Mid-tide
Tidal amplification Amplitude semi-diurnal comp. a
2
Tidal range
Tidal asymmetry Quarter- and semi-diurnal comp. a
4
/a
2
,

Difference falling and rising

per.
Diurnal tide Amplitude diurnal component a
1
Daily inequality
2.3 Inventory of human interference
An inventory has led to a long list of events in the system including human interferences and
natural events like major flooding in the early history (see Appendix). Looking at the recent
history, two major types of human interferences can be identified: land reclamation and
deepening of the navigation channels. Figure 3 shows the historical development of the total
reclaimed area from the Ems-Dollard Estuary. Most reclamation took place before 1900 and in
the period in which the tidal data are analysed no more land reclamation took place.
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Figure 3. Historical development of land reclamation in the estuary
Figure 4 shows the historical development of the navigation depth in the various parts of the
estuary. Two deepening period of the navigation channel in the Ems River (inner estuary) can
be identified. Roughly from 1950s to 1960s the navigation channel between Leerort and
Papenburg were deepened to the same depth as the downstream part (from ~4m to ~5.5 m).
The from the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s the navigation channel in the whole Ems River (from
Emden to Papenburg) is deepened from 5.7 m to 7.3 m.
Figure 4. Historical development of the navigation depth in the various parts of the estuary
Other human interferences include many types of engineering works. Most of these
engineering works are not expected to have substantial influences on the changes of the tidal
intrusion in the system. Those expected to have more influence are listed in the following table.
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Table 4. Other relevant human interferences
Year Interference
1984-1990 Streamlining of the river curve radius at the Bight of Weekeborg and the Bight of
Stapelmoor by about 400 m each
1998-2002 Construction Emssperrwerk at Gandersum
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3 Amplification of the tide in the estuary
3.1 Introducti on
For the amplification of the tide we look at the semi-diurnal component, the major tidal
component in the area. For the Dutch stations we use the amplitude of the semi-diurnal
component and for the German stations we use the averaged tidal range to determine the
amplification factor between two stations.
2_ upstreamstation
2_downstreamstation
Amplification factor =
a
a
(1)
For the German stations a
2
in this equation is replaced by the averaged tidal range.
The original results from the analyses contain a lot of scatters. Most of the scatters are
caused by the spring-neap variation (Wang et al., 2013). Therefore the results are presented
together with a line with smoothed results by moving averaging over 57 data points.
3.2 Outer part of the estuary
For the outer part of the estuary we mainly look at the four Dutch stations. The amplification
factors between the other three stations and the most seawards station Huibergat are
respectively shown in Fig.5a, Fig.5b and Fig.5c. The amplification in the part between
Emshaven and Huibergat (Fig.5a) shows little trend. Only a very small increase between the
end and the begin of the data record can be observed.
Figure 5a. Development of amplification factor between Emshaven and Huiberhat.
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Figure 5b. Development of amplification factor between Delfzijl and Huiberhat.
The amplification factor between Delfzijl and Huibergat (Fig.5b) shows more increase in time,
but it is still limited. The increase mainly happened in two periods, between 1975 and 1987 and
after 2000.
The amplification factor between Nieuwe Statenzijl and Huibergat (Fig.5c) shows no long-term
increase. It is further noted that the tidal amplitude at Nieuwe Statenzijl apparently contain
more/stronger fluctuations others than the spring-neap variation. At the other two stations
(Fig.5a and Fig.5b) the smoothed signal using moving averaging contains much weaker
fluctuation which is mainly due to seasonal variation. A possible cause for this aberrant
behaviour is that the effective drag in the Dollard is influenced by stochastic factors e.g. storms
via their influence the sediment concentration.
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Figure 5c. Development of amplification factor between Nieuwe Statenzijl and Huiberhat.
Another way to examine the behaviour of a certain part of the estuary is by looking at the
relation between the amplification factor and the amplitude of the tide. Figure 6 shows this
relation for the part between Delfzijl and Huibergat. The pattern shown in this figure is typical
for a low turbid system. By low turbid we mean that the suspended sediment concentration is
not high enough to influence the apparent roughness (see Winterwerp and Wang, 2013,
Winterwerp et al., 2013, Wang et al., 2013). With constant roughness the dissipation due to the
bottom friction is much stronger during spring tide than during neap tide, as the friction term in
the momentum equation is proportional to the square of the flow velocity. This explains the
decreasing amplification with increasing amplitude. The figure shows the relation for two
different periods in two separate panels. By comparing the two panels with each other it can
also be seen that the tidal amplification becomes slightly stronger in time.
Figure 6. Relation between amplification factor and the tidal amplitude (Delfzijl/Huibergat)
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Figure 7. Relation between amplification factor and the tidal amplitude (NW Statenzijl/Delfzijl),
Left: recent period, Right: whole dataset.
Figure 7 shows the same relation for the part between Delfzijl and Nieuwe Statenzijl. The
amplification of the tide between these two stations behaves quite different. The decrease of
the amplification factor with increasing amplitude is no more as clear as in Fig.6, especially for
the more recent period (left panel Fig.7). This can indicate that in this part of the estuary the
turbidity is higher and it causes a lowering of the apparent roughness. The behaviour can then
be explained by the fact that at spring tide the stronger flow causes higher suspended
sediment concentration which in turn causes more lowering of the apparent roughness.
However, two other observations make it less certain. First, as observed in Fig.5c, the tidal
amplitude at Nieuwe Statenzijl contains other (unexplained) fluctuations. Second, the
amplification factor as shown in Fig.7 is not very high which seems to be contradictory with the
low roughness due to high turbidity reasoning. Therefore the nearby two German stations are
used to examine this aspect. Figure 8 shows the development of the amplification factor
between Emden and Knock (based on tidal range) and Fig.9 shows how it depends on the tidal
range. Note that these two stations enclose about the same area as the two Dutch stations, but
they are located along the other bank of the estuary and there is a dam at the mouth of the
Ems River. The development of the amplification factor (Fig.9) shows two remarkable
differences compared to along the Dutch side. First, the amplification factor is larger and
second, it shows more increase in time. Similar to the observation on the Dutch side, the
amplification factor does not show clear decrease with increasing tidal range (Fig.9), indicating
that this part of the estuary is indeed turbid enough that the apparent roughness is influenced
by the suspended sediment concentration. Apparently the location of the station Niuewe
Statenzijl is such that the water level there is also influenced by other factors. The most likely
explanation is that the tide at this station is influenced by the discharge of fresh water at the
Sluices near the tidal gauge station.
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Figure 8. Development of amplification factor between Emden and Knock
Figure 9. Relation between amplification factor and the tidal range (Emden/Knock), Left: whole
dataset, Right: recent period.
3.3 Inner part of the estuary
Along the inner part of the estuary, between Emden and Herbrum, only German stations are
present. At the five stations Emden, Pogum, Leerort, Papenburg and Herbrum the data series
are the longest. Therefore the analysis of the tidal amplification will focus on these five stations.
Figures 10 through 13 show the characteristics of the tidal amplification in the four sections
between the five stations. In each figure the development of the amplification factor in time is
shown together with its dependence with the tidal range (at the downstream station) for the
whole dataset, the recent period and the early period.
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Figure 10. Characteristics of the tidal amplification between Emden and Pogum. Upper left:
development of the amplification factor in time. Upper right: dependence on tidal range, whole
dataset. Lower left: recent period. Lower right: early period.
Between Emden and Pogum (Fig.10) the amplification factor shows a clear increase in the
period 1975 1985. Before this period a slight decreasing trend is observed and after this
period no clear trend is observed. Another remarkable feature is that since the mid 1980s the
time variation of the amplification factor shows much less scatter than before. The decrease of
the amplification factor with increasing tidal range is not clear, indicating that this is a high
turbid area, at present as well as in the early period (before 1961).
The tidal amplification between Pogum and Leerort (Fig.11) shows two increasing period, in
the 1960s and between the mid 1980s and the mid 1990s. A remarkable feature is that the
amplification factor shows some extreme lows in a number of periods. It seems that these
extreme lows occur more often in the most recent period. The dependence of the amplification
factor to the tidal range shows more a decreasing trend compared to that between Emden and
Pogum (Fig.10), but it is still not the same typical variation as shown in Fig.6 for a low turbid
area. Moreover, this trend does not show a significant difference between the early period and
the most recent period.
The amplification factor between Leerort and Papenburg shows increasing trend until the mid
1970s. This is followed by a decreasing period of about 7 year and then an increasing period
until around 1990. Since around 1990 the amplification factor remains more or less constant.
The amplification factor does certainly not show a decreasing trend with increasing tidal range.
In the most recent period it does not show much change with changing tidal range and in the
earlier period it even shows a slight increasing trend.
The amplification factor between Papenburg and Herbrum shows similar development as that
between Leerort and Papenburg. The only difference is that in the period since around 1990 it
shows a decreasing trend rather than constant. The amplification factor shows an increasing
trend with increasing tidal range, especially in the early period.
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Figure 11. Characteristics of the tidal amplification between Pogum and Leerort. Upper left:
development of the amplification factor in time. Upper right: dependence on tidal range, whole
dataset. Lower left: recent period. Lower right: early period.
Figure 12. Characteristics of the tidal amplification between Papenburg and Leerort. Upper left:
development of the amplification factor in time. Upper right: dependence on tidal range, whole
dataset. Lower left: recent period. Lower right: early period.
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Figure 13. Characteristics of the tidal amplification between Herbrum and Papenburg. Upper
left: development of the amplification factor in time. Upper right: dependence on tidal range,
whole dataset. Lower left: recent period. Lower right: early period.
3.3 Discussions and conclusions
In the outer part of the estuary the tidal amplification has become stronger. Question arises if
this is sufficient for explaining the increased extreme high water in the area. The increase of
the amplification factor is about 5% (see e.g. Fig.5b for Delfzijl), corresponding to an increase
in HW during spring tide of about 7 cm in the whole period of 50 years (1973-2013), or a long-
term trend of about 1.8 mm/y, similar to the effect of sea-level rise. Due to the stronger tidal
amplification the HW trend thus can have a double value as the trend of the mean sea-level.
The trend of the yearly maximum water level at Delfzijl is estimated to be about 4.5 mm/y. This
is more than the combined effect of sea-level rise and the stronger tidal amplification. The
remaining part can be explained for a large extent by the increase of the tidal amplitude at the
mouth of the estuary (see Fig.14).
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Figure 14. Development of the amplitude of the semi-diurnal tide at the mouth of the estuary,
Huibergat station.
For the outer part of the estuary it is hard to identify which particular human interference has
caused / triggered the observed development of the tidal amplification. As the increasing trend
in the tidal amplification (see e.g. Fig.5b) is still continuing it is important to take this into
account in future strategy for the safety against flooding. It is also worth to notice that in the
most recent period tide with largest amplitude tend to be relatively more amplified (see right
panel of Fig.6: the cluster of dots on the right are all above the solid line).
The way in which the tidal amplification depends on the amplitude of tide indicates that the
major part of the outer estuary is low turbid in the sense that the sediment concentration does
not influence the apparent roughness. Only in the most landwards part of the Dollard the
behaviour of the tidal amplification indicates that the system is turbid.
The change of the tidal amplification in the inner part of the estuary, the Ems River, is much
stronger than in the outer part. Upstream of Pogum the amplification becomes much stronger.
The amplification factor between Leerort and Pogum increased by more than 20% since
around 1950, between Leerort and Papenburg by more than 30%, and from Herbrum and
Papenburg by more than 10%. The tidal range in the most upstream part of the estuary
increased enormously as reported by others (see e.g. Winterwerp et al., 2013).
The much stronger changes of the amplification in the inner part of the estuary can better be
related to the reported human interferences (see Chapter 2), especially to the deepening of the
navigation channel. There are two major deepening periods for the navigation channel in the
inner part of the estuary. The first one is from end 1940s and 1960 in which the navigation
channel between Leerort and Papenburg has been deepened to about the same depth as the
downstream part between Emden and Leerort. The second one is from end 1980s to mid
1990s in which the navigation channel through the whole length from Emden to Papenburg is
deepened by about 1.5 m. These periods corresponds well with the development of the tidal
amplification in the Ems River. It is e.g. very plausible to argue that the two increasing periods
of the amplification factor between Papenburg and Leerort are triggered by the two major
deepening activities of the navigation channel.
The relation between the amplification factor and the tidal range in the inner part of the estuary
confirms that the Ems River is a high turbid system. The data seem to indicate that the system
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was already high turbid in the past. However, observations by others indicate that the turbidity
at present is much higher than in the past (see Vroom et al., 2012). This contradiction may be
explained by the following hypothesis: The river was very shallow in the past, so the tidal
amplification is very sensitive to the change of bedding forms which adjust to the flow condition
rapidly.
Concerning spatial distribution the present analysis indicates that the region between Pogum
and Leerort can be a relatively low turbid region, in the past as well as at present.
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4 Tidal asymmetry
4.1 Relevance of tidal asymmetry and the indicators
Tidal asymmetry is an important mechanism causing residual sediment transport in estuaries
and tidal lagoons. For an estuary like the Ems Estuary with fine sediment there are two kinds of
asymmetries which are important: asymmetry in falling- and rising-tide periods and asymmetry
in HW and LW slacks.
If falling-tide is longer than rising tide it means that the flow velocity during flood is stronger
than during ebb, as the discharge and flow velocity is proportional to the time derivative (falling
or rising rate) of the water level. Stronger flood-velocity than ebb-velocity causes a landwards
residual sediment transport as sediment transport rate is more than linearly proportional to the
flow velocity. Therefore the tide is called flood-dominant when falling-tide period is longer than
rising-tide period. For the German stations the periods of falling- and rising-tide are
determined. So the straightforward indicator for this type of tidal asymmetry is the difference
between the falling-tide period and the rising-tide period. For the Dutch stations the indicators
are the amplitude ratio and the relative phase-lag between the quarter-diurnal component and
the semi-diurnal component determined from the Fourier series analysis. The relative phase-
lag (phase of quarter diurnal component minus two times the phase of semi-diurnal
component) indicates the nature (flood- or ebb-dominant) of the tidal asymmetry and the
amplitude ratio indicates the strength of the asymmetry. The tide is flood-dominant if the
phase-lag is between 0 and -180 degree. The flood dominance is the strongest if the phase-lag
is equal to -90 degree.
If HW-slack is longer than LW-slack suspended sediment will have more time to settle down
during HW-slack favouring import of fine sediment into the estuary. For the German stations no
indicator is available for this type of asymmetry. For the Dutch stations again the amplitude
ratio and the relative phase-lag between the quarter-diurnal component and the semi-diurnal
component determined from the Fourier series analysis are used as indicators. The difference
between the HW-slack and the LW-slack is the longest if the phase-lag is equal to -180 degree.
4.2 4.2 Outer estuary
For the outer estuary the relation between the quarter diurnal and the semi-diurnal components
at the four Dutch stations are used for investigating the development of the tidal asymmetry.
These two parameters at the four stations are shown in Figures 15 through 18 respectively.
At Huibergat (Fig.15) the relative phase lag does not show any long-term increasing or
decreasing trend. It varies around a value not much larger than -180 degree. Note that -180
degree forms the distinction between flood-dominant (larger values) and ebb-dominant (smaller
values). The tidal wave at the mouth of the estuary is thus slightly flood-dominant. It is also
observed that the relative phase-lag shows a large scatter mainly due to the spring-neap
variation. The amplitude ratio shows a slight increasing trend until around 1990. This means
that the flood-dominance at the mouth of the estuary became slightly stronger in that period. As
the relative phase-lag is around -180 degree the tide asymmetry between the HW- and LW-
slacks is important for residual sediment transport in this estuary.
At Emshaven (Fig.16) the amplitude ratio shows a continuous increasing trend in time while the
relative phase-lag shows a decreasing trend. Based on the development of the phase-lag the
tide is becoming less flood-dominant (concerning falling-tide and rising tide) in time, but the
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development of the amplitude ratio indicates that the tidal asymmetry becomes stronger. For
this station the development of the tidal asymmetry (falling- and rising-tide periods) is thus not
clear based on the developments of these two parameters. Concerning the asymmetry in the
HW- and LW-slacks the development is towards the situation favouring import of fine sediment.
Figure 15. Relative phase-lag (upper panel) and amplitude ratio (lower panel) between the
quart-diurnal component and the semi-diurnal component at Huibergat.
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Figure 16. Relative phase-lag (lower panel) and amplitude ratio (upper panel) between the
quart-diurnal component and the semi-diurnal component at Emshaven.
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Figure 17. Relative phase-lag (lower panel) and amplitude ratio (upper panel) between the
quart-diurnal component and the semi-diurnal component at Delfzijl.
At Delfzijl (Fig.17) the same opposite trends of the two parameters can be observed and it is
even more pronounced. Concerning the asymmetry in the HW- and LW-slacks the
development is towards the situation favouring import of fine sediment.
At Nieuwe Statenzijl (Fig.18) the amplitude ratio shows an increasing trend in the period until
around 1990, and since then the long-term trend is not clear. The relative phase-lag does not
show any clear long-term trend. It is further observed that a strong seasonal variation is
present at this station, as also is observed in the tidal amplification.
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Figure 18. Relative phase-lag (lower panel) and amplitude ratio (upper panel) between the
quart-diurnal component and the semi-diurnal component at Nieuwe Statenzijl.
As the trends of the developments of the two parameters of the quarter-diurnal tide do not give
exclusive and clear indication about the consequence for the tidal asymmetry, we also look at
the German stations in the outer part of the estuary. For these stations we only have the
difference between the falling-tide period and the rising-tide period. A positive value of this
difference indicates flood-dominance and a negative value indicates ebb-dominance. In Fig.19
the development of this difference at the stations (from seawards to landwards) Borkum-S,
Knock, Emden and Pogum is shown. Note that in this figure only the filtered (smoothing out the
spring-neap variation) data are shown. The figure confirms that the tide at the mouth of the
estuary is slightly flood-dominant and this has not been changing much in the time. Landwards
in the outer estuary the tide used to be more flood-dominant than at the mouth in the past.
However, the development in time has reversed this spatial variation at present. The tide at the
landwards end of Dollard is now less flood-dominant than at the mouth of the estuary, and it is
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now even slightly ebb-dominant. Figure 18 further shows that there are two periods in which
the flood-dominance at the stations Emden and Pogum decreased: a short period since around
1965 and the period after 1995.
Figure 19. Tidal asymmetry, indicated by the difference between the falling-tide period and the
rising-tide period at the German stations in the outer estuary.
4.3 Inner estuary
For the inner estuary, the Ems River we only have the German stations at which the difference
between the falling-tide period and the rising tide period is available as indicator for the tidal
asymmetry. Figure 20 shows this parameter as function of time for the stations (from
downstream to upstream) Emden, Leerort, Papenburg and Herbrum, together with the station
Borkum-S at the mouth of the estuary.
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Figure 20. Tidal asymmetry, indicated by the difference between the falling-tide period and the
rising-tide period at the German stations in the inner estuary +Borkum-S at the mouth of the
estuary. The spring-neap variation is already filtered out by averaging over 57 periods.
Figure 20 shows that at Leerort the tidal asymmetry remains more or less unchanged through
the whole period. At the two more upstream stations, Papenburg and Herbrum, the flood
dominance has increased since about 1990 and since 2010 this change seems to slow down
again. At the downstream station Emden the development is in the opposite direction, turned
from slight flood-dominant to slight ebb-dominant. Figure 21 shows the development at Leerort
together with the two surrounding stations Weener (upstream) and Terborg (downstream). This
figure makes it clear that Leerort forms a turning point in the river concerning the development
of the tidal asymmetry indicated by the difference between the falling period and the rising
period. Upstream of this station the tide becomes more flood-dominant in time and downstream
of it the tide becomes less flood-dominant. It is further observed that the seasonal variation of
the tidal asymmetry increases in the upstream direction, indicating the seasonal variation
mainly corresponds to the variation of the river discharge.
Figure 21. Tidal asymmetry, indicated by the difference between the falling-tide period and the
rising-tide period at the stations around Leerort. The spring-neap variation is already filtered
out by averaging over 57 periods.
4.4 Summary
In summary the following conclusions are drawn from the analysis:
Change in tidal asymmetry is accelerated in the period 1990. Since around 2010 the
change is slowed down again.
Leerort seems to form a turning point in the development of the difference between the
falling period and the rising period in time. Upstream of this station the change is in the
more flood-dominant direction and downstream of this station the change is in the
opposite direction.
There is a clear seasonal variation indicating the influence of river discharge (see
Chapter 5).
Dat e
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Concerning present spatial variation there is a difference between the Dollard and the
Ems River. In the Dollard (estuary) the tide becomes less flood-dominant in the
upstream (landwards) direction, whereas in the Ems River the tide becomes more
flood-dominant in the upstream direction.
Concerning slack water asymmetry the development in the outer part of the estuary
(Dollard) has been in the direction of favoring import of fine sediment.
Dat e
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5 Mean water level and mid-tide
5.1 Development of t he mean water level / mid-tide
The development of the averaged water level gives an indication of the sea-level rise and the
development of the hydraulic drag in the system. For the four Dutch stations the a
0
component
from the Fourier series analysis is used (Fig.22). In the outer part of the estuary the averaged
water level is little influenced by the river discharge. At the stations Huibergat, Emshaven and
Delzijl the slight increasing trend corresponds to the sea-level rise. However, it seems that the
increasing trend becomes less in the landwards direction, indicating a decreasing trend of the
hydraulic drag (for the small effect of the river discharge). It is noted that the hydraulic drag is
influenced by the apparent roughness as well as the water depth. Moreover, the longitudinal
water level gradient is also influenced by the tidal flow. At the station Nieuwe Statenzijl the
averaged water level is on average higher than at the other three stations and no increasing
(long-term) trend can be observed, which is again an indication for the decreased hydraulic
drag.
Figure 22. Averaged water level determined from the Fourier series analysis for the four Dutch
stations. The dots are the original data for the analysed periods of 24 h and 50 min. The solid
line is the moving average over 57 periods.
For the German stations the mid-tide is presented in Figures 23 through 28. The slight
increasing trend at the most seawards station Borkum-S represents the sea-level rise (Fig.23).
At Emden the increasing trend can hardly be observed (Fig.24). This agrees with the
observation that the increasing trend becomes less in the landwards direction. At Pogum
(Fig.25) the long-term trend becomes a decreasing one, which can only be explained by the
decreased hydraulic drag. This decreasing trend becomes stronger in the more landwards
station Leerort (Fig.26). At Papenburg the decrease of the mid-tide in time is most clear and it
is more concentrated in the periods 1965-1975 and from1980s to mid 1990s (Fig.27). At the
most upstream station Herbrum (Fig.28) the development of the mid-tide follows the same
trends as at Papenburg but the change is less than at Papenburg.
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The drop of the averaged water level at Papenburg and Herbrum starting in the mid 1980s is
possibly effected by the bend cuttings at the Bight of Weekeborg and at the Bight of
Stapelmoor, carried out in the period 1984-1990 (see Table 4 in Chapter 2). However, the
effects seem to be very big for these relatively minor interferences. Therefore, the main cause
of this drop is probably the deepening of the navigation channel (Fig.4).
Figure 23. Mid-tide at Borkum-S. The dots are the original data for the analysed periods of 24 h
and 50 min. The solid line is the moving average over 57 periods.
Figure 24. Mid-tide at Emden. The dots are the original data for the analysed periods of 24 h
and 50 min. The solid line is the moving average over 57 periods.
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Figure 25. Mid-tide at Pogum. The dots are the original data for the analysed periods of 24 h
and 50 min. The solid line is the moving average over 57 periods.
Figure 26. Mid-tide at Leerort. The dots are the original data for the analysed periods of 24 h
and 50 min. The solid line is the moving average over 57 periods.
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Figure 27. Mid-tide at Papenburg. The dots are the original data for the analysed periods of 24
h and 50 min. The solid line is the moving average over 57 periods.
Figure 28. Mid-tide at Herbrum. The dots are the original data for the analysed periods of 24 h
and 50 min. The solid line is the moving average over 57 periods.
5.2 Influence of ri ver di scharge
Figure 29 shows that variation in time of the tidal range at the four stations Emden, Leerort,
Papenburg and Herbrum, after that the spring-neap variation is filtered by averaging over 57
lunar days. Even after the filtering of the spring-neap variation the tidal range still shows
fluctuation in time above the long-term trend, especially at the upstream stations Paperburg
and Herbrum. A more detailed investigation learned that this concerns a seasonal variation, as
the fluctuation has a period of one year (see Fig.30).
Dat e
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Fig.29 Tidal range after that the spring-neap variation is filtered by averaging over 57 lunar
days.
Fig.30. Tidal range after that the spring-neap variation is filtered by averaging over 57 lunar
days.
The seasonal variation of the three upstream stations Herbrum, Papenburg and Leerort are in
phase, low in the winter and high in the summer. The amplitude of the variation decreases from
upstream to downstream. These characteristics indicate that the variation is due to the effect of
varying river discharge. The lower tidal range is caused by higher discharge. At the most
downstream station of the Ems River, Emden, the seasonal variation is no more in phase with
the three upstream stations. This indicates that the variation has a different cause, probably
Ti dal range
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
year
t
i
d
a
l
r
a
n
g
e
(
m
)
Emden
Leerort
Papenburg
Herbrum
Seasonal variation of ti dal range
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
year
t
i
d
a
l
r
a
n
g
e
(
m
)
Emden
Leerort
Papenburg
Herbrum
Borkum-S
Dat e
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due to the variation outside. To show this the tidal range at Borkum-S, a station at the open
sea, is also plotted in Fig.30. It can indeed be seen that the variation at Emden is more in
phase with this station.
Fig.31. Tidal range and water surface slope, both after filtering of spring-neap variation by
averaging over 57 lunar days.
Fig.32. River discharge, daily value and smoothed over 57 lunar days.
At this moment no river discharge data is available for the whole period. However, a
reasonable indicator for the river discharge is the averaged water level, or the mid-tide, at the
most upstream station (Herbrum). An even better indicator is the difference between the mid-
tides at the two upstream stations (Herbrum and Papenburg), which is a direct indicator of the
tide-averaged water surface slope. Figure 31 shows this parameter together with the tidal
range at Herbrum. The figure shows a clear correlation between the two. It can thus be
Mid-tide difference Herbrum-Papenburg and tidal range at Herbrum
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
year
M
i
d
-
t
i
d
e
d
i
f
f
e
r
e
n
c
e
H
e
r
b
r
u
m
-
P
a
p
e
n
b
u
r
g
(
m
)
1.5
1.7
1.9
2.1
2.3
2.5
2.7
2.9
3.1
3.3
3.5
T
i
d
a
l
r
a
n
g
e
a
t
H
e
r
b
r
u
m
(
m
)
Mid-tide difference tidal range
Dat e
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31/45
concluded that the river discharge has a substantial influence on the tidal amplification in the
upstream part of the tidal river. Figure 32 shows the river discharge (only available since 1998)
in the same period. It indeed shows a very good correlation with the difference between the
mid-tides at the two most upstream stations.
Dat e
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6 Concluding discussions
The analysis of the water level data collected in the Ems-Dollard Estuary helps us to obtain
better insight into three aspects of the development of the estuary: tidal amplification, tidal
asymmetry in relation to sediment transport, and hydraulic drag. In the following the findings
from the analysis concerning these aspects are summarised before discussing about how the
developments are related to the various human interferences.
Tidal amplification and safety issues
Amplification of the tide has been strengthened considerably in the estuary, especially in the
inner part, the Ems River. Fortunately this has no consequence for safety against flooding in
the inner part of the estuary as the Ems River is protected by the Emsspaerrwerk. Even for the
outer part of the estuary, the Dollard, where the increase of the tidal amplification factor has
been limited, the strengthened tidal amplification is still an important factor for the increase of
(extreme) high water level in the estuary. Basically there are three factors influencing the
development of (averaged) HW in the estuary, the sea-level rise, the increase of tidal range at
the open sea and the tidal amplification. For the extreme high water, relevant for the safety
issue, the development of the wind climate and the response of the estuary to storms are
important as well. From the results of the analysis we learn that the developments of the three
factors influencing the (averaged) HW can explain the observed trend in the extreme HW
(yearly maximum). Between the three factors, the contributions of sea-level rise and
strengthened tidal amplification are similar, both much larger than that of the increase of the
tidal range at the open sea. It is noted, that contradictory to the other two factors, tidal
amplification is directly related to the morphological development in the estuary under influence
of the human interferences. The development of the tidal amplification in the estuary needs to
be taken into account for determining the future safety strategy.
Tidal asymmetry and sediment transport
Tidal asymmetry is an important mechanism influencing residual sediment transport. For fine
sediment two types of tidal asymmetry are relevant. The first type concerns the unequal
periods of rising water level and falling water level, corresponding to unequal maximum velocity
during flood and during ebb. The second type concerns the asymmetry of the durations of HW-
and LW-slacks. From the analysis it is concluded that for the Ems-Dollard Estuary the second
type tidal asymmetry is important for causing landwards residual sediment transport. In the
outer part of the estuary this type of asymmetry has been developing in the direction of
favouring more sediment import. Although the limited data do not provide information
concerning the development of this type tidal asymmetry in the inner part of the estuary, we
expect that the development has been in the same direction. For the development of the first
type tidal asymmetry the station Leerort seems to form a turning point in the system. Upstream
of this station the development has been in the direction of more flood-dominant, whereas
downstream of this station the development is in the direction of less-flood dominant (/ebb-
dominant). The changes have been accelerated in the recent period since around 1995. It is
noted that the development of the horizontal tide at a certain location is related to the
development of the vertical tide in the whole upstream area. It is then not evident that the
development of the first type tidal asymmetry has caused more sediment import into the
estuary at present than in the past. Analyses of turbidity data (see e.g. Vroom et al., 2012)
have shown that the sediment concentration in the estuary has been increased in the last
decades. This implies that the sediment import has been increased in order to balance the
increased export due to dispersion. The causes of the increased import should thus be found
Dat e
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from the developments of the second type tidal asymmetry and of other processes /
mechanisms including estuarine circulation and sources & sinks (e.g. dredging and dumping).
Earlier analysis concluded that the change of dredging and disposal of the dredged material in
the estuary is important for the increase of turbidity in the estuary (Wang, 2013).
Hydraulic drag
Hydraulic drag is related to both aspects discussed above. It has direct influence on the tidal
amplification as energy dissipation due to hydraulic drag is an important factor influencing the
tidal amplitude in the estuary. In a turbid area the apparent roughness is influenced by the
sediment concentration as the density gradient over the water depth caused by suspended
sediment has a damping effect on turbulence (Winterwerp et al., 2009). The positive feedback
between the strengthening of tidal amplification and sediment import has been considered as
the mechanism that has caused the observed development in the Ems River (Winterwerp and
Wang, 2013; Winterwerp et al, 2013).
In the present analysis the apparent hydraulic roughness has been investigated by looking at
the dependence of the tidal amplification on the tidal amplitude (/range). The results of the
analysis indicate that the whole Ems River and the most inner part of the Dollard behave as
turbid area in the sense that the sediment concentration is high enough to influence the
apparent roughness.
Relation to human interferences
An inventory learned that many human interferences have taken place in the estuary since as
early as the Middle Ages (see Appendix). These interferences may be divided into three types:
land reclamation, improving and maintaining navigation channel, and engineering works
especially for flood defence. Land reclamation works are all carried out before the period in
which water level data are available and analysed. Therefore the influence of this type
interference cannot be identified in the present analysis. The influence of the deepening of the
navigation channel on the tidal amplification has been clearly identified for the inner part of the
estuary, the Ems River. The deepening has also caused a drop of the mid-tide at the upstream
part of the river, although the bend cuttings in the river can also have contributed to the drop.
For the outer part of the estuary, the Dollard, it has not been possible to relate the development
of the tidal amplification and of the tidal asymmetry directly to particular human interference.
Apparently, for this relative larger area the gradual morphological development has been as
important as the direct effect of the human interferences.
Dat e
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7 References
Munk, W.H., Cartwright, D.E., 1966. Tidal spectroscopy and predication. Philosophical
Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series A 259, 533581.
Pawlowicz, R., Beardsleyb, B. and S. Lentzb, 2002, Classical tidal harmonic analysis including
error estimates in MATLAB using T_TIDE, Computers & Geosciences 28 (2002) 929937.
Vroom, J ., Van den Boogaard, H.F.P. en D.S. Van Maren, 2012, Mud dynamics in the Ems-Dollard,
Research phase 2, Analysis existing data, Deltares report, 1205711-001.
Wang, Z.B., Winterwerp, J .C., and Qing He, 2013, Interaction between suspended sediment and
tidal amplification in the Guadalquivir Estuary, submitted to Ocean Dynamics.
Wang, Z.B., 2013, Kansrijke lange termijn veiligheidstrategien Ems-Dollard, Notitie voor Delta
Programma Wadden.
Winterwerp, J .C., Lely M. and Qing He, 2009. Sediment-induced buoyancy destruction and drag
reduction in estuaries. Ocean Dynamics, 59 (5) 781-791
Winterwerp, J .C. and Z.B. Wang, 2013, Man-induced regime shifts in small estuaries I: theory,
submitted to Ocean Dynamics.
Winterwerp, J .C., Wang, Z.B., Van Brackel, A., Van Holland, G. and F. Ksters, 2013, Man-
induced regime shifts in small estuaries II: a comparison of rivers, submitted to Ocean
Dynamics.
Dat e
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Page
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Appendix Inventory of human interferences
Per event 2
types are
possible
Year Event Region Land Type Type Remarks Surf ace
area (ha)
1277 Dyke collapse, followed by steplike
increase tidal area
Dollard GE,
NL
Flooding
1287 Dyke collapse, followed by steplike
increase tidal area
Dollard GE,
NL
Flooding
1362 Second Marcellusflood: a larger ingression
into the Dollard area
Dollard GE,
NL
Flooding
14
th
/15t
h
century
Wirdum/Canhusen, W Marienhafe,
Schwee, E Norden and near Greetsiel
Leybucht GE land
reclamation
2960
1454 Failed attempt to dyke part of Dollard area Dollard GE,
NL
Flooding
1509 Largest Dollard flooding Dollard GE,
NL
Flooding Vloed was op 26 september
1509
1509-
1511
Second Cosmas- & Damianflood,
Allerheiligenflood of 1510 & Antoniflood of
1511: lagest extension of the Dollard area
formed
Dollard GE,
NL
Flooding
ca. 1520 Total area Dollard Dollard GE,
NL
Flooding Data Source perhaps not reliable -40000
Before
1550
First dyking Dollard gebied ten zuiden en
oosten van Winschoten en Beerta timing
uncertain
Dollard NL land
reclamation
Before
1545
Dollard NL land
reclamation
Total polder areas before 1550
westside Dollard Source
perhaps not reliable
6800
Modderland, Vledder, Finsterwolder-
Hamrik, etc
Dollard NL land
reclamation
Total polder area eastside
Dollard Source perhaps not
reliable
1550 Beerster Hamrik or the so-called Inner
lands of Nieuw-Beerta.
Dollard NL land
reclamation
Total polder areas before 1550
eastside Dollard Source perhaps
not reliable
7050
1551 Westermarscher Altes Neuland, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
578
1556 Sderneuland, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
633
1583 Westermarscher Neuland, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
585
1585 Osteeler Neuland, Osteel Leybucht GE land
reclamation
228
1581-
1631
Measures to redirect the flow of the Ems in
a northern meander of the Nesserland to
Dat e
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maintain the access to the harbour of
Emden. 4.5 kmlong damof oak poles was
constructed, the Nesserlander Hoofd, in an
attempt to block the new channel W of
Emden. The attempts were finished in
1631.
1589 to
1593
Addinggaster Neuland, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
229
1597 Scheemder en Eexter Hamrikken (polder
Scheemderzwaag)
Dollard NL land
reclamation
1100
eind 16e
eeuw
Reclaimed land at E Frisian Dollard Dollard GE land
reclamation
1500
eind 16e
eeuw
Total area Dollard Dollard GE,
NL
land
reclamation
Data Source perhaps not reliable -35000
1600 Uncertain dyking Dollard Dollard NL land
reclamation
1603 Schoonorth, Krummhrn Leybucht GE land
reclamation
418
1605 Alt-Bunderneuland Dollard GE land
reclamation
ohan Seems was one of the
owners and became Dyke-
warden
936
1622
(kadijk)
1626
accretions of Midwolda and Scheemda Dollard NL land
reclamation
1150
1636 Polder? Dollard NL land
reclamation
1657 below Beerta, Blijhamand Bellingwolde,
from Drieborg to Nieuwe Schans.
Dollard NL land
reclamation
???? 2575
1665 aanwassen van Midwolda en Scheemda Dollard NL land
reclamation
1675/76 1st Midwolderpolder or Oud Nieuwland Dollard GE,
NL
land
reclamation
1850
1678 Charlotten-Polder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
602
1682 Charlottenpolder, Dollard GE land
reclamation
Regent: Herzogin Christine
Charlotte; 60 ha op NL gebied =
Lintelopolder
255
1695-
1696
Kroonpolder (1701??) Dollard NL land
reclamation
480
1701 2e Midwolderpolder or: Nieuwland Dollard NL land
reclamation
650
1707 Bunder Interessentenpolder with Norder-
und Sder-Christian-Eberhards-Polder
Dollard GE land
reclamation
1391
1715 Kleiner Addinggaster Polder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
76
1740 Stadpolder Dollard NL land
reclamation
397
1752 Landschaftspolder (originally Neue Bunder
Polder)
Dollard GE land
reclamation
1225
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1768 Magotspolder, Krummhrn Leybucht GE land
reclamation
85
1769 Oostwolderpolder Dollard NL land
reclamation
1200
1769 Leysandpolder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
145
1770 Hagenpolder, Krummhrn Leybucht GE land
reclamation
133
1773 Heinitzpolders (first attempt) Dollard GE land
reclamation
1780 zogen sich die
Interessenten`zurck und der
Anwachs wurde neu vom
Landeherrn verpachtet.
1774 Zuckerpolder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
15
1775 Buscherpolder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
48
1775-
1776
1st destruction of dykes Heinitzpolder Dollard GE Flooding
1781 Schulenburger Polder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
241
1789 Lorenz- &Friederikenpolder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
60
1796 Heinitzpolders (second attempt) Dollard GE land
reclamation
1794 tat sich zumzweiten
Mal eine Unternehmergruppe als
Pchter zusammen, darunter der
landschaftliche
Administrator J . H. von Halem,
Wasserbauinspektor Franzius
oder Amtsverwalter D. Kempe
zusammen, um die Flche von 1
104 Diemat (davon 170 Diemat
Privateigentum) bis 1796 ein
zweites Mal einzudeichen.
626
1804 Wynhamster Kolk at Ditzumerverlaat Dollard GE land
reclamation
of a lake?
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bund
e
160
1804 Angernpolder, Krummhrn Leybucht GE land
reclamation
49
1804 Teltingspolder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
28
1819 Finsterwolderpolder Dollard NL Land
reclamation
1178
1825 2nd destruction of dykes Heinitzpolder
1826 Heinitzpolders (third attempt) (now
sleeper-dyke)
1833 Breaching and restoration of dyke
Oosterwolderpolder
Dollard NL Flooding
1842 First potato flour factory Dollard NL Land
reclamation
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Page
38/45
1845-
1848
Stad polder & Knigspolder (water
defence Emden)
Emden GE Land
reclamation
1845-
1848
lift-lock Nesserland Lift lock
1845-
1848
Construction of Emder Fahrwasser Emden GE Channel
deepening
1846 Ernst-August-Polder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
218
1854 Emden, Duitsland Emden GE land
reclamation
1860 Start canalisation Lower Ems Tidal River
Ems
GE Canalisatio
n
Weir
1862-
1864
Reiderwolderpolder (1e afdeling =w side) Dollard NL Land
reclamation
1170
1870/71 Construction of 13 rubble mounted groins
on the Geise sand bank
Emden GE Training
walls
1872-
1900
Groins on Geise shoal Emden GE Training
walls
1872-
ca. 1890
Construction of (old) training walls and
groins at N-side of Geisercken
Emden GE Training
walls
1874 Kaiser-Wilhelm-Polder Emden GE Land
reclamation
Dyke
constructio
n
1874 Kanalpolder GE land
reclamation
doublure met vorigen?
1872-
1874
Reiderwolderpolder 2e afdeling Dollard GE Land
reclamation
390
1875-
1878
Construction scouring sluice Nieuwe
Statenzijl (drainage and dyke shortening)
Dollard NL Scouring
sluice
Dyke
constructio
n
1875-
1876
J ohannes Kerkhovenpolder (1st attempt)
1876 Sluice Nieuwe-Statenzijl Dollard NL Scouring
sluice
Weir Tekst "weir" wellicht incorrect.
1877-
1878
Kanalpolder ? Land
reclamation
Scouring
sluice
626
1880-
1888
Construction Ems-J ade-Kanal.
1883 J ohannes Kerkhovenpolder (2nd attempt) Dollard NL Land
reclamation
Waterway depth: 4.8-5mbelow
MHW3 between Emden and
Leerort; 4.0-4.5mbelow MHW
between Leerort and Papenburg
397
waarvan
22
buitendijks
1892-
1899
Construction Dortmund-Ems-Kanal, with
the extension of the Ems-
Seitenkanal fromOldersumto Emden.
1892-
1899
Breakthrough of meandering river arms at
Rhede and Tuxdorf (upstreamof
Papenburg)
Tidal River
Ems
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1895 Construction parallel damon Geise and W
of Pogum(training walls S side of Emder
Fahrwasser)
Emden GE Training
walls
1896-
1900
Construction of a rubble mounted
connection between the existing groins on
the Geise sand bank
1898 Start dredging Oost-Friesche Gaatje Middle
reaches
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
Vermoedelijk doorgraving van
keileem
1897-
1899
Construction of first weir at Herbrum Tidal River
Ems
GE Weir J aartal wellicht afgerond
1900 Water quality in Groningen called
disasterous
Groningen NL Data
begin
20e
eeuw
Main shipping lane changed from Bocht
van Watumto Oost Friesche Gaatje (due
to filling of Bocht van Watum)
Middle
reaches
Ems
GE Trac
change
1901 Present-day Emden sea port is opened as
the terminal point of the Dortmund Ems
Canal. Start maintaining Emden
Fahrwasser at 7mSKN (see remark),
dredging of Oost Friesche Gaatje en
Gaatjebocht.
Emden GE Harbor
constructio
n
Channel
deepening
SKN used to be defined as the
average of spring low water
levels. Since 2005 it is set equal
to LAT (Lowest Astronomical
Tide)
1907 Construction new lock sluice Nieuwe-
Statenzijl (beroepsvaart)
Dollard NL Lift lock
1907-
1913
Harborpolder Emden and construction of
the big sea sluice (harbor enlargement)
Emden GE Harbor
constructio
n
Lift lock
1910-
1922
Larrelt-Wybelsumpolder Emden GE Land
reclamation
Dumping
location
improvement N side of Emder
Fahrwasser
1750
1911 Breakthrough of meandering river arms at
Mark
1911-
1929
Waterway depth: 4.8-5mbelow MHW3
between Emden and Leerort; 4.0-4.5m
below MHW between Leerort and
Papenburg
Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
1912-
1924
reclamation mud flats between Knock and
Emden
Emden Land
reclamation
1913 Schoonorther Polder, Krummhrn Leybucht GE land
reclamation
377
1914-
1922
Sea dyke construction Emden-Knock (see
also 1922 for finish)
Emden GE Dyke
constructio
n
1922 Larrelter & Wybelsumer Bucht Emden GE Land
reclamation
1924 Carel Coenraadpolder Dollard NL Land
reclamation
1500
tot 1924 Last reclamation Dollard.total tidal area
given
Dollard GE,
NL
Land
reclamation
Source perhaps not reliable -10000
Dat e
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Page
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1925 Breakthrough of meandering river armat
Pottdeich (close to Weener)
Tidal River
Ems
GE Trac
change
1928 Breakthrough of meandering river armat
Coldam(close to Leerort)
Tidal River
Ems
GE Trac
change
1928 Cirksenapolder, Krummhrn Leybucht GE land
reclamation
41
1929 Neuwesteel, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
646
1930 Fixation western point of Geise Emden GE Training
walls
1930-
1935
Extension of the Geise training wall
towards its western end (Geiseweststeert),
construction of three groins on the
opposite side of the channel
Emden GE Training
walls
1930-
1933
Construction training wall Rysumer
Nacken
Emden GE Training
walls
1930-
1932/9
Stabilization of the waterway by a bended
training wall at Knock (leitwerk Knock)
Knock GE Training
walls
Stabilization of the waterway by
construction of a training wall
near Knock
1932-
1939
Waterway depth: 5.5mbelow MHW
between Pogumand Leerort; 4.1mbelow
MHW between Leerort and Papenburg
Channel
deepening
1932 training wall Knock finished Knock GE Training
walls
1932-
1933
Lengthening Geiseleitwerk with 2 kmto
the W (formation of Geisesteert)
Emden GE Training
walls
1932-
1933
Construction 4260m long new
Geiseleitwerk N of the old one, with 9 short
groins (fixation Geise-terminus)
Emden GE Training
walls
1933 Construction 9 groins in front of sea dyke
Emden-Knock
Emden GE Training
walls
1938 Borssum-J arssumerpolder ? GE land
reclamation
Dumping
location
(shortening dyke and deposition
of dredging sludge)
1948 Deepening Emder Fahrwasser to -8.5 m
SKN
GE Channel
deepening
1950 Leybuchtpolder, Norden Leybucht GE land
reclamation
1005
1954 Sedimentation field Rysumer Nacken into
use (dambetween the heightened and
strengthened training wall and main land
at Rysum) (untill 1995)
? GE land
reclamation
Dumping
location
1954 Land disposal site for dredging sludge
"landstort Emden-Riepe" for dredging
sludge fromthe Emden harbor (untill 1992)
Emden GE Land-based
dumping
Dumping
location
1954 Leda weir Leda GE Weir
1955 Start of intense dredging between
Papenburg and Leerort
Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
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41/45
1958-
1961
Construction of 2.2 km long training dam
Seedeichand 12 kmGeise training wall
(Geiseleitdamm) fromPogumto
Geisesteerwert and 17 new groins,
deepening of Emder Fahrwasser to -9m
SKN
1959 Construction harbor Leer Tidal River
Ems
GE Harbor
constructio
n
1959 Start gas mining Groningen Field Groningen NL Data
1960 Start Dutch dyke strengthening (Deltawet)
with sediment dredged fromthe estuary
(untill 1991)
Groningen NL Dyke
constructio
n
Sand
mining
1960- Summer dykes Tidal River Ems are
replaced by winter dykes
Tidal River
Ems
GE Training
walls
ca. 1961 Deepening Emder Fahrwasser (SKN -8,5
m)
Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
1961 Geiseleitdam Emden GE Training
walls
1961 Deepening Emder Fahrwasser (SKN? -9
m). Suction dredging becomes normal.
Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
Dredging
method
1961-
1962
Narrowing of river between Hebrumand
Papenburg by extension of groins or to the
width of the old groins (Niemeijer cs).
Deepening of Leerort-Papenburg to -5 m
below MHW.
1961-
1968
Extension of Geisedam (12 km starting at
Pogum) and construction of dams at the
sea dyke at the N side of Emder
Fahrwasser of 2250 mlength and 5 short
groins (training works Emder Fahrwasser)
Emden GE Training
walls
1962 Construction of harbor channel Delfzijl,
1962 Stop dredging Bocht van Watum
1963 Start German dyke heightening with sand
fromthe estuary (untill 1992)
Lower
Saxony
GE Dyke
constructio
n
1963 W ofPogum Tidal River
Ems
GE Land
reclamation
Dyke
constructio
n
coastal protection 43
1963 Start gas mining Groningen Field and
related subsidence
Groningen NL Subsidence VOLUME?
1963-
1966
Construction harbor dam Delfzijl to the SE Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Harbor
constructio
n
1967 Construction trans-shipment area Oude
WesterEms
Middle
reaches
Ems
GE Rede
1968 Finish of the ca. 12 km long Emden GE Training
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Geiseleitdammand ca. 2 kmlong
Leidamm Seedeich
walls
1969 Enlarging of Huibertgat (draught 14 m) to
reach the trans-shipment area Oude
WesterEms
outer
reaches
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
1969-
1970
Broadening the outer harbor canal of
Delfzijl
Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Harbor
constructio
n
1969-
1972
Shift water way to Delfzijl in a W ward
direction (Oversteek Paapsand-Sd)
Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Harbor
constructio
n
1970 Construction trans-shipment station on the
Landemole Knock for transport dredging
sludge towards Rysumer Nacken
Knock GE Land-based
dumping
Dumping
location
1970- Decay Geiseleitdam Emden GE Training
walls
1971 Fromthis year onwards annual dredging at
the sluice of Herbrum
Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
1971-
1972
Enlargement of the Delfzijl Harbor Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Harbor
constructio
n
??
1971-
1972
Deepening of offshore approach to Emden
to -12.5m CD.
1972 Doekegat deepened and became part of
main shipping lane
? GE Channel
deepening
Trac
change
1972 End dredging Bocht van Watum Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Channel
deepening
1972 Oversteek Paapsand-Sd connects new
harbor entrance Delfzijl (at Oterdum) with
Gaatje Bocht
Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Channel
deepening
Harbor
constructio
n
1972 Construction Zeehavenkanaal Delfzijl Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Harbor
constructio
n
1972-
1974
Construction new harbor entrance Delfzijl Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Harbor
constructio
n
1973 New harbor mouth Delfzijl at Oterdum
finished
Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Harbor
constructio
n
1973 Opening deep sea port Emshaven (ready) outer
reaches
Ems
NL Harbor
constructio
n
1976 After lowering ridge between Randselgat
and Doekegat the fairway moved from Old
Westerems to Randzelgat
? GE Channel
deepening
Trac
change
1976 FromRandselgat to transshipment area
Oude WesterEms an entrance of 200m
broad and 15mdepth has been dredged at
? GE Channel
deepening
Rede
Dat e
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Page
43/45
the SE Meeuwenstaart (see 1994)
1976-
1978
Closure old (W) harbor entrance of Delfzijl:
partially in 1976, totally in 1978
Middle
reaches
Ems
NL Harbor
constructio
n
1978 Start use of dredging sludge dump area at
the Mond van de Dollard for sludge from
Delfzijl (untill 1987)
Dollard NL Dumping
location
1979 Construction dyke S of Punt van Reide
(dyke shortening)
Dollard NL Dyke
constructio
n
1979 Breebaartpolder Dollard NL Land
reclamation
55.62
1981 Oversteek Paapsand-Sd gets depth of
SKN-7,5 m(See Karten Null, ong. GLW-
Spring)
? GE Channel
deepening
1982 At max 1/3rd of dredging sludge of Delfzijl
dumped in Mond van de Dollard
Dollard GE Dumping
location
1982 1st strong reduction of sewage water
disposal
Ems GE Data
1983/86 Deepening Lower Ems on trajectory
Emden-Papenburg to 5.7 mbelow MHW
(Homeric-deepening)
1983 Decision deepening Unterems to 5,70m Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
1984-
1986
Deepening Unterems to 5,70m Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
1984-
1990
Streamlining of the river curve radius at
the Bight of Weekeborg and the Bight of
Stapelmoor by about 400 meach
Tidal River
Ems
1987 New dump location at Termunten instead
of Mond van de Dollard for sludge from
Delfzijl (untill 1990)
Dollard GE Dumping
location
1988/89 Shipping lane moved fromHuibertgat to
West Ems (after deepening West Ems)
Trac
change
Channel
deepening
1989 New dump site Oude WesterEms for
sludge fromEmshaven (before that
dumped at NW Borkum)
outer
reaches
Ems
GE Dumping
location
1990 Removal of 2 sills between transhipment
area and Gaatje Bocht
GE Channel
deepening
1990 About half of dredging sludge of Delfzijl
dumped in location Groote Gat (Mond van
de Dollard no longer used)
GE Dumping
location
1990 Construction of new scouring sluice and
lift-lock Nieuwe Statenzijl
Dollard GE Lift lock Scouring
sluice
1991 New lock at Nieuw-Statenzijl ready Dollard
1991 Alternative dredging method in Emden
harbor (suspending and sailing through
Emden GE Dredging
method
Dumping
location
J aartal mede op basis van
baggercijfers
Dat e
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Page
44/45
mud) which reduces dumping.
1991 Decision deepening Unterems for draught
6.30m
Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
1991-
1992
Deepening Lower Ems on trajectory
Emden-Papenburg to 6.3mbelow MHW
(Zenith-deepening)
Tidal River
Ems
1992 End use of land dump Emden-Riepe for
dredging sludge from the Emden harbor
(since 1954)
Tidal River
Ems
GE Land-based
dumping
Dumping
location
1992 End German dyke heightening since 1963
with the finish of Kanalpolderdeich
Tidal River
Ems
GE Dyke
constructio
n
1992 Start use dredging sludge dumping field in
Wybelsumer Polder
Tidal River
Ems
GE Land-based
dumping
Dumping
location
1992 Second strong reduction in discharging
waste water
Tidal River
Ems
GE Data
1993 Decision deepening Unterems for draught
6.80m
Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
1993 Deepening Lower Ems on trajectory
Emden-Papenburg to 6.8mbelow MTHW
Tidal River
Ems
1994 Finishing use of trans-shipment station
Oude WesterEms
GE Rede
1994 Decision deepening Unterems for draught
7.3m(Bemessungsschiff c.q. Werftschiff)
Tidal River
Ems
GE Channel
deepening
1994 Deepening Lower Ems on trajectory
Emden-Papenburg to 7.3mbelow MTHW
(Oriana-deepening)
Tidal River
Ems
1995 End sludge dumping on Rysumer Nacken
(since 1954)
GE Land-based
dumping
1996 Ems Energiecentrale fully operational outer
reaches
Ems
GE Data
1997 Official opening Emscentrale in Emshaven
(8th of april 1997)
outer
reaches
Ems
GE Data
?? Dumping dredging sludge fromEPON-
harbor in N Bocht van Watum (small
amounts of sand en mud)
GE Dumping
location
?? Heightening sea dyke Emden-Knock
(between 1963 and 1993 ???)
GE Dyke
constructio
n
1998-
2002
Construction Emssperrwerk at Gandersum GE Weir
2000 Opening Polder Breebaart via pipe GE Scouring
sluice
63
2001 Start of use Airset in Delfzijl harbor (air
and water injection)
GE Dredging
method
Naast sleephopperzuiger
Dat e
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Page
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2001-
2002
Construction of Emssperwerk
2002 Finish of Sperrwerk Ditzum (ships with
draughts of 8,50mcan pass to Unterems):
Emssperrwerk
GE Weir
2004 Dumping location Bocht van Watum no
longer used
GE Dumping
location
2009 Dumping location K2 in Mond van de
Dollard is used as a test (1 Mm3/jr) by
WSA-Emden
GE Dumping
location
2009 Start construction energie plants RWE and
NUON at Emshaven
outer
reaches
Ems
GE Data
2009-
2013
Deepening of Emshaven outer
reaches
Ems
GE Harbor
constructio
n
2010 Increase in length of Beatrixhaven in
Emshaven
outer
reaches
Ems
GE Harbor
constructio
n
2011 Increase in length of Wihelminahaven in
Emshaven
outer
reaches
Ems
GE Harbor
constructio
n