BEOSand

Bandwidths of Morphological Development along Baltic Sea Coasts: Exploring Nature-Based Responses to Sediment Deficits

The project was submitted on 7th of August 2024, under the funding announcement “Morphological Developments in the Context of Climate Change in the North and Baltic Seas”, within the funding priority “Research in Coastal Engineering”. The research conducted within this framework aims to support the Coastal Engineering Board—a consortium of federal and state ministries active in coastal engineering—in fulfilling its tasks in coastal and flood protection.
Coastal management along the German Baltic Sea faces significant challenges in the context of climate change. The storm surge of October 2023, regarded as the most severe in 150 years and caused damage amounting to €220 million, highlights the current level of risk. Regionally, various adaptation measures to cope with future extreme events are under discussion, ranging from “hard” coastal protection structures to “soft” measures such as beach nourishments, and even managed retreat from highly exposed areas.
To apply management measures effectively, local knowledge of natural sediment transport processes along different coastal sections is essential. Against this background, the project BEOSand aims to analyze the past, present, and future morphological development of selected coastal stretches along the German Baltic Sea. Taking into account both natural dynamics and human interventions in the system, concrete scenarios of coastal evolution will be developed for selected focus areas based on various modeling approaches.
In close cooperation with the coastal protection authorities, the project will develop innovative solutions for coastal protection based on its findings. These solutions will also consider the sediment requirements necessary for the long-term and sustainable maintenance or construction of nature-based coastal protection measures.

• BEOSand-A

  Measurement and Modelling of Composite Beaches

  BMBF funding code	03F1000A
  Duration of funding	01.01.2026–31.12.2028
  Project partner(s)	Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Geowissenschaften, Küsten- und Schelfgeologie Prof. Dr. rer. nat Christian Winter
  Keywords	Morphodynamics, nature-base-solution, cliff coast, sediment management, historic coastline development, physical modelling, climate adaptation

  The work carried out by Kiel University (CAU) focuses within the consortium on analyzing transport processes of natural and nourished beach ridges as part of nature-based coastal protection measures. The project aims to develop new methods for recording natural sediment transport processes and to apply updated empirical models for the hind-, now-, and forecasting of sediment transport as well as for scenario analyses.

• BEOSand-B

  Modellierung der hydro- und morphodynamischen Prozesse

  BMBF funding code	03F1000B
  Duration of funding	01.01.2026–31.12.2028
  Project partner(s)	Technische Universität Braunschweig, Leichtweiß-Institut für Wasserbau, Abteilung Hydromechanik und Küsteningenieurwesen Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Nils Goseberg
  Keywords	Morphodynamics, nature-base-solution, cliff coast, sediment management, historic coastline development, physical modelling, climate adaptation

  The Technical University of Braunschweig will, based on medium- and large-scale experiments conducted in the dual wave flume at TU Braunschweig and the Large Wave Flume in Hannover, develop numerical models to investigate equilibrium conditions under variable boundary conditions. Building on this, the robustness of numerical models of varying complexity will be assessed, and model-based projections of coastal development will be conducted for different scenarios. In close cooperation with coastal protection authorities, the results will support future planning and design of gravel beach ridges as nature-based coastal protection measures.

• BEOSand-C

  Interanuelle und extremereignisinduzierte Morphodynamik von Küstenquerprofilen

  BMBF funding code	03F1000C
  Duration of funding	01.01.2026–31.12.2028
  Project partner(s)	Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz Schleswig-Holstein Husum Dr. Thomas Hirschhäuser
  Keywords	Morphodynamics, nature-base-solution, cliff coast, sediment management, historic coastline development, physical modelling, climate adaptation

  Within the consortium, the work of LKN.SH focuses on the integration of satellite-based bathymetric survey data into morphological analyses of various coastal sections. Both intra-annual and extreme-event-driven morphological changes will be identified and incorporated into empirical models describing the development of equilibrium profiles (i.e. sediment erosion and deposition as functions of natural processes). Knowledge of such morphological changes will help to improve management strategies for sand-deficient coastal regions along the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea coast.

• BEOSand-D

  Langfristige Anpassungsstrategien für Küstenschutzdünen und ausgewählte Steiluferbereiche

  BMBF funding code	03F1000D
  Duration of funding	01.01.2026–31.12.2028
  Project partner(s)	Staatliches Amt für Landwirtschaft und Umwelt Mittleres Mecklenburg Dr. Marcus Siewert
  Keywords	Morphodynamics, nature-base-solution, cliff coast, sediment management, historic coastline development, physical modelling, climate adaptation

  StALU MM will analyze existing survey and remote sensing data on morphodynamics in natural and human-influenced coastal areas and evaluate numerical model results in consideration of historical field data. The goal is to describe the system response of cliff coasts to sea level rise and to develop adaptation strategies for coastal protection dunes.