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MARLIT project: prevention of storm-related risks and protection of the coast against climate change
Rivages Pro Tech, SUEZ’s centre of expertise in aquatic environments, is participating in the MARLIT project, a cross-border initiative that aims to improve the forecasting systems associated with ocean storms on the French-Spanish Basque coast and the Catalan coast, in the current and future climate.
The objective? To find solutions to mitigate the effects of storms, particularly in urbanised coastal areas, by drawing on in-depth knowledge of the wave-submersion and erosion processes, and by taking into account future global warming scenarios, both for the safety of residents and the protection of infrastructures.
Launched in 2020 for a period of two and a half years, the programme is developing innovative monitoring systems, such as autonomous topographic observation mechanisms and new videometric tools, as well as state-of-the-art modelling of wave propagation to determine and predict the impact of storms. These tools are being used to identify and assess suitable ways to mitigate the impact of storms on the coastline.
“In 2014, a series of storms hit the Atlantic coast, contributing to the heightened concern about the rise in extreme weather events and their relationship with climate change,” explains Pedro Liria, AZTI’s oceanography and coastal monitoring expert and the project’s technical manager.
More recently, Storm Justine violently struck the Atlantic coast in late January 2021. Thanks to the alert sent out by the management assistance systems developed by the Rivages Pro Tech centre with the support of the MARLIT project and its partners, the city of Biarritz was able to deploy various exceptional protective measures, which helped largely mitigate the impact of this severe ocean storm.
Launched in 2020 for a period of two and a half years, the programme is developing innovative monitoring systems, such as autonomous topographic observation mechanisms and new videometric tools, as well as state-of-the-art modelling of wave propagation to determine and predict the impact of storms. These tools are being used to identify and assess suitable ways to mitigate the impact of storms on the coastline.
“In 2014, a series of storms hit the Atlantic coast, contributing to the heightened concern about the rise in extreme weather events and their relationship with climate change,” explains Pedro Liria, AZTI’s oceanography and coastal monitoring expert and the project’s technical manager.
More recently, Storm Justine violently struck the Atlantic coast in late January 2021. Thanks to the alert sent out by the management assistance systems developed by the Rivages Pro Tech centre with the support of the MARLIT project and its partners, the city of Biarritz was able to deploy various exceptional protective measures, which helped largely mitigate the impact of this severe ocean storm.
Preventing coastal risks thanks to new monitoring and modelling tools
These extreme meteorological phenomena are directly tied to increased exposure of the French-Spanish Basque and Catalan coastline to oceanic events, in the context of the climate crisis. Thus, the MARLIT project seeks to improve the tools used to forecast and detect high-impact storm risks on the coast, the aim being to mitigate their impact on coastal residents and to improve the response measures of public administrations.
"In order to achieve this goal, MARLIT will focus on improving and automating tools used to forecast and assess the impacts of storms on coastlines, to help contribute to the development of measures aiming to mitigate impact, both in the short term and in a larger context of climate change. These tools will also contribute to a more accurate diagnosis of the effectiveness of current mitigation measures,” states P. Liria.
"In order to achieve this goal, MARLIT will focus on improving and automating tools used to forecast and assess the impacts of storms on coastlines, to help contribute to the development of measures aiming to mitigate impact, both in the short term and in a larger context of climate change. These tools will also contribute to a more accurate diagnosis of the effectiveness of current mitigation measures,” states P. Liria.
A European project to improve the state of knowledge and protect against climate change
This cross-border project has several scientific goals: firstly, researchers hope to collect a large amount of local data and information on the impact of storms thanks to innovative monitoring and modelling systems. In addition, they collect data and information on historical phenomena in the study areas to support protection, monitoring and prevention actions led by public administrations.
The work is supplemented by the development of a forecast on the future evolution of coastal risks due to climate change, and by the research and assessment of innovative means to mitigate the impact of storms on the coast.
“The Rivages Pro Tech centre’s participation is the result of SUEZ’s commitment, through its Smart & Environmental Solutions Business Unit, to prevent and help manage climate risks, in the interest of regional resilience, particularly that of coastal municipalities. Our team’s primary task is to analyse, at a local level, the impact of climate change on the coast in order to develop innovative forecasting, mitigation and adaptation solutions,” explains Matthias Delpey, Research & Development Manager at the Rivages Pro Tech centre and coordinator of SUEZ’s contributions to MARLIT.
In order to carry out this project, the Rivages Pro Tech centre puts forward its technical knowledge in the collection of marine observations and fine-scale coastal modelling, as well as its expertise in the implementation of operational forecasting and decision support systems; the result of its collaboration with the City of Biarritz and the Communauté d’Agglomération Pays Basque (French Basque Country urban authority).
The MARLIT project is part of the European cooperation programme, POCTEFA. Its stakeholders include SUEZ’s Rivages Pro Tech centre, the AZTI Foundation (MARLIT coordinator), the SIAME laboratory of the University of Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, as well as the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Additionally, several notable public bodies are involved in the process: the Communauté d'Agglomération du Pays Basque (CAPB), the Directorate of Emergency Attention and Meteorology of the Basque Government (DAEM), and the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC). This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
The work is supplemented by the development of a forecast on the future evolution of coastal risks due to climate change, and by the research and assessment of innovative means to mitigate the impact of storms on the coast.
“The Rivages Pro Tech centre’s participation is the result of SUEZ’s commitment, through its Smart & Environmental Solutions Business Unit, to prevent and help manage climate risks, in the interest of regional resilience, particularly that of coastal municipalities. Our team’s primary task is to analyse, at a local level, the impact of climate change on the coast in order to develop innovative forecasting, mitigation and adaptation solutions,” explains Matthias Delpey, Research & Development Manager at the Rivages Pro Tech centre and coordinator of SUEZ’s contributions to MARLIT.
In order to carry out this project, the Rivages Pro Tech centre puts forward its technical knowledge in the collection of marine observations and fine-scale coastal modelling, as well as its expertise in the implementation of operational forecasting and decision support systems; the result of its collaboration with the City of Biarritz and the Communauté d’Agglomération Pays Basque (French Basque Country urban authority).
The MARLIT project is part of the European cooperation programme, POCTEFA. Its stakeholders include SUEZ’s Rivages Pro Tech centre, the AZTI Foundation (MARLIT coordinator), the SIAME laboratory of the University of Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, as well as the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Additionally, several notable public bodies are involved in the process: the Communauté d'Agglomération du Pays Basque (CAPB), the Directorate of Emergency Attention and Meteorology of the Basque Government (DAEM), and the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC). This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.
Field data collection for beach profile analysis and morphodynamic study
Remote data collection from the coast using an experimental X-Band radar system
Digital model of storm impacts on Biarritz’s Grande Plage (left) and photo of the corresponding event taken on site (right)
