Integrated Salt Marsh Cliff Erosion Modelling: Evaluating Different Approaches

S. Dzimballa; V. Kitsikoudis; P.W.J.M. Willemsen; E.O. Folmer; B.W. Borsje; I.Y. Georgiou; M.C. Bregman; D.C.M. Augustijn

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-15473-6_68

Integrated Salt Marsh Cliff Erosion Modelling: Evaluating Different Approaches

S. Dzimballa^*
, V. Kitsikoudis
, P.W.J.M. Willemsen
, E.O. Folmer
, B.W. Borsje
, I.Y. Georgiou
, M.C. Bregman
, D.C.M. Augustijn

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Lateral erosion of marsh cliffs is a key driver of salt marsh loss but remains poorly understood and underrepresented in numerical models. This study
investigates cliff erosion processes using two modeling approaches—subgrid1D
and 2D depth-averaged—applied to the Wierum salt marsh in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Both approaches simulated cliff erosion over 9 months and were validated with drone-derived elevation data. Results indicate that monthly-averaged wave conditions yield more accurate lateral retreat predictions than yearly averages, as they better capture short-term variability in wave energy. Both models identify areas without erosion in regions without cliffs, demonstrating good alignment with field data. The subgrid1D model provided closer agreement with observed retreat patterns, while the 2D model, which assumes constant erosion across the cliff face, tended to overestimate retreat. Discrepancies between model results and measurements in areas of high erosion suggest the need to account for additional spatial processes beyond the wave impacts considered here.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Coastal Dynamics 2025
Editors	Carlos Coelho, Caroline Hallin, Francisco Sancho, Paulo A. Silva
Place of Publication	Cham
Publisher	Springer
Pages	444-450
Number of pages	7
Volume	1
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-032-15473-6
ISBN (Print)	978-3-032-15472-9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-15473-6_68
Publication status	Published - 5 Mar 2026
Event	10th Coastal Dynamics Conference 2025: Living with a Dynamic Coast - University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal Duration: 7 Apr 2025 → 11 Apr 2025 Conference number: 10 https://coastaldynamics25.web.ua.pt/

Publication series

Name	Coastal Research Library
Publisher	Spriger
Volume	41
ISSN (Print)	2211-0577
ISSN (Electronic)	2211-0585

Conference

Conference	10th Coastal Dynamics Conference 2025
Country/Territory	Portugal
City	Aveiro
Period	7/04/25 → 11/04/25
Internet address	https://coastaldynamics25.web.ua.pt/

Keywords

Salt marsh
Lateral retreat
Cliff erosion
Numerical modelling
Drone data

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10.1007/978-3-032-15473-6_68Licence: CC BY

Conference paperFinal published version, 2.01 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Dzimballa, S., Kitsikoudis, V., Willemsen, P. W. J. M., Folmer, E. O., Borsje, B. W., Georgiou, I. Y., Bregman, M. C., & Augustijn, D. C. M. (2026). Integrated Salt Marsh Cliff Erosion Modelling: Evaluating Different Approaches. In C. Coelho, C. Hallin, F. Sancho, & P. A. Silva (Eds.), Coastal Dynamics 2025 (1 ed., Vol. 1, pp. 444-450). (Coastal Research Library; Vol. 41). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-15473-6_68

@inbook{5dec0cdf7b944de29835c5827ccf2773,

title = "Integrated Salt Marsh Cliff Erosion Modelling: Evaluating Different Approaches",

abstract = "Lateral erosion of marsh cliffs is a key driver of salt marsh loss but remains poorly understood and underrepresented in numerical models. This study investigates cliff erosion processes using two modeling approaches—subgrid1D and 2D depth-averaged—applied to the Wierum salt marsh in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Both approaches simulated cliff erosion over 9 months and were validated with drone-derived elevation data. Results indicate that monthly-averaged wave conditions yield more accurate lateral retreat predictions than yearly averages, as they better capture short-term variability in wave energy. Both models identify areas without erosion in regions without cliffs, demonstrating good alignment with field data. The subgrid1D model provided closer agreement with observed retreat patterns, while the 2D model, which assumes constant erosion across the cliff face, tended to overestimate retreat. Discrepancies between model results and measurements in areas of high erosion suggest the need to account for additional spatial processes beyond the wave impacts considered here.",

keywords = "Salt marsh, Lateral retreat, Cliff erosion, Numerical modelling, Drone data",

author = "S. Dzimballa and V. Kitsikoudis and P.W.J.M. Willemsen and E.O. Folmer and B.W. Borsje and I.Y. Georgiou and M.C. Bregman and D.C.M. Augustijn",

note = "{\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2026.; 10th Coastal Dynamics Conference 2025 : Living with a Dynamic Coast ; Conference date: 07-04-2025 Through 11-04-2025",

year = "2026",

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doi = "10.1007/978-3-032-15473-6\_68",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-3-032-15472-9",

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series = "Coastal Research Library",

publisher = "Springer",

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editor = "Carlos Coelho and Caroline Hallin and Francisco Sancho and Silva, \{Paulo A.\}",

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Dzimballa, S , Kitsikoudis, V, Willemsen, PWJM, Folmer, EO, Borsje, BW, Georgiou, IY, Bregman, MC & Augustijn, DCM 2026, Integrated Salt Marsh Cliff Erosion Modelling: Evaluating Different Approaches. in C Coelho, C Hallin, F Sancho & PA Silva (eds), Coastal Dynamics 2025. 1 edn, vol. 1, Coastal Research Library, vol. 41, Springer, Cham, pp. 444-450, 10th Coastal Dynamics Conference 2025, Aveiro, Portugal, 7/04/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-15473-6_68

Integrated Salt Marsh Cliff Erosion Modelling: Evaluating Different Approaches. / Dzimballa, S.; Kitsikoudis, V.; Willemsen, P.W.J.M. et al.
Coastal Dynamics 2025. ed. / Carlos Coelho; Caroline Hallin; Francisco Sancho; Paulo A. Silva. Vol. 1 1. ed. Cham: Springer, 2026. p. 444-450 (Coastal Research Library; Vol. 41).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Integrated Salt Marsh Cliff Erosion Modelling

T2 - 10th Coastal Dynamics Conference 2025

AU - Dzimballa, S.

AU - Kitsikoudis, V.

AU - Willemsen, P.W.J.M.

AU - Folmer, E.O.

AU - Borsje, B.W.

AU - Georgiou, I.Y.

AU - Bregman, M.C.

AU - Augustijn, D.C.M.

N1 - Conference code: 10

PY - 2026/3/5

Y1 - 2026/3/5

N2 - Lateral erosion of marsh cliffs is a key driver of salt marsh loss but remains poorly understood and underrepresented in numerical models. This study investigates cliff erosion processes using two modeling approaches—subgrid1D and 2D depth-averaged—applied to the Wierum salt marsh in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Both approaches simulated cliff erosion over 9 months and were validated with drone-derived elevation data. Results indicate that monthly-averaged wave conditions yield more accurate lateral retreat predictions than yearly averages, as they better capture short-term variability in wave energy. Both models identify areas without erosion in regions without cliffs, demonstrating good alignment with field data. The subgrid1D model provided closer agreement with observed retreat patterns, while the 2D model, which assumes constant erosion across the cliff face, tended to overestimate retreat. Discrepancies between model results and measurements in areas of high erosion suggest the need to account for additional spatial processes beyond the wave impacts considered here.

AB - Lateral erosion of marsh cliffs is a key driver of salt marsh loss but remains poorly understood and underrepresented in numerical models. This study investigates cliff erosion processes using two modeling approaches—subgrid1D and 2D depth-averaged—applied to the Wierum salt marsh in the Dutch Wadden Sea. Both approaches simulated cliff erosion over 9 months and were validated with drone-derived elevation data. Results indicate that monthly-averaged wave conditions yield more accurate lateral retreat predictions than yearly averages, as they better capture short-term variability in wave energy. Both models identify areas without erosion in regions without cliffs, demonstrating good alignment with field data. The subgrid1D model provided closer agreement with observed retreat patterns, while the 2D model, which assumes constant erosion across the cliff face, tended to overestimate retreat. Discrepancies between model results and measurements in areas of high erosion suggest the need to account for additional spatial processes beyond the wave impacts considered here.

KW - Salt marsh

KW - Lateral retreat

KW - Cliff erosion

KW - Numerical modelling

KW - Drone data

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105033847557

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-032-15473-6_68

DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-15473-6_68

M3 - Chapter

SN - 978-3-032-15472-9

VL - 1

T3 - Coastal Research Library

SP - 444

EP - 450

BT - Coastal Dynamics 2025

A2 - Coelho, Carlos

A2 - Hallin, Caroline

A2 - Sancho, Francisco

A2 - Silva, Paulo A.

PB - Springer

CY - Cham

Y2 - 7 April 2025 through 11 April 2025

ER -

Integrated Salt Marsh Cliff Erosion Modelling: Evaluating Different Approaches

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Keywords

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