THYBORON BARRIERS - A MASTERCASE OF COASTAL ENGINEERING

Thybor0n, Denmark is placed at the entrance to a fjord system, which connects the North Sea with Kattegat. The inlet acts as a trap for the littoral transport from both sides. The adjacent barrier beaches suffer from severe erosion, which is alleviated by large structures and nourishment. The entrance was formed only 135 years ago and is still undergoing morphological changes. During its lifetime engineers have investigated various schemes for stabilising the shoreline - the most radical suggestion has been to close the entrance to avoid the ongoing loss of beach material. The present paper presents the major findings of a comprehensive study of the hydrographic and geological conditions, the coastal processes and the morphological evolution.