Subsidence in the Holocene delta of The Netherlands

The low-lying part of The Netherlands is very vulnerable in terms of surface subsidence due to peat oxidation and peat/clay compaction. To gain knowledge about this kind of subsidence and the factors driving it, a study was performed in which as many surface elevation data were collected as possible and processed to obtain a subsidence map. Quality control was an important step in this study, as it controlled the decision to use measurements for the final map. Subsidence rates were derived by fitting a linear trend line through the altitude measurements in time. The result is a map of the historic subsidence rates, with the main focus on the Holocene area. This map points out areas that are vulnerable to (future) subsidence and will be a valuable tool for regional policy makers such as water boards. Copyright © 2010 IAHS Press.