To limit global warming to 2 °C or below, the IPCC emphasizes the need for large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) alongside emissions reductions. There is a growing recognition of ocean-based CDR techniques and expanded research is needed. This thesis investigated the long-term (>100 years) carbon sequestration potential of enhancing the biological carbon pump by ocean nitrogen fertilization, a research domain which so far has received little attention. The objective was to make an initial rough quantification of the (cumulative) CDR potential of one-off ocean nitrogen fertilization achieved within 5 years after the fertilization, to evaluate its potential as a global CDR technique and for commercial implementation.
An idealized one-dimensional vertical (1DV) model framework, coupling a marine ecosystem model with a vertical eddy diffusion physical model, was established to simulate ocean nitrogen fertilization, incorporating essential processes of ocean productivity and the biological carbon pump. Half of the ocean was excluded from the framework since these regions are incompatible with 1DV modelling. Additionally, regions where nitrogen is not the first limiting nutrient were excluded. Various fertilization simulations were performed in which the nitrogen limitation in the mixed layer of the remaining ocean areas was replenished by a one-off addition. Long-term carbon sequestration resulting from fertilization was assessed by comparing these simulations with baseline simulations of the biological carbon pump. An aggregated global outcome, forming the basis for feasibility assessment, was derived by averaging over simulations, while excluding hexagons with low sequestration efficiency as they contribute insignificantly to CDR.
In principle, the one-off nitrogen fertilization shows an effective carbon sequestration efficiency (2.95 kg CO2 per kg N). However, the high and challenging-to-reduce carbon footprint of current urea production, coupled with challenges in collecting manure and the priority of utilising it in agriculture rather than directing it for carbon removal, leads to a low overall global carbon sequestration potential. Nevertheless, it is demonstrated that implementing one-off nitrogen fertilization at a location with high sequestration efficiency using manure can be commercially viable. The cost per net tonne of CO2 sequestered is lower than the current market price of a carbon credit, considering the transportation is conducted with vessels that would have navigated the route regardless.
Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that nitrogen fertilization has very limited potential to serve as a large-scale global carbon dioxide removal strategy, but can be effectively employed on company-level using surplus manure without agricultural purpose. The initial quantification, despite inherent limitations such as the use of a 1DV modelling approach, serves as a valuable addition to the scarcity of research in the domain of ocean nitrogen fertilization. Further more detailed research into strategic nitrogen fertilization for company-level CDR is justified, with this study providing valuable guidance on optimal research locations.

Floating ice shelves regulate Antarctic ice sheet mass loss by buttressing land ice discharge toward the ocean. Next to basal melting, iceberg calving following the propagation of rifts has the potential to reduce this buttressing effect. However, rift propagation is largely unpredictable and generally not resolved in coarse climate models. The sub-shelf ocean circulation is believed to play an important role in rift propagation as it is closely related to ice shelf melting and freezing. Previous work suggests that the sub-shelf circulation of an intact ice shelf is altered by the presence of km-wide basal channels. As it could impact freezing and melting, the potential effect of basal channels on a rifted Antarctic ice shelf should be explored.

In this study, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model was applied to explore for the first time the potential effect of basal channels on the melting and freezing of a rifted Antarctic ice shelf. To this end, four simulations were performed with a high-resolution ocean model for the domain of an ice shelf cavity with idealized boundary conditions. These simulations correspond to a cavity with melt channels, a prominent rift close to the ice shelf front, both, and none of them. The effects of channels, a rift or the combination of both on melt, freezing and ocean circulation in the cavity were assessed through a comparison of these four simulations. Following previous research, results show that basal channels decrease ice shelf basal melting. We found that the addition of only a rift does not change the melt intensity or pattern. In addition, it was found that basal channels increase the freezing inside a rift. A sub-shelf boundary current on the Coriolis favoured side of the domain without channels is reformed to a clockwise circulation in each channel, resulting in an adjusted flow pattern inside the rift from one single large clockwise return flow to a smaller one behind each channel. Hence, buoyant cold shelf meltwater does not only enter the rift in the boundary current but after every topographic incision, and the thermal forcing is increased. Furthermore, the multiple return flow pattern enlarges the average frictional velocity inside the rift, which is positively related to the freezing rate intensity. In an offline calculation, it was found that the contribution of the thermal forcing to the total freezing amount is approximately three times larger than the friction velocity.

From our simulations, we conclude that the presence of basal channels in a rifted ice shelf decreases basal melting at the grounding line and increases freezing inside rifts. Previous work on rift propagation suggests that these results imply that marine ice accretion inside the rift could increase, and fracture propagation could be reduced. Given these connections between ice shelf processes, this study stresses the importance of including basal channels and rifts in ice shelf cavity models to robustly reproduce Antarctic sub-shelf circulation and basal melt.

Key points:- Pre-closure salinity intrusion into Haringvliet-Hollands Diep is known to have reached Biesbosch National Park at flood tide. Post-Delta21 salinity intrusion is projected to be less extensive than pre-closure. Maximum intrusion is estimated to reach the westernmost Moerdijk ports mainly due to diminished tidal flow at the estuary mouth.- Freshwater intake in the Haringvliet is projected to be compromised for the majority of the year whereas freshwater intake in Hollands Diep is compromised during prolonged drought.- Salinity outwash from the Haringvliet on ebb tide is projected to be poor under both drought and normal conditions due to widespread salinity diffusion in lateral and vertical directions on flood tide. The Delta21 framework, in which this study is positioned, aims at increased flood safety and ecological restoration of the Haringvliet, a former estuary in the Dutch southwestern delta that has been closed as part of the Delta works. To achieve this, Delta21 proposes to reopen the Haringvliet freshwater basin to tidal effects in an attempt to restore its estuarine character. Implementation of Delta21 introduces the risk of compromising agricultural and industrial activities around the Haringvliet-Hollands Diep by reintroducing salinity and tidal movement in the basin. The central problem lies in quantifying the extent and stability of the expected periodic salt intrusion post-Delta21. This has been done by projecting a geographical bandwidth of salinity intrusion patterns depending on the severity of SLR (2020-2100) and low-to-mean Rhine-Meuse discharges (in 2100 CE) using a numerical model. Mitigation strategies are then recommended based on these numerical results. The OSR-HV model (owner: Port of Rotterdam) is used to run predictive scenarios of salinity intrusion for the lower reaches of the Rhine-Meuse basin. OSR-HV runs in TRIWAQ (Rijkswaterstaat), which is 3D numerical modelling software that employs coupled hydrodynamics and constituent transport thereby resolving salinity transport. An upper-end critical scenario consists of a Rhine (Lobith) discharge averaging 1000 m3/s for 31 days combined with 85cm SLR in 2100. This resulted in an intrusion pattern reaching the westernmost port of Moerdijk in Hollands Diep. Results show that the basin geometry, possibly nudged by Coriolis deflection, initially causes a preferential path of salinity intrusion along the southern bank of the Haringvliet. Lateral and vertical mixing is extensive in the western part of Haringvliet which is thought to be a combined effect of weakened tidal flow at the estuary mouth and robust and erratic geometry of the basin. Further up-estuary, the historical flood-ebb tidal channel structures is the main transporter of salinity. The Haringvliet shows distinctly different estuarine behaviour compared to the neighbouring Rotterdam Waterways where stratification is more stable, causing less up-estuary diffusion. The relative robustness of the Haringvliet and mild freshwater forcing give rise to extensive 3D mixing which subsequently limits the maximum horizontal excursion of salinity. Salinity intrusion into the Old Meuse is observed to aggravate upon opening of the Haringvliet sluices due to flow reversal in Spui which connects Haringvliet with the Rotterdam Waterways. This effect can even result in salt intrusion from the Rotterdam Waterways via Old Meuse and Spui back into the Haringvliet, causing a secondary spike in salinity on ebb tide there. Finally, height-limitation of the Haringvliet sluice gates is somewhat effective in countering horizontal excursion of salinity but runaway diffusion in the Haringvliet results in similar salinity profiles compared to full opening of the sluice gates. A shipping channel that crosses the current Haringvliet front delta is included in Delta21. This deep feature promotes advection of salt through the Haringvliet sluices. Subsequent diffusion patterns cause for poor washout of salinity from the basin upon ebb tide. Limiting the depth of this channel is recommended if salt intrusion is to be reduced. Full opening of the Haringvliet sluices furthermore causes approx. 0.50m lowering of Mean Low Water (MLW) near Moerdijk which affects busy shipping routes between Rotterdam-Moerdijk-Scheldt. Partial reduction of the conveying area of the Haringvliet sluices may be used to suppress the tidal wave penetration into Haringvliet-Hollands Diep. Significant gain in ecological value is likely post-Delta21 due to addition of approx. 1900 ha of intertidal areas and a 40 km salinity gradient (excl. front delta). Ample recommendations on further research have been made in this exploratory study. It is recommended to further study the effects of Delta21 interventions on macro hydrodynamics of the Dutch coastal shelf. The interconnected nature of the region requires a larger modelling domain to prevent the occurrence of non-physical effects obtained from the current numerical schematization. Furthermore, hydrological relations and bathymetry were generated from 2020 data. It is therefore recommended to precede the assessment of salinity intrusion into the Haringvliet with numerical projections on change to these environmental factors. Lastly, significant gain in accuracy may be obtained from applying spatially varying temperature and wind to the domain to better replicate baroclinic flows and turbulent mixing.

Shoreline change is affected by a multitude of complex processes operating at various spatiotemporal scales. Comprehensive multi-year simulations of shoreline changes and forecasts are feasible with process-based models. However, these detailed and computationally expensive numerical simulations do not always lead to increased predictive skill in comparison to simpler shoreline models (Davidson et al., 2013). ShoreFor (Davidson et al., 2013) employs the concept of (dis-) equilibrium of shoreline location following Wright and Short (1985). In this research, the current ShoreFor model (Splinter et al., 2014) is used as baseline. ShoreFor seeks for an optimum decay factor that best describes the morphological response of a coastal system to the corresponding hydrodynamic forcing. This parameter is measured in days and effectively controls the shoreline response timescale. Currently, the ShoreFor model provides a single value for φ, representing a single dominant shoreline response timescale. As morphological systems can contain multiple dominant timescale responses, a new approach to multi-timescale shoreline change modelling is proposed. Three video-derived datasets are used to improve the model towards a generally applicable one which incorporates multiple temporal scales: Narrabeen (Australia), Nha Trang (Vietnam) and Grand Popo (Benin). Each dataset has different hydrodynamic- and morphological characteristics. The storm timescale is a dominant mode of shoreline response for Narrabeen, whereas for Nha Trang and Grand Popo the seasonal timescale is the most dominant. Furthermore, all sites are subjected to more modes of shoreline response such that the application of a single memory decay factor will hamper shoreline modelling. The existing model is improved using 3 steps.In the first step, the raw wave- and shoreline signals are filtered to distinguish temporal scales. Then filtered temporal scales in shoreline position are forced with the corresponding scales in the wave signals. For each temporal scale, a distinct memory decay factor φ is found. In the second step, the effect of small temporal scales in wave forcing on larger temporal scales in shoreline position is accounted for. The improved model takes this effect into account using the envelope of the filtered wave signals. The envelope is used to force the model and to calculate shoreline change with the same timescale. In the third and final step, the effect of large temporal scales in shoreline position on smaller scales in shoreline response is accounted for. The efficiency with which waves induce cross-shore sediment transport can be dependent on the large scale shoreline variation. A time varying response factor c is introduced that controls the efficiency with which waves induce cross-shore sediment transport. The dynamic response factor varies over time with the shape of the larger scale shoreline signal: it represents the effect of the large scale shoreline variation on the smaller scale shoreline response.

To combat the emission of greenhouse gasses and the corresponding climate change, emission reduction goals have been established in the recent Paris Agreement. In order to meet these reduction goals and minimise the global average temperature increase, implementation of renewable energy sources is critical. Wind energy is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources in the European Union, since Europe has the largest offshore wind energy capacity with its shallow shelf sea: the North Sea.

Over the last twenty years, the wind energy capacity has increased significantly to become the current second highest power generation form of the European Union. The downside to offshore wind energy however, are the high costs that come with its generation. Cable losses of alternating currents between the wind turbines and the shore become increasingly high, as the distances towards the shore increment. For long distances, this inefficiency becomes unacceptable and conversion to a direct current is deemed necessary.

A recently presented concept that aims to reduce the costs of offshore wind energy, is the concept of a large scale roll-out of interlinked offshore turbines, coordinated at an European level, including a so-called hub island. This artificial island facilitates converters, as well as a home base for engineers and large scale power storage. Technically, no big problems are expected with the construction of such artificial island. The major reason that could stop the hub island concept, is resistance from environmental organisations.

To predict ecological repercussions of an artificial island, the impact on hydrodynamic parameters most important to the bottom of the marine food chain are explored. The primary producers represent this foundation of the food chain, and are most affected by the island through changes in water stratification and residual currents. These parameters highly influence the light and nutrient availability, thereby regulating the primary production dynamics of the ecosystem.

By developing and applying the Three Dimensional Dutch Continental Shelf Flexible Mesh (3D DCSM-FM) model, the impact of an artificial island on the stratification and residual currents is explored for five case studies. Each case study comprises a 6km$^2$ cylindrical island, for different North Sea locations with distinct hydrodynamic properties.

The implementation of an artificial island alters residual currents up to 10km from its position. The location determines the impact pattern, but influences remain local without any large scale North Sea impacts. Since changes in nutrient availability are only expected for large scale residual current impacts, no significant alterations in primary production dynamics are to be expected.

The impact on stratification however, can have a significant influence on the dynamics of primary production. The originally well-mixed areas remain mostly unchanged, while islands in the more stratified regions can cause significant changes in absolute stratification up to 20km from the banks, and alterations in regimes or the seasonal onset timing up to 2.5km. The location and its hydrodynamic properties are paramount to the type of expected stratification impact, and proves to be an important design parameter for ecology around an offshore energy hub island in the North Sea.