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08.09.2010 | Press Release GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht

Storm Surges Congress 2010 – Scientists from 30 countries meet in Hamburg

Risks and Management of Present and Future Storm Surges 13 to 17 September 2010, Universität Hamburg, Germany

The Institute for Coastal Research at the GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht, in cooperation with Hamburg KlimaCampus (Climate Campus) at Hamburg University and further national and international partners, is hosting the international “Storm Surges Congress 2010” from 13 to 17 September at the University of Hamburg. The Congress is organized through the global Earth system research project "Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone" (LOICZ), that investigates changes to coasts and the social consequences worldwide.

Cooperation across borders and disciplines is essential Storm surges are destructive. They regularly lead to casualties and substantial economic damages. In 2008 Myanmar in the Indian Ocean was hit by the tropical cyclone Nargis and the associated storm surge left a trail of destruction. More than 100.000 people lost their lives. In 1953 and 1962, the Netherlands, England, and Hamburg were severely affected by storm surges.

It is the goal of the Storm Surges Congress to support the exchange of knowledge and experiences in handling storm surges through a global dialogue between representatives from science, economics, public institutions and politics.

Academics from 30 countries will present perspectives from the natural and social sciences, and illuminate regional aspects of storm surges. Central questions of the Congress will address the predictability of storm surges as well as further developments of possible protective and mitigation measures.

Storm surges – Research for the Future Through the effects of climate change and extensive human use of coastal areas, storm surge risks could rise worldwide. By means of mathematic models, GKSS coastal researchers have investigated what effect the constantly increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere could have on storm surges along the North Sea Coast.

“Between 2070 and 2100 rises in maximum storm water levels in the range of three to eleven decimeters are conceivable along the entire German North Sea coast”, Professor Hans von Storch, Director of the GKSS Institute for Coastal Research, explains.

Up to 2030, the existing concepts for coastal protection in northern Germany should remain as effective as they are today. By the end of the century, however, rising storm surge levels could require action.

“Recent predictions of the OECD assume that the risk of being hit by a so called one in hundred years flood will be multiplied for large harbor cities worldwide by the year 2070”, says Professor Robert Nicholls from the University of Southampton. “This could mean that the number of humans threatened worldwide could rise from about 40 million to 150 million; additionally, possible economic losses will bring significant challenges to society.”

During the Hamburg Congress, researchers from Boulder University in Colorado will explain that particularly cities in delta regions of rapidly developing economic areas in the tropics and subtropics could be affected by future storm surges. Increasing urbanization raises the risk of storm surges. This is due to subsidence in the course of massive extractions of ground water and sand as well as the damming of rivers and streams.

The European Space Agency ESA will make a presentation at the “Storm Surge Congress” in Hamburg on how the prediction of storm surges could be improved with the help of satellite technology.

Information Press Conference

An English-language press conference about the Storm Surges Congress will take place in the main building of the University Hamburg (Auditorium K) on Monday 13.09.2010 from 11:30 to 12:00

Discussion Partners

Boram Lee Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, France

Hans von Storch Institute für Coastal Research, GKSS, Geesthacht, Germany

Craig Donlon European Space Agency, Nordwijk, Netherlands

Jesse Feyen National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Washington, USA

Robert Nicholls University of Southampton, United Kingdom

Shishir Dube Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India

Congress Location, Service for Journalists and Registration

Universität Hamburg (main building)
Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1
20146 Hamburg

Please register by email at the following addresses.
We would be glad to help you organize interview partners and appointments.

Ellen-Barbe Goldberg, Science Communications/PR

Phone: +49 (0)4152 87-2009

Fax: +49 (0)4152 87-2040

Dr. Torsten Fischer

Phone: +49 (0)4152 87-1677

Fax: +49 (0)4152 87-1640


You can find an overview of the programme and the participants at


Storm Surges in Hamburg

Wednesday, 15.09.2010

9:30 – 13:00 Uhr

Federal Office for Merchant Shipping and Hydrography (BSH) - Hamburg

Within the parameters of a regional event by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), the German Weather Service and the Hamburg Port Authority, scientists present the newest developments in storm surge predictions for Hamburg and the German Bight to participating institutions. How can we make timely warnings? How are we better prepared today than we were for the storm surge catastrophe of 1962? What consequences does climate change have for storm surges? These questions will be discussed with media representatives, organizations, and stakeholders.

The press release and program can be found at

Cooperating Partners




GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht

At the GKSS Research Centre, approximately 800 employees are dedicated to the areas of material research and coastal research as well as regenerative medicine.

Institute for Coastal Research

Coastal living spaces are under the permanent pressure of the long and short- term changes of the natural process, such as erosion or sea level rise through possible climate change. The influence of human activities such as transport, land use, tourism, etc plays an equally significant role. Coastal research develops the tools, analyses and scenarios for managing this sensitive landscape through change and adjustment under the facet of sustainability.

The Institute for Coastal Research (lfK) founded in 2001 is divided into two sections “System Analysis and Modeling” and “Development of Operating Systems”.
Research activities extend to natural sciences as well as to social aspects in regional and global contexts. From investigations into the current condition of coastal living spaces as well as their sensitivity to natural and human influences, scenarios for future options will be taken.


The research project "Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone", active worldwide and abbreviated LOICZ, concerns itself with the processes of global change in regard to the coasts of the world.

Since 1993, over 1000 LOICZ researchers have been working on, among other topics, the influence of humans on coastal zones as well as the feedback that humans experience from the quick changes of nature.The main objectiv of the investigations is the vulnerability of the coast to environmental changes.

The goal is to develop adjustment strategies and sustainable concepts for integrated coast and river management in times of global change. Since 2006, the international coordination office of LOICZ is located at the GKSS Research Centre.

Further English-language information can be found at: