Estonia
Cities of Tallinn and Pärnu
Description of case study area:1.Tallinn case study area
Tallinn is the Capital of Estonia with population more than 400 000 and area 158 km2. Coast line length of the city is 70 km.
Risk factor: Possible overflow and flooding the downtown; possible pollution of water reservoir from flooded areas.
Risk factor: Strong and long precipitation and sea level rise may cause floods.
Main risk factor: Strong storms and floods in the coastal zone.
2. Pärnu case study area
Pärnu River catchment area is 6900 km2, mean river discharge is 64 m3/s.
Increased risks as a result of combining meteorological and geological factors.
Meteorological factors caused by climate changes:
- Rise of sea water level
- Direction and rising intensity of storms
- Quantity and duration of precipitation
- Regional neotectonic movements of the earth's crust
- Local vertical movements of ground surface (mainly caused by overpumping of ground water)
- Properties of bedrock and sedimentary cover
- Hydrology (character and dimensions of catchment areas)
Overview map and photos of the case study area:
Location of the case studies in Estonia
Floods and coastal erosion in Pärnu case area.
Floods in Harku Lake and in Tallinn downtown.
Planned work and results in the case study area:
Main questions to be solved in the course of the ASTRA Project:- Finding out the dynamics of sea coasts based on regular monitoring of study areas.
- Prognosis of the influence of possible climate changes to the dynamics of sea coasts.
- Prognosis of the influence of strong storms to sea coasts.
- Presentation of the results of the winter storm of 2005 on example areas.
- Detailed study of ground movements in Tallinn and Pärnu areas; prognosis of normal sea level height for years 2050 and 2100.
- Prognosis of additional rising of sea level caused by extreme storms like in 1967 and 2005; trends of storms.
- Behaviour of near-shore streams caused by strong storms; their influence on shore and near-shore pollution-hazardous objects (fuel stations, stores of chemicals etc.);
- Detailed study of geology of shore areas susceptible to abrasion and landslides.
- Finding out the influence of climate changes to hydrology of catchment areas of Pirita and Pärnu river basins.
- Presentation of results in form of maps, figures, explanatory notes etc.
- Impact analysis on underground buildings and communications network and pipelines(sewage, water and gas tubing etc.).
- Formulating recommendations for minimisation of negative influence of climate changes on studied and other similar hazardous areas.
- Dissemination of results and recommendations to state and municipal institutions; making the results public through the press, radio and TV.
Description of project partner:
Geological Survey of Estonia/ Eesti Geoloogiakeskus (EGK)
The Geological Survey of Estonia is a government-owned enterprise belonging to the Ministry of Environment. The number of employees is 95 persons including 5 PhDs, 11 MScs, 46 engineers and 22 technicians. Main fields of activity of the Geological Survey of Estonia (EGK) are the following:
- geological mapping
- exploration of mineral resources
- exploration of groundwater
- compiling and administering of the national registers and databases pertaining to the Earth´s crust and natural resources
- environmental monitoring pertaining to the Earth´s crust.