Delta-ENIGMA

Delta-ENIGMA provides infrastructure for intensive field and experimental laboratory research to understand how organisms, currents, waves, water discharge and sediment transport jointly shape the Dutch delta-landscape. This integrated approach, known as biogeomorphology, lies at the core of Delta-ENIGMA. The program serves as the Dutch contribution to DANUBIUS-RI, a European research infrastructure for studying river-delta-coastal systems. The consortium members are Utrecht University, TU Delft, University of Twente, Wageningen University & Research, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Deltares and TNO. Delta-ENIGMA is coordinated by the Department of Physical Geography at Utrecht University. 

Research topics 

Biogeomorphology, deltas, river floodplains, coastal dunes, salt marshes, biophysical interactions, climate change, extreme events, vegetation dynamics

References 

Delta-ENIGMA is currently under development. Please see www.delta-enigma.nl for further information.

Running period

1 November 2023 – 31 October 2033

Equipment/facilities

Delta-ENIGMA contains: 

1. A backbone observation network consisting of state-of-the art equipment to measure physical and vegetation parameters for 10 years. The instruments will measure the slow but cumulative processes during normal conditions, as well as the peaks, reversals and additional processes during extreme events.
2. A rapidly deployable set of specialized instruments, to cover floods, droughts and storms.
3. Laboratory facilities for experimental biogeomorphological process studies, covering conditions that are presently unobservable in the field.

A Productive Knowledge Interaction Facility for interactions between biogeomorphology experts, policymakers and delta managers, to bring new biogeomorphological insights to the world.

Data management

An open database will be accumulating over the 10-year period to store,  document and distribute Delta-ENIGMA’s data, according to FAIR principles. The data services provided by Delta-ENIGMA will become available on its website. 

Available datasets

A data portal to the available open data will become available through www.delta-enigma.nl 

Condition for access

Conditions for access to the Delta-ENIGMA field sites and laboratory facilities will be set in a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Delta-ENIGMA and Danubius-RI. Once the SLA is available, the conditions for access will be published on the Delta-ENIGMA website.