Experts from around the world are heading to St Fergus, near Peterhead, NE Scotland this week for a symposium on coastal erosion.
This is the first time that experts have gathered to share their knowledge and expertise, focussing on the ways in which coastal change is measured and assessed.
Professor Bill Ritchie from Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Science and Management explained, "The symposium will bring together some of the most experienced experts to discuss the need for accurate ways of measuring the rate of coastal change. This has increasingly become an important issue with different climatic changes around the world.
"By accurately measuring coastal changes we are able to plan and manage coastal protection much better."
The three day event is being sponsored by the gas terminal operators at St Fergus; ExxonMobil, National Grid, Shell and Total, members of the St Fergus Coastal Environment Committee.
Professor Ritchie continues, "The operators at the terminal have to be congratulated in sponsoring this event which will be of great practical benefit to the numerous agencies, industries and citizens who live, work or play along the changing coastal environments.
Professor Ritchie will be joined by speakers from the Netherlands, USA, Ireland, Africa and the UK, sharing their experience of monitoring and assessing the changing coastlines. Discussions will also include the monitoring and preservation of the Dutch coastline, the impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on the Louisiana coast, the ARGUS system, used at Aberdeen city beach, how Ordnance Survey map the UK's coastline and the affects of storms and coastal erosion in Europe.
Jeff Smith, chair of the St Fergus Coastal Environment Committee said, "The gas terminal operators are pleased to be sponsoring such an important event. St Fergus gas terminal has been involved with coastal monitoring since the terminal was first built in the 1970's; from the first environmental impact assessment, to the planning of the terminal, positioning of the pipelines, to the expansion of the site in the 1980s.
"The coastline has been monitored to ensure the operations have not impacted on the beach, dunes and local environment. As well as monitoring the impact of natural coastal erosion and storms, that they do not affected the gas pipelines coming ashore. "
Interview and photo opportunities:
- Thursday 22nd May 2008 at 13:00 on the dunes behind St Fergus gas terminal.
- Meet at North Sea Gas Terminal, St Fergus Peterhead, AB42 3EP. SAGE car park at 12:45, transport will be laid on to take you to the dunes.
- For security reasons, access to the dunes will only be allowed by pre-registered names.
- Professor Bill Ritchie, Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Science and Management and Jeff Smith, chair of the St Fergus Coastal Environment Committee will be available for interviews.
For further information please contact Stephanie van Rosse, press officer on behalf of the gas terminal operators, on 07767 337343.