Table 2.
Characteristics of the study areas. Tmax maximum temperature, prec. yearly precipitation (Beck et al. 2018; Copernicus Land Monitoring Service, s.a.; EEA 2021a; Federale Overheidsdienst Binnenlandse Zaken 2018; Gemeente Amsterdam 2018a, b; KMI, s.a.; Metropoolregio Amsterdam et al. 2018; Stad Gent, s.a.)
| Characteristics | Amsterdam (The Netherlands) | Ghent (Belgium) |
|---|---|---|
| Geographya |
Low land delta 25–35% water + adjacent lakes and waterways |
Low land delta 2.1% water |
| Surface water | Rivers, canals, shallow and deep lakes, ponds | Rivers, canals, deep lake, ponds |
| Climate |
Moderate sea climate T max. 5.8 °C (Jan) to 22.1 °C (Aug) Prec. 897 mm |
Moderate sea climate T max. 6.7 °C (Jan) to 23.4 °C (Jul-Aug) Prec. 876 mm |
| Population density |
3850 per km2 (total surface area) 5178 per km2 (land area) |
1643 per km2 (total surface area) |
| Population 2018 | 854 047 | 259 570 |
| Projected population growth | + 18% by 2040 | + 3% by 2030 |
aPercentages refer to the part of the surface area that is covered by water