Briefing: The Thames Barrier – an accidental asset in London’s attempts to address climate change

The Thames Barrier is a massive engineering achievement that marked its 40th anniversary this year, having been officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 8 May 1984. It was built to protect Greater London from exceptionally high tides and storm surges, caused when a deep depression forms to the north of Scotland and progresses across the North Sea and south-easterly towards southern Scandinavia. The capital needed it. When surges coincide with a high spring tide, the high winds associated with the depression can funnel water up the Thames estuary and can cause the water to rise 3.6 m.