MONITORING OF THE BALTIC SEA COASTS IN LITHUANIA
J.SATKŪNAS1, R.ŽAROMSKIS2, S.GULBINSKAS3, A.BITINAS1 , V.MIKULĖNAS1
1
Geological Survey of Lithuania, 2600 Vilnius,st. S.Konarskio 35, Lithuania
e-mail: jonas.satkunas@lgt.lt; albertas.bitinas@lgt.lt, vidas.mikulenas@lgt.lt
2
Vilniaus University, Department of Hydrology and Climatology, 2600 Vilnius, st Čiurlionio 21/27, Lithuania
e-mail: rimas.zaromskis@gt.vu.lt
3
Institute of Geography, Department of Marine Geography, 2600 Vilnius, st Akademijos 2, Lithuania
e-mail: saulius.gulbinskas@geo.lt
The Lithuanian Baltic Sea coast is not very long
– it extends 90,66 km. Geological and geographical
investigations of the coastal zone started at 1954.
The Southern part – Kuršiu Nerija Spit – is a sandy
accumulative
coast
while
the Northern part of the coastal zone – continental
coast presented by genetically different Quaternary
deposits. Both these different coastal zones are
separated by the Klaipėda Strait which serves as
a mouth of Nemunas River at the same time.
There are many problems linked with geological
and
lithodynamical
processes
in
the Lithuanian Baltic coastal zone. Lately activation
of geological processes called out by natural
reasons (raising of sea level, activity of neotectonic
movements, extremely strong storms, etc) and by
human industrial activity (reconstruction and
deepening of Klaipėda harbour, damping in the sea,
building of Butingė oil terminal, etc) has been
noticed. It was estimated that most active
degradation of the Baltic Sea coast is going
between Šventoji harbour and State boundary with
Latvija. Lithuania lost about 8 ha of land per 10
years in this area. Sandy deposits on the beach do
not exceed 15-30 cm, deeper the Litorina Sea peat
and gyttja are found. Lately there was noticed that
intensive processes of abrasion of Northern coast
of Kursiu Marios Lagoon started as well.
The necessity of geological investigations and
monitoring of the Baltic Sea coast became evident
after December 3-4, 1999 when a very strong
storm, having followed the “Anatoly” cyclone,
caused a big damage to the Lithuanian Baltic Sea
coast. Million tons of sand were washed into
the sea, the protective dune ridge along the whole
coast was significantly injured, several coastal
constructions were disturbed. The biggest damage
of the coastal zone was done between Šventoji and
State boundary with Latvija where Lithuania lost
3.6 ha of land, the protective dune ridge was
destroyed and salty water from sea flooded and
damaged the fir forest. Catastrophic situation was in
the zone close to Palanga bridge where coastal plain
decreased from 45 m to 14 m and 200 000 m3
of sand were washed into the sea. An incomplete
bridge construction was one of reasons of such
catastrophic coastal processes in this area.
Restoration of Palanga beaches is possible only by
“feeding” them with imported sand.
In the meantime there exist only the biological
and oceanographic monitoring of the Baltic Sea that
are included into the State ecological monitoring
of Lithuania. There are also a few other
departmental monitorings (Klaipėda harbour,
Butingė oil terminal, etc.) but they cover relatively
small areas and are more oriented on the problems
of contamination. However, State ecological
monitoring has to be supplemented by coastal
monitoring in the nearest future. Geological Survey
of Lithuania in 1999 made the fist step in this
direction – it started the preparation of Baltic Sea
Coastal Atlas at a large scale. A set of different
maps (geological, geomorphological, geological
processes, antrophogenic loading) will be created
during this project and they will be a background
for coastal monitoring of the Baltic Sea.
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