Beach-Foredune Sediment Budget Response to Sea Level Fluctuation. Curonian Spit, Lithuania

Darius Jarmalavičius,Viktoras Karaliūnas,Rasa Janušaitė,Donatas Pupienis,Gintautas Žilinskas

doi:10.3390/w12020583

Abstract

Beach-foredune sediment exchange maintains a coastal system’s stability. Sea level fluctuation is one of the most important factors that modifies the beach and foredune sediment budget. This study aims to assess beach and foredune sand budget changes depending on sea level fluctuations. On the basis of annual measurements of cross-shore profiles on the Curonian Spit in Lithuania, the sediment volumes on the beach and foredune and their changes between 2002 and 2019 were calculated. The sea level fluctuations were examined in parallel. The obtained data revealed that in the case of a sand surplus, a relatively low sea level rise does not have a significant impact on the development of a foredune (and a minimal impact on a beach) on a decadal time-scale. Short-term sea level fluctuations are reflected in year-to-year variability in a beach sediment budget. However, no significant relationship between year-to-year variability in sea level fluctuation and the foredune sediment budget has yet been identified, nor is there a reliable year-to-year variability relationship between the foredune and beach sediment budget. The foredune sediment budget remained positive both through an increase and a reduction in the sediment volume on the beach.

Highlights

The global mean sea level has been rising during the past century [1]
The sea level trend in the Baltic Sea is similar to the global mean sea level trend [3]
Global climate change and sea level rise are often related to increasing coastal erosion and associated socio-economic transformations in coastal regions [4,5]

Summary

Introduction

The global mean sea level has been rising during the past century [1]. Global climate change and sea level rise are often related to increasing coastal erosion and associated socio-economic transformations in coastal regions [4,5]. One of the most important problems in predicting future coastal evolution is determining the impact of a potential rise in sea level on coastal systems. Within a decadal time period, there are other factors besides sea level fluctuation and geologic framework: extreme events [15,16,17,18,19], vegetation cover [20,21,22,23], human activity [24,25,26], and river discharge [27]

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Discussion

Conclusion