Klaipėdos uosto molų poveikis Kuršių nerijos smėlio diferenciacijai
Impact of Klaipėda Port Piers on Differentiation of Sand on the Curonian Spit

Summary/Abstract: Granularity and heavy mineral concentrations in coastal sands serve as important indicators of hydrometeorological and sedimentological conditions, showing geodynamic processes (accumulation, erosion, stabilization) at the sea coast. Hydrotechnical constructions have significant impact to the sea coast. The aim of this paper is to assess changes of sand granularity in 1993 and 2011 and heavy mineral concentration in 2011 along the stretch of the Curonian Spit coast impacted by Klaipėda port piers. To examine the patterns in granulometric composition and heavy-mineral concentration distribution, surface sand samples were collected along the Curonian Spit coast. The sieve method was used for sand granulometric composition research. The Bartington MS3 field scanning sensor was used for characterizing the relative concentrations of heavy minerals (especially ferrimagnetic). Research results show that geodynamic conditions may be reflected by sand heavy mineral concentration; consequently it could be used as indicator of coastline dynamics. At the stretch of the Curonian Spit coast under the study natural lithodynamic processes are partially suppressed by the influence of Klaipėda port piers. It is the reason of sand accumulation there.

• Details
• Contents