Coastal Damages on Saaremaa Island, Estonia, Caused by the Extreme Storm and Flooding on January 9, 2005

Tõnisson, Hannes; Orviku, Kaarel; Jaagus, Jaak; Suursaar, Ülo; Kont, Are; Rivis, Reimo

doi:10.2112/06-0631.1

Cited by 65 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Wave heights in strong storms are usually characterised in terms of the thresholds for 5% and 1% of the highest waves in each calendar year (called the 95th percentile and 99th percentile, respectively). There is implicit evidence about an increase in wave heights in extreme storms and in those wave conditions that occur together with high water level and cause the most extensive coastal destructions in this microtidal basin (Orviku et al, 2003(Orviku et al, , 2009Tõnisson et al, 2008). Relevant data sets exist only for a selection of sites Suursaar, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term spatial variations in the Baltic Sea wave fields

Soomere

Räämet

2011

Ocean Sci.

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Abstract. This study focuses on spatial patterns in linear trends of numerically reconstructed basic wave properties (average and extreme wave heights, wave periods) in the Baltic Sea under the assumption of no ice cover. Numerical simulations of wave conditions for 1970-2007, using the WAM wave model and adjusted geostrophic winds, revealed extensive spatial variations in long-term changes in both average and extreme wave heights in the Baltic Sea but almost no changes in the basinwide wave activity and wave periods. There has been a statistically significant decrease in the annual mean significant wave height by more than 10% between the islands ofÖland and Gotland and in the southward sea area, and a substantial increase to the south-west of Bornholm, near the coast of Latvia, between theÅland Archipelago and the Swedish mainland, and between the Bothnian Sea and the Bothnian Bay. Variations in extreme wave heights (defined as the threshold for 1% of the highest waves each year) show similar patterns of changes. In several areas the trends in average and extreme wave heights are different. Such a complicated pattern of changes indicates that (i) different regions of the Baltic Sea basin have experienced widespread but essentially different changes in wind properties and (ii) many seemingly controversial trends and variations established in wave properties at different sites in the recent past may reflect the natural spatial variability in the Baltic Sea wave fields.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term spatial variations in the Baltic Sea wave fields

Soomere

Räämet

2011

Ocean Sci.

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“…As a result of the passage of a fast and intensive lowpressure system known as Gudrun, the sea level in Pärnu was 2.75 m higher than the Baltic Mean Level. In the Bothnian Bay (Kemi), the maximum sea level, recorded in 1982, was 2.01 m above MSL (Suursaar et al 2006, Tõnisson et al 2008. At the southern Baltic coast, the largest storm surge occurred in 1872 when the sea level at the coast of Schleswig-Holstein (Germany) exceeded MSL by 3.2 to 3.7 m. The highest sea level rise at the Polish coast was recorded in February 1874, with water levels in Ko8obrzeg and Ś winoujście rising to 2.17 m and 1.96 m above MSL, respectively (Zeidler et al 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coastal erosion caused by the heavy storm surge of November 2004 in the southern Baltic Sea

Łabuz¹,

Kowalewska-Kalkowska²

2011

Clim. Res.

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TheŚwina Gate Sandbar (southern Baltic Sea) is affected by storm surges caused by passages of deep low-pressure systems over the Baltic Sea. The storm surge of 22-25 November 2004, with a maximum sea level of 1.35 m above mean sea level (MSL) as measured at theŚwinoujście gauging station, was one of the most severe storm events in 1993-2007. It produced changes in the coastal relief by inducing significant erosion of the dune shore in the western and eastern subsections of the sandbar area examined. Seawater flooded the beach and flowed over the low ridges, up to 3 m above MSL. As a result, all relief forms below the 3 m level were eroded, and the dunes retreated by an average of 2 to 6 m. The maximum amount of sediment that eroded away amounted to 22 m 3 per 1 m of coastline. This study showed that the magnitude of coastal erosion and retreat is dependent both on the height and the duration of the sea surge.

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“…4). Spits still develop occasionally, but erosion now prevails due to major storms such as those in (Tõnisson et al 2008. Gravel and pebble beaches on Saarema Island were strongly affected by the January 2005 storm Gudrun and the storm resulted in beach deposits being moved inland by 15-30 m (Tõnisson et al 2008).…”

Section: Forelands and Beachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Impacts—Coastal Erosion and Coastline Changes

Łabuz¹

2015

Regional Climate Studies

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Climate change is having an undeniable influence on coastal areas. This chapter describes the growing threat of climate change on the Baltic Sea coastline, with an emphasis on field research focused on storm surges and coastal retreat. The main climatic factors driving change in the Baltic Sea coastal zone are wind, waves, storm surges, ice jams and flooding. The cumulative effects of these drivers are also important. For example, a costly coastal protection scheme in one area may result in coastal erosion in another. Natural and man-made coastal features are experiencing unprecedented change; important natural habitats, coastal settlements and local economies are all being affected. The extent of storm surge impacts depends on the exposure of a shoreline to a surge event. The submergent and soft coastal relief of the southern Baltic Sea area is under most threat; the rate of retreat depending on the frequency and strength of the storm surges. The rate of coastal retreat has also increased in recent years due to sealevel rise and loss of beaches. KeywordsCoast erosion Á Threats for coast Á Coast type response for climate change IntroductionThe coastal zone is one of the most dynamic environments in the world, because it is where different geospheres interact. Taking place over a range of timescales, these interactions cause dynamic coastal rebuilding, referred to coastal morphodynamics. The factors responsible for change in the coastal zone may be grouped into geological and geomorphological, hydrodynamic, biological, climatic and anthropogenic factors. The main geological factors-sediment type, arrangement and resistance of sediment structures, and isostasy-are the basis of the morphological processes and the development of coastal relief. Geomorphological processes are influenced by many external forces, including climatic factors such as precipitation rain and wind. They are responsible for the development of typical relief forms and sediment supply. Biological factors mainly concern the influence of plants and are responsible for the development of particular coastal types. Anthropogenic factors refer to many human activities taking place within the coastal zone: settlements, industrial development, agriculture, deforestation and coastal protection. The coastal system is a dynamic complex of sensitive factors and typically responds in a nonlinear morphological manner (Dronkers 2005). The wide range of natural and human influences on the Baltic Sea coastline makes it difficult to identify the specific effects of climate change. Exposure to wind is a key factor for coastal development. Climatic conditions greatly influence the inflow of material to the coastal zone, by determining the amount and origin of terrigenic material supplied to the coastal zone as well as the amount of biogenic material produced and supplied to the sediments. The combination of sea-level rise, land subsidence and isostatic rebound creates both emergent and submergent coasts. Emergent coasts are identifiable by accumulative

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Coastal Damages on Saaremaa Island, Estonia, Caused by the Extreme Storm and Flooding on January 9, 2005

Cited by 65 publications

References 11 publications

Long-term spatial variations in the Baltic Sea wave fields

Long-term spatial variations in the Baltic Sea wave fields

Coastal erosion caused by the heavy storm surge of November 2004 in the southern Baltic Sea

Environmental Impacts—Coastal Erosion and Coastline Changes

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