ENHANCED DUNE EROSION DUE TO ATTENUATION OF COASTAL ICE PHENOMENA

The Baltic Sea is a shallow, non-tidal, relatively small basin. 75percent of the South Baltic coast are sandy, dissipative, multi-bar coastal segments with well- developed dunes. Wide beaches and sufficiently high dunes serve as a natural protection of the hinterland from both erosion and marine floods. Enhanced loss of beaches and destruction of dunes have been observed in recent decades. It is estimated that at the turn of the 21st century the mean rate of shore recession for the entire Polish coast was in the range of 1- 2 m/year and now tends to grow (Frankowski et al. 2009). This study aims to assess the impact of the freezing process of dunes and beaches, as well as occurring ice covers events on dune stability and coastal erosion processes. As a result, an empirical formula has been developed that aims to illustrate the relationship between dune erosion, storm surge, deep water wave height, and the occurrence and duration of sub-zero temperatures.