COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF NATURAL AND
ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS ON THE VISTULA SPIT FOREDUNEEROSION (THE BALTIC SEA)
Burnashov Evgenii, State Organization of the Kaliningrad region "Baltberegozaschita", Russia
Karmanov Konstantin, State Organization of the Kaliningrad region "Baltberegozaschita",
Atlantic Branch of P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
burnashov_neo@mail.ru
The study gives quantitative estimation of natural landforms sensitivity of accumulative
type coasts exposed to human influence. Foredune is an essential element of a morphologicalstructure of thebarrier spits located at the Baltic Sea sand coasts. The study comparescontribution of the beach erosion and deflation (soil drifting) to the foredune degradation on
the sea shore of the barrier spit with or without the recreational impact. The analysis isperformed for three typical polygons located on the Russian part of the Vistula Spit. Chosen
polygons present shore segments with various intensity of tourism: visitors from the village,
unregulated camp tourism, and nearly natural conditions.
Detailed geodesic survey was carried out on these three polygons (length 515 m, 265 m,
and 521 m respectively; total area – 125000 m2) in July of 2015. It was done with singlefrequency geodesic GPS Trimble 5700L1 (base station) and TrimbleR3 (rover). Two DEMs
were developed using the results of laser scanning of 2007 and the survey of 2015. Volume
deformation for whole polygons and its particular parts (beach and foredune ridge) was madeby comparison of the DEMs.
In the case of touristic load the effect of deflation is 5-15 times higher than the marine
erosion of foredune edge. If not affected by an anthropogenic factor the foredune erosion iscaused mainly by the sea, and its impact is 6 times higher than that of the natural deflation.
Key words: seacoasts, foredune, erosion, deflation, the Vistula Spit, the Baltic Sea.
I. POLYGON SELECTION JUSTIFICATION
In order to determine the characteristics of the temporal dynamics for the Vistula Spit’s
typical landscape, three typical polygons with varying degrees of exposure to human activities wereselected. At the polygons, terrain measurements of the surface part of the Vistula Spit’s sea coast
were made(Fig. 1) –hereinafter we will call the polygons in the order from north to south aspolygons S (settlement), T (tourist), B (background).

Figure 1. – Polygon location diagram in the northern part of the Vistula Spit.
Polygon (S),length of 524 linear meters,can be characterised by a lower coastal section (from1.5 to 8 meters in height) adjacent to the residential area of the Kosa village of Baltiysk, which was
located in the northernmost part of the Vistula Spit. At the specified polygon an active
anthropogenic load was recorded; the load is in the use of this coastal part by the locals and seasonalvacationers for recreational purposes, unauthorised driving down by car to the beach for fishing andcollecting amber in the near shore zone.
Polygon (T),length of 272 linear meters, is located at a distance of about two kilometres tothe south of the Strait of Baltiysk. Polygon (T) represents a high portion (5 to 14 meters in height) of
the coast with intense recreational load caused by the unorganised mass tourism. An active

anthropogenic load is expressed in the use of that part of the coast by plenty of seasonal vacationers
and tourists for recreational purposes and for open air events. [1] In contrast to the first polygon, it is
not possible to freely access the beach because of the rather high foredune there.
Polygon (B), length of 526 linear meters, can be characterised by the state of the natural
coast in height from 8 to 12 meters, which is not subjected to intense anthropogenic pressure and islocated at a distance of about five kilometres south of the Strait of Baltiysk. Due to significant
remoteness from a populated centre and the lack of access roads near the coast, the said polygon isvisited by few tourists mostly when the surroundings are passed by bike. The area is dominated bycoastal processes caused mostly by natural processes. That is why the polygon was taken for acomparative analysis as a background.
The total area of the three studied polygons is about 113,000 m2, where the first polygon isabout 40,000 m2, the second polygon is about 40,000 m2 and the third polygon is 33,000
m2respectively.
II. MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES
To obtain the field data on the polygon terrains on the Vistula Spit sea shore, a GPS surveyof three-dimensional coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the points of the above-water partof the beach and the foredune surface with a system of the single-frequency geodetic GPS Trimble
5700L1 (base station) and TrimbleR3 (mobile receiver) was performed. The minimum mean-squareerror of the measurement data with the system in an ideal mode is ± 10 mm + 1 ppm in plain viewand 20 mm ± 1 ppm + in elevation.
For Polygon (S) from 22,606 measured points selected were 21,059 points, the measurement
errors of which lie in a pre-determined limit (<0.5 m), which represents 93.1% of all measurements
at this polygon. The average density of points on the polygon was 1 point per 1.9 m2.
At Polygon (T),in total,21,720 measurements were conducted; of which 19,663 (90.5%) arewithin the specified measurement error (<0.5 m). The average density of points on the polygon was
1 point per 2.3 m2.
Within the range of Polygon (B) almost all 16,106 points lie within a pre-determinedmeasurement error (<0.5 m), and only one point was an exception. The average density of points on
the polygon was 1 point per 2 m2.
The key objective of the study was to determine the terrain deformation on the selected
polygon for the period from 2007 to 2015. For comparison of the terrain of the sea coast obtained asa result of the GPS survey in 2015, and the terrain obtained by airborne laser scanning in 2007,
performed was mutual binding of the data made with GIS tools.
After the planned altitude data correction, the data interpolation was performed to produce
three-dimensional terrain models for 2007 and 2015. The interpolation was carried out in GIS by the
Inverse Distance Weighted Interpolation method resulting in three-dimensional digital elevation
models (DEM) were obtained with a resolution of 0.5 m in plan. For zero surface taken was theellipsoidal surface used in the WGS-84 coordinate system and reduced to the Baltic height system
BK77, the system of normal heights which are counted from the zero level of the Kronstadt tidegauge.

A terrain deformation (change) analysis is conducted relief by deducting from the 2015
model of DEM height values for 2007 which made it possible to identify the areas of positive andnegative deformation on polygons and assess their areas and volumes. DEM have been constructed
for all the polygons as well as separately for polygon parts, the beach and foredune. This approachallowed us to perform the calculation and analysis of terrain changes differentially between thebeach and foredune by separating the beach as a dynamic element of the sea coast.
Two components of the foredune deformation were assessed separately: the one due to direct
wave erosion and the second, due to deflation processes strengthened by recreation load (on the firsttwo polygons). This analysis was a basis of assessment of the specific characteristics: the volume offoredune degradation due to wave erosion per one running meter of coastline; the volume offoredune degradation due to deflation (eolian-anthropogenic factor)per one running meter ofcoastline. These specific characteristics may be used in the future to estimate dune degradation forsimilar areas of the shore.
III. RESULTSFirst polygon(S)The estimated volume of material on the entire polygon, according to 2007 airborne laser
scanning, amounted to 134,202 m3; and according to the 2015 GPS survey results it is 100,600m3
which indicates a decrease in the volume of material in that section of the sea coast in 2015
compared to 2007 by 33,603 m3 and is about 25% of the original volume (the volume in 2007).
(Figure 2). On a blank part in the middle of the polygon there is a wood tree belt area which was
excluded from the calculation in order to reduce the degree of measurement error.

Figure 2. Digital terrain models of the polygon (S) for 2007 and 2015 and the scheme ofchanging terrain elevations within the polygon (S) in 2007-2015.

The foredune makes the main contribution to the material volume change of Polygon (S) as
the results of calculation of the material volume change within the foredune and beach separately
indicated:- the foredune material volume for the period from 2007 to 2015 decreased by 25,126
3m (21.3%) representing 74.8% of the total material volume changes on the polygon;- the beach material volume calculated according to 2007 data is greater that the volume ofmaterial in 2015 by 8,477 m3 which corresponds to 25.2% of the total volume of material changes
on the polygon.
For the entire polygon, the range of the numerical values of the terrain change is from -3.49
to 1.96 m, i.e. the deformation change amplitude is 5.45 m. The positive deformations hold only
6.2% of the polygon area corresponding to 2 474 m2, the negative deformations hold the remaining
93.8 % of the polygon equal to 7,231 m2 .
Most likely, reduction of the foredune dimensions within Polygon (S) is due to the combined
effect on the coast of the wave, eolian and anthropogenic factors. Under the influence of the sea
waves reaching the foredune during storms, there is erosion of the sea foredune slope with the lossof a large number of sandy material, and as a consequence, a decrease in the size (volume) of theforedune. The eolian transfer on the seashore promotes accretion and retirement of the sandmaterial:
1) under the influence of the wind, the accretion of the sand material at the foredune bottom
and on its surface occurs, and;2) wind redistributes the sandy material along the profile of the coast and beach within theforedune;3) deflation processes lead to the formation of deflation hollows and the gradual destructionof the integrity of foredune body.
The main impact of the anthropogenic factor is that it aggravates and accelerates theappearance of other destructive processes. Basically, this is manifested at Polygon 1 in that as aresult of the residents’ and tourists’ mass visiting this area in the absence of elemental trafficarrangements (equipped lanes and access roads to the beach) there is widespread trampling ofvegetation and surface damage of the foredune thus increasing deflation by several times. [2]An analysis of the changed material volume of the foredune in terms of the contribution of
the above processes was also performed. The calculated difference in volumes of 2007 and 2015
was divided by the part resulting from the action of the sea (retreat of the sea slope of the foredune)
and the part resulting from the eolian-human activities. The negative values of changes in the terrain
in the rear of the foredune and within deflation hollows on the sea slope and the foredune top weretaken as the amount lost due to the eolian-human activities; the rest of the lost material volume wastaken as the volume of material lost when exposed to the wave factor. Thus, under the impact of theeolian-anthropogenic factor the foredune lost 21,481 m3 of material, which is 85.5% of the total
volume of the lost material. The lost material volume lost as a result of sea activities account for theremaining 14.5%.

From the above it can be concluded that concerning Polygon (S),the human impact on theforedune leads to the activation of destructive eolian processes, the impact of which is five times
greater than the erosion of the sea slope of the foredune ridge caused by the sea.
Second polygon (Т)
The estimated volume of material on the entire polygon was 261,748 m3 in 2007, and in2015 the material volume of is reduced by 39,457m3 amounting to 222,291 m3. As a result, the total
amount of the polygon material decreased by 15.1% in 2015 compared to 2007 (Figure 3)

Figure 3. Digital terrain models of Polygon (T) for 2007 and 2015. and the terrain elevation change
diagram within the polygon (T) in 2007-2015.
The main changes in the material and terrain volumes recorded within the polygon withforedune ridge. Volume foredune ridge material decreased by 35,301 m3 accounting for 89.5% of
the whole difference between the material volumes. There are no positive deformations within thebeach.
For the entire polygon, the whole range of change in the numerical values of the terrain
deformations is from -10.7 to 4.8 m, i.e. the amplitude of the deformation change is 15.5 m. The
positive deformations occupy 25.3% of the polygon area, which corresponds to 10,063 m2, thenegative deformations occupy the remaining 74.7% of the polygon equal to 29,665 m2.
For the foredune the area of negative deformations reached 22,919 m2 which corresponds to
71% of the whole foredune area. In turn, positive deformations occupy 10,063 m2 or 29% of thetotal area of the foredune.
According to the performed calculations, the impact of deflation-human factor within theforedune of Polygon (T) is much stronger than that of the wave type. Thus, as a result of exposure towind and human activities, the foredune material volume within the polygon under researchdecreased by 33,071 m3thus accounting for 93.7% of the total change in the foredune material
volume. Consequently, the man-induced impact on the foredune leads to the activation ofdestructive eolian processes, the impact of which is in many respects exceeds the erosion of the sea
slope of the foredune caused by the influence of the sea. An intensive course of destructive eolian
processes resulted in the formation within the polygon in the foredune body of a through deflation
hollow and a semi-through hollow, via which holiday-makers move to the sea and back. The
polygon’s accretion sections generally correspond to the foredune surface portions covered withvegetation, forested rear slope and the portions of the base of the rear slope, where deposition of
sandy material mainly occurs as a result of the eolian transport. [3]Third polygon (В)
The estimated volume of material on the entire polygon in 2007 was 221,071m3 in 2015 thevolume of the material decreased by 9,126 m3 and amounted to 211,945 m3. As a result, the total
amount of the polygon material in 2015 decreased by 4.1% compared to 2007 (Fig. 4)

Figure 4 - Digital terrain models of the polygon (B) for 2007 and 2015 and the scheme of changing
terrain elevations within the polygon (S) in 2007-2015.
The main changes in the material and terrain volumes occurred with the foredune within thepolygon. The foredune material volume decreased by 6,438 m3 accounting for 70.5% of thedifference between the material volume. The amount of the beach material decreased by 2,688 m3.
For the entire polygon the range of the numerical values of the terrain deformations is from 2.5 to 1.9 m, i.e. the amplitude of the deformation changes is 4.4 m. The positive deformations
occupy 35.1% of the polygon area, which corresponds to 10,720m2,the negative deformations
occupy the remaining 67.9% of the polygon area corresponding to 22,722 m2.
The positive deformations within the beach occupy an area of 2,046 m2, or 22.8%, thenegative deformations were subjected to the remaining 77.2% of the beach area (6,921 m2).

The range of the change in the deformation values is equal to 4.4 m and is from -2.5 to 1.9
m. For the foredune the of the negative deformations reached 8,669 m2 which corresponds to 35.5%of the total area of the foredune. Positive deformations, in turn, occupy 15,772 m2 or 64.5% of thetotal area of the foredune.
This polygon is different from the other two by the degree of human impact which isrelatively low in this part of the Vistula Spit. The calculated amount of the reduced foredune
material because of deflation here was 871 m3 or 13.5% of the total volume of the lost material of
the foredune. The remaining 86.5% (5,567 m3) of the lost material volume of the foredune ridge
account for these a storm effects. The action of eolian processes on the territory of the polygon is
manifested mainly in a deflationary depression area in the southern part of the polygon, where there
is a path and access to the sea. As a result, destructive eolian processes at the part of the sea coast as
well as in the rest of the polygons occur mainly with the anthropogenic factor.
All parameters and characteristics of polygon changes and changes of marine shore of
Vistula Spit because of influence main natural an anthropogenic factors for the period from 2007 to2015, are shown in Tabl. 1
IV. CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results of the research within three reference polygons on the coast of the
Vistula Spit, you can draw conclusions about the prevalence of the eolian component in thedestruction of the sandy foredune body given the simultaneous man-induced impact.
Polygons (S and T) can be characterised by active anthropogenic influence as Polygon (S) is
located in the Kosa village, and Polygon (T) is subjected to the intensive load by uncontrolled
tourism. Within these polygons there is an intense impact from the deflationary processes leading to
the creation of deflation hollows and destruction of the foredune surface. The main-induced factor
within these polygons is the main cause of the intensive deflation. The disorganised mass movementon the foredune of a large number of holidaymakers leads to the degradation and destruction of
foredune vegetation performing the function of sand binding.
An assessment of the foredune material volume changes according to 2007 and 2015 datashows that for Polygons (S and T) a decrease in the foredune material volume is primarily due to thedeflationary process. At Polygon (S) contribution of the deflation to the reduction of the material
volume was 85.5% and at Polygon (T) it is 93.7%, indicating that the prevalence of the eolian
component over the influence of the sea in the foredune destruction.
At the same time, at Polygon (B), where the degree of the man-induced impact is relatively
small compared to the two other polygons, the major role in destroying foredune is by its destruction
by the sea. The main share in the decrease in the foredune material volume within the polygon by
the sea erosion, the contribution of which amounted to 86.5% in percentage terms.

Table 1. Characteristics of parts of marine shore of the Vistula Spit on polygons and their changes
for the period from 2007 to 2015 because of influence of main natural and anthropogenic factors
PolygonPolygon(S)Polygon(Т)
Polygon(В)
parameters Polygon Beach Foredune Polygon Beach Foredune Polygon Beach Foredune
L, m
524
524
524
272
272
272
526
526
526
2
S, m
39705 11200 28505 39728 6746
32982
33442
8967
24441
3
V 2007, m
134202 16115 118087 261748 9006 252742 221071 19090 200784
3
V 2015, m
100600 7638
92962 222291 4852 217441 211945 16402 194346
3∆V , m33603 8477
25126 39457 4154
35301
9126
2688
6438
(%)
(100) (25.2)(74.8)(100) (10.5) (89.5)(100)(29.5)(70.5)
3∆V defl., m
21481
33071
871
(%)
(85.5)(93.7)(13.5)
3∆V eros, m
3645
2230
5567
(%)
(14.5)(6.3)(86.5)
2
S+ , m
2474
10756
2051
10063
0
10063
10720
2046
15772
(%)
(6.2)
(96.0)(7.2)(25,3)(0)(29)(35.1) (22.8)(64.5)
2
S- , m37231 443,5 26455 29665 6746
22919
22722
6921
8669
(%)
(93.8)(4.0)(92.8) (74,7) (100)(71)(64.9) (77.2)(35.5)
0.87
1.02
1.32
UE, m3/m/year
UD, m3/m/year
5.12
15.2
0.21
Symbols: L–the length of polygon; V- the volume of material, DEM on zero surface;∆V –difference between the volume of material DEM of 2007 and 2015; ∆V defl. –difference between thevolume material DEM of 2007 and 2015 as results of foredune deflation (eolian-anthropogenic
factor); ∆V eros - difference between the volume material DEM of 2007 and 2015 as results of storms(natural factor); S+- the area of positive deformations; S- - the area of negative deformations; UE the unit volume of foredune erosion due to wave action per running meter per year; UD- the unit
volume of foredune deflation (eolian-anthropogenic factor per running meter per year.
For the first time, during the research obtained was a numerical assessment of the impact on
the sandy seashore from the Vistula Spit destructive factors such as sea erosion, deflation and theimpact of man. The simultaneous effects of anthropogenic factors and eolian foredune on the surface
leads to intense leakage deflation that surpasses the marine erosion by more than 5-15 times.
However, in the absence of anthropogenic influence the main contribution to the foredune
destruction ridge is from the sea erosion exceeding deflation by 6 times.
In conclusion, it should be noted that the Vistula Spit provides another example of what thesea sandy shores of the accretion type are extremely sensitive to the man-induced impact and theimplementation of any activities within these shores should be carried out taking into account thisfact.

V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Technical facilitation of the study, problem identification, data analysis and chose of thepolygons were made under support of the theme № 0149-2014-0017 (supervisor – B. Chubarenko)
of State Assignment of the P.P.Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of
Sciences (2015-2017). The polygon survey and preparation of this article was made under the
support of the Project No 14-17-00547 “A forecast development for evolution of accumulative
Russian coasts of tide less seas”
VI. REFERENCES[1]
V.P. Bobykina, “Morphology and Dynamics of the Sea Coast of the Northern Section of the
Vistula Spit,” Environmental Problems of the Kaliningrad Region and the Baltic Sea Region,
Kaliningrad: research set by the publisher of the I. Kant State University, 2007, pp. 20-26.
[2]
Е.М. Burnashov, “The modern geo-ecological conditions of the Sea Coast in Kaliningrad
Region,” Create artificial beaches, islands and other structures in the coastal zone of the seas, lakes
and reservoirs, Novosibirsk: Publishing House of the SB RAS pp. 111-114, August 2011
[Proceedings of the 2nd International Conf. “Construction of the Artificial Lands in the Coastal andOffshore Areas”, Novosibirsk, August 1-6, 2011].
[3]
Т.V. Shaplygina and I.I. Volkova, “Modern natural and man-induced pre-conditions oftransformation of the eolian coastal marine natural complexes,” Vestnik Immanuel Kant Baltic
Federal University, vol. 1, pp.39-46. 2013.