Impact of coastline orientation on the dynamics of foredune growth (Łeba Barrier, south Baltic Sea coast, Poland)

There are many factors controlling the aeolian sand transport rate on thebeach and thus, variation in rates can impact foredune development. Thisstudy analyses coastline orientation as one such factor. The researchwas conducted at two sites on the Łeba Barrier, south Baltic Sea coast,Poland, located 4.2 km apart and which differed in coastline orientation by20°. Based on wind data the potential aeolian sand transport rate for theperiod 2006-2017 was calculated. It appeared that taking into account thecoastline orientation, the landward sand transport strongly exceeded theseaward and alongshore transport at one site, whereas the other site wasdominated by alongshore sand transport. Topographic surveys carried outevery 6 months showed that net sand deposition within the foredune at thecoast dominated by landward transport was two and a half times greaterthan at the other site and resulted in significant dune growth