Hydrodynamic conditions near the northern shore of Sambia Peninsula (the Baltic Sea) as a basis of geotextile debris transport analysis

Storm winds with direction from western quarter have a negative impact on the shore of the Sambia Peninsula (South-Eastern Baltic). Cliffs and dunes are partly protected against erosion by different constructions including geotextile. Most of them are located at the northern shore of the Sambia Peninsula, namely, near Svetlogorsk and Pionerskiy towns. Consecutive, storm by storm, forcing destroys the protective constructions, geotextile pieces are spread over surrounding area and the debris of them pollute the sea. The aim of the study was to find out what winds produce the most significant threat for erosion and therefore form the initial conditions for transport of geotextile debris alongshore. Numerical simulations by SHYFEM model calibrated against the field data was used to analyze the structure of near shore hydrodynamics. It was supposed that a threat for coastal erosion is proportional to wind and wave induced sea level run-up and speed of coastal currents. Simulations showed that winds of the northwest and even western directions could potentially cause the maximum erosion at the northern shore of the Sambia Peninsula. These winds may lead to the sea level rise up to 0.3-0.5 m and speed of currents up to 0.7-0.8 m/s and more (at winds of 20 m/s).