Alongshore bed load transport in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea under changing hydrometeorological conditions: Recent decadal data

Lithodynamic system is exposed to the changes under climatic variations. Wind regime (especially direction and velocity) is the most important factor influencing the sea bed load. Calculations of the bed load transport constituents were based on the hourly meteorological data, received from the offshore meteostation. These data are unique for the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea. Changes in the wind conditions in the last decade resulted in a wave energy transformation at the bank slope. The study identified an isolated unidirectional alongshore bed load transport system that begins at Cape Taran and extends to the continental landmass of Lithuania. A marked influence of material transport associated with the bed load shift (“bed load migration”) was confirmed. A fixed zone of counter sediment transport convergence was not observed.