Anto Raukas
Articles
Evolution of aeolian landscapes in north-eastern Estonia under environmental changes
Geographia Polonica (2011) vol. 84, Special Issue Part 1, pp. 117-126 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/GPol.2011.S1.8
Abstract
Evolution of dunes and other aeolian landforms is characterized by phases of sand drift,alternated with geomorphic stability. Formation of wind-blown landforms in Estonia is stronglycontrolled by land uplift, climate, parent deposits, re-advance of ice-dammed lakes, as well asthe Baltic Sea and Lake Peipsi water level changes. Different aeolian formations, such as coversandhillocks, blowouts, deflation hollows, foredunes, inland and coastal dunes, and wind-erodedplains are encountered. Forest cuttings and fires, military actions and other human activities triggeredthe movement of surficial sand, but wet environmental conditions, sparse population andrapid spreading of vegetation prevented extensive redistribution of loose sandy sediments by wind.In north-eastern Estonia, inland parabolic and transversal dunes were formed in severe climaticconditions of the Younger Dryas. Influence of climate is well seen also at the northern coast of LakePeipsi, where rhythmically changing water level has caused aeolian redistribution of sediments.
Keywords: aeolian landforms, palaeoclimate, neotectonic uplift, inland and coastal dunes, Lake Peipsi, Estonia
, Institute of Ecology at Tallinn University, Uus-Sadama 5, Tallinn 10120, Estonia
Geographia Polonica (2003) vol. 76, iss. 2, pp. 123-136 | Full text
Abstract
Knowledge of rapid changes taking place in natural environments is of fundamental importance for better understanding of man-induced processes, which should be recognized and managed. In Estonia, extreme events have been caused by meteorite explosions, earthquakes, and neotectonic processes, heavy storms, karst phenomena and human impact. Investigation of past processes provides a major key in predicting the chan-ges that could be expected in the same or similar areas in the future. All the above-mentio-ned phenomena have been analysed on a local and regional scale, but they all are part of global-scale processes activated during the last decades.
Keywords: extraterrestrial phenomena, earthquakes, land upheaval, floods, aeolian processes, karst, human impact
, Institute of Ecology at Tallinn University, Uus-Sadama 5, Tallinn 10120, Estonia