Marek Majewski

Abstract

The objective of the investigation presented here has been to verify schemes for the developmentof cliff coasts proposed earlier by Subotowicz (1982). This is i.a. justifi ed by observationssuggesting greater differentiation to the geological structure and consequent hydrogeological characteristicsof the Southern Baltic cliffs than had been assumed by the authors of earlier works. Themeasurement data for the investigated profi les yielded by the work to date show that:

• the most dynamic zone on the coast is the beach,
• clifftops are the parts least resistant to destruction,
• the strong storms of late autumn 2004 and the 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons proved capable of activatingthe cliffs at nine of the ten investigated profi les, though no relationship was found betweenthe lithology of the sediments building the cliffs and rates of erosion.

Keywords: coastal zone, cliff, Southern Baltic, extreme storms, erosion.

Wacław Florek, Department of Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Geograpghy and Regional Studies, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Partyzantów 27, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland
Jacek Kaczmarzyk, Department of Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Geograpghy and Regional Studies, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Partyzantów 27, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland