Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 16
Geological Hazard Potential at the Baltic
Sea and Its Coastal Zone: Examples
from the Eastern Gulf of Finland
and the Kaliningrad Area
Mikhail Spiridonov, Daria Ryabchuk, Vladimir Zhamoida, Alexandr Sergeev,
Vadim Sivkov, and Vadim Boldyrev
Abstract
Geological hazards may threaten human life, may result in serious prop-
erty damage, and may significantly influence normal development of biota. They
are caused by natural endogenic and exogenic driving forces or generated by anthro-
pogenic activities. An interaction of geological processes and intense anthropogenic
activities, e.g., construction of buildings, harbors, oil and gas pipelines, hydroengi-
neering facilities, and land reclamation, has resulted in hazard potential, especially
for the densely populated areas of the Russian Baltic coastal zone. These hazards
may in addition be harmful for the sensitive ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. Mapping
and assessment of the geological hazard potential should be the main objectives of
an integrated management program for the protection of coastal zones. This study
documents the first step in that process for the Russian sector of the Baltic Sea and
its coastal zone. A major part of endogenic hazard potential both in the Kaliningrad
area and in the eastern Gulf of Finland remains at low- or medium-risk levels, but
analysis of the recent environmental conditions at the seabed of the Russian sec-
tor of the Baltic Sea and, especially, within its coastal zone shows that during the
last years the activity of exogenic geological processes has increased significantly.
The highest risk within both studied areas has been caused by coastal and bottom
erosion. In addition, in shallow area near the shore bottom of the eastern Gulf of
Finland, “avalanche” sedimentation and sediment pollution can produce hazardous
situations as well.
Keywords
Geological hazard potential
·
Coastal zone
·
Mapping
16.1 Introduction
Worldwide, during the last decades, several countries have suffered from increased
impacts of natural hazards. Among them, the geological hazards can threaten human
life and significantly impact normal development of biota. Processes that affect the
