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Estonia

Coastal erosion

Vulnerabilities

Estonia has a long (3,800 km) coastline due to numerous peninsulas, bays and islands (over 1,500). It has large untouched bogs (ca 15% of territory), a large number of lakes (ca 1,450) and rivers, and a very flat relief (almost two thirds of the territory lies less than 50 m above sea level). The highest point is Suur Munamägi, 317 m above sea level). It has limestone cliffs all along the Nordic coastline of the mainland and largest islands (3). A number of shore types can be distinguished along the Estonian coast: cliffs (5%), scarps (short sections between other shore types), till (35%), gravel (11%), sand (16%), silt (31%) and artificial (2%; breakwaters, protecting walls, berms) (1).

Tides are negligible (< 5 cm) but wind-induced storm surges can range over 4 m in Estonia, 3 m on the southern coast of the Gulf of Riga and over 2 m on the open Baltic Sea coast (2).

Owing to its flat and low-lying coastal zone, which is experiencing isostatic and tectonic uplift, the development of the coast should be stable, although activation of coastal processes has been observed in Estonia for the last 20-30 years. Researchers relate the extensive erosion and alteration of depositional coasts, such as sandy beaches, to the recent increased storminess in the eastern Baltic Sea (4,8) and the decline in the occurrence of sea ice (8). The annual maximum sea level on the Estonian west coast has increased during the last decade. Fewer storms seemingly affect the coast but in western Estonia they have become significantly more intense (1). The current rate of coastal change in this area is many times higher than in the 1950s. In autumn and winter, the westerly and south-westerly storm winds can raise the sea level to 2.6 m above the summer level (8).


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Adaptation strategies

Seawall construction and beach nourishment are two options that could prevent coastal land loss in Estonia (9).

In the case of a 1 m sea level rise, coastal cities of Estonia would need extended seawalls, dikes, and groynes to ensure effective protection and avoid socioeconomic damage. The most practical option to preserve unique and valuable natural ecosystems in the west Estonian archipelago and the west Estonian plain would be to artificially reinforce the headlands. This would help to avoid straightening of the shoreline and protect the biotopes of rare plant species and communities but would also result in enhanced erosion of bays. In areas where this option is impractical, loss of unique ecosystems appears inevitable (9).

In the case of a 1 m sea level rise, beach nourishment for Estonia's sandy beaches would be needed on the western coast of Hiiumaa, the south-western coast of Saaremaa, the southern part of the Pfirnu-Ikla study area, and in limited sections along the northern coast of Estonia. However, this is an expensive adaptation option and is most likely to be applied where highly developed and economically efficient recreational facilities exist (9).

There are no recent major projects along the Estonian coast concerning coastal erosion (1).

References

The references below are cited in full in a separate map 'References'. Please click here if you are looking for the full references for Estonia.

  1. Tonisson et al. (2013)
  2. Eberhards (2003), in: Tonisson et al. (2013)
  3. Ministry of the Environment of Estonia (2009)
  4. Orviku et al. (2003)
  5. Kont et al. (2003)
  6. Kont et al. (2007)
  7. HELCOM (2007)
  8. Kont et al. (2008)
  9. KontT et al. (1996b), in: Kont et al. (2008)
  10. Orviku et al. (2009)
  11. Tõnisson et al. (2011)

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