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Vilumaa, K.; Tonisson, H.; Sugita, S.; Buynevich, I.V.; Kont, A.; Muru, M.; Preusser, F.; Bjursater, S.; Vaasma, T.; Vandel, E.; Molodkov, A., and Jarvelill, J.I., 2016. Past extreme events recorded in the internal architecture of coastal formations in the Baltic Sea region. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 775–779. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The postglacial uplift and transgressive-regressive phases of the Baltic Sea have affected the formation and displacement of sandy accumulation forms in the region. The dune-ridge complexes preserve a geological record of past sea-level fluctuations, coastal evolution, and extreme events, and offer insights into major driving mechanisms. This study aims to improve methodologies for identifying different storm signatures in coastal deposits using examples from Estonia and ...

Tonisson, H., Suursaar, U., Rivis, R., Tamura, T., Aarna, T., Vilumaa, K., and Kont, A., 2020. Characteristics and formation of a solitary dune belt encountered along the coast of Estonia. In: Malvarez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 689-694. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.Dunes are not particularly high and widespread on practically tideless, prograding coasts of Estonia. The aim of the study was to document characteristics of a single-ridge, up to 10–14 m high, non-continuous dune belt (DB), existing 0.1–1 km landward from the contemporary shoreline. Using LiDAR-based elevation data, landscape profilings, and paleoclimatic proxies, its age and formation mechanism were studied. The results suggest that the DB is different and independent from adjacent aeolian landforms (foredune systems and paleodunes), and it follows the coastline regardless of its exposition at a similar height in more than 30 sparsely located coastal segments. In many cases it is partially reblown to 5–7 m elevation and sometimes it overrides the older well-organized foredune ridges. Based on site-specific land uplift rates and OSL dates, the formation of the dune began at around AD 1300. It gradually grew over most of the Little Ice Age (LIA), when cold conditions inhibited vegetation growth and allowed to release a considerable amount of movable sediment. Major reblow events probably occurred during the cold phases of the LIA from AD 1450 to 1750.

Various geomorphic, geophysical and GIS-based methods are used to study coastal processes in relation to variations in climatic forcing factors in the Baltic Sea area. Rhythmic patterns on uplifting coastal landscapes (e.g. on Osmussaar) and the sequence of accumulative spits (on Cape Kelba and Tahkuna) probably do not reflect single storms, but rather a (∼35-year) quasi-periodicity in storminess.

Tonisson, H., Suursaar, U., Kont, A., Orviku, K., Rivis, R., Szava-Kovats, R. Vilumaa, K., Aarna, T., Eelsalu, M., Pindsoo, K., Palginomm, V., Ratas, U. 2014. Field experiments with different fractions of painted sediments for studying material transport in three coastal study sites in Estonia. In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 229–234, ISSN 0749-0208. Our current understanding of the morphodynamics in swash and surf zones is limited due to their turbulent and irregular nature. The importance of this zone to sediment transport led us to perform a sophisticated field experiment using painted sediments. Sediments collected locally from beach ridges were sorted into the following diameters: 1–2 5 cm, 2.5–5 cm and 5–10 cm. The sediments were painted, amassed in piles and placed at 0.5–10 m depths in three sites near the Estonian coast. The locations were recorded wi...

Ratas, U., Rivis, R., Kont, A., Tonisson, H., Vilumaa, K., Anderson, A., Szava-Kovats, R.,2014. Regional variation in the dynamics of Estonia's coastal landscapes. In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 139–144, ISSN 0749-0208. The coastal landscapes of Estonia are young (less than 10,000 years old). Their development is affected by the Baltic Sea, by pre-existing geomorphology and by regional tectonic uplift. Since emerging from the sea ~5,000 years ago, the coastal landscapes have been evolving under regressive sea conditions. The landscape diversity is greatest on coasts with variable topographies and those exposed to wind and waves. Low and flat parts of the coast, which are seasonally inundated, exhibit less variable landscapes. Landscape changes in coastal areas no longer affected directly by the sea have been caused largely by human activity. Abrupt socio-poli...

Anderson, A., Vilumaa, K., Tonisson, H., Kont, A., Ratas, U., Suuroja, S., 2014. Geomorphology of coastal formations on present and ancient sandy coasts. In: Green, A.N. and Cooper, J.A.G. (eds.), Proceedings 13th International Coastal Symposium (Durban, South Africa), Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 70, pp. 090–095, ISSN 0749-0208. Many coastal sites are experiencing land uplift, so coastal formations can be found many kilometres inland from the present day shoreline. However, due to the relatively rapid, site specific and complicated development, their evolution is not very thoroughly studied yet. In this study, we analyse sediments and subsurface stratigraphy to explain the evolution and geomorphology of coastal formations (from present to ancient coastlines) located in sediment supply-limited areas. Several study sites were chosen on Tahkuna Peninsula, Hiiumaa Island in Estonia, where the rate of land uplift is 2.8 mm yr−1. Due to deficiency of sediment, dunes and old beach rid...