Influence of the Klaipėda Seaport development on the water balance of the Curonian Lagoon

Abstract

Klaipėda Seaport is near the Klaipėda Strait that joins the Baltic Sea with the Curonian Lagoon. The development of Klaipėda Seaport is implemented by the dredging of the fairway of the Klaipėda Strait and the building of new quays. The dredging of Seaport water territory causes more intensive water interchange between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. It means that more salt water could pass into the Lagoon, which is the biggest fresh water basin in Lithuania. The water balance of the Curonian Lagoon is calculated for the period of 1960-2009 using daily data from 3 meteorological and 11 hydrological measurements stations. The main hydrological elements of water balance of the Lagoon are inflow from the Baltic Sea to the Curonian Lagoon, outflow from the Curonian Lagoon to the Baltic Sea and change in the volume of the Curonian Lagoon. The changes of water balance elements of the Curonian Lagoon were determinated concerning the anthropogenic activity in the Klaipėda Seaport. Statistical methods are used for this study.