Изложены принципы построения легенды морфодинамической карты берегов. Показаны изменения, происходящие с рельефом морских берегов Европейской России за последние 30-50 лет. При отнесении берега к тому или иному морфодинамическому типу учтены: его генезис; литология береговых уступов, включая льдистость пород на берегах с многолетней мерзлотой; сведения о приливно-отливных и сгонно-нагонных колебаниях уровня моря; данные о темпах отступания/выдвижения берега, полученные в результате сопоставления разновременных топографических карт и космических снимков. Сформулированы основные принципы прогноза развития берегов: бассейновый подход - учет особенностей определенного морского водоема; региональный подход - учет характеристик рассматриваемого побережья; анализ современного состояния берегов - через проведение их типизации; ретроспективная реконструкция развития берегов; сценарный (предметный) подход - геоморфологический прогноз. Приведен пример такого прогноза для побережья Самбийского полуострова в юго-восточной Балтике.

The paper describes the conditions of formation of large accumulative forms on the southeastern coast of the Baltic Sea and presents the results of a comparative analysis of these structures. It has been established that Baltic barrier–lagoon systems have a complex geological and geomorphologic structure. Sandy barriers, which are, in general, marine accumulative formations, often comprise various fragments of different genesis (moraine remnants, glaciolacustrine and deltaic plains, etc.). The formation and development of large accumulative forms in the southeastern Baltic occurred against the background of sea level fluctuations in the Littorina time following a unified scenario for the entire coast.

The article summarizes years of experience of geographical situation modelling of coastal marine systems in the Baltic Sea region and adjacent territories. Kaliningrad universities and academic institutions have done extensive research on the diversity of approaches and models of the regional geographical situations as well as on identifying the most promising coastal marine areas. Some of the models presented in the present paper are qualitative, while others are empirical and statistical ones. However, the majority of the models can be referred to as forms of graphic and image mapping. The significance of the regional models lies in their specificity, a more detailed character (compared to the generalist ones) and the possibility of using them to back up managerial decisions in critical and emergency situations in order to minimize the negative effects of natural (storms, floods, earthquakes, etc.) and anthropogenic emergency situations. The authors developed a matrix classification attributable to a particular class of models for the situations leading to uncertain outcomes. The authors suggest using numerical methods combined with the empirical and statistical models for the assessment of the impact of industrial fishing on marine environment, minimizing the consequences of storms, floods and others factors. Special attention is paid to the modelling of climate change and geo-ecological consequences, as well as to atlas mapping and landscape planning. As a result of the geographical situation analysis the authors got new insights into the solar-terrestrial links, marineterrestrial ecosystems, global and regional processes related to climate change, oceanisation, the vulnerability of natural systems under the increasing pressure of anthropogenic activities, and continuously increasing risks presented by industrial agriculture and other types of land use.

The variety of morphological features and physiographic differences of sea coasts in European Russia is described from arctic deserts and tundra on the Barents Sea coasts to the Submediterranean landscapes, semi-deserts and deserts in the coasts of the Caspian and Black Seas, as well as differences in economical development of the coasts. The problems of forecasting of sea shore development are discussed: the general approach to forecasting; set of necessary maps to make; direction and amplitude of sea-level changes over the period of interest. The scenario approach is substantiated that answers the question – how will the coast develop under different changes of sea level and climate conditions. Morphogenetic types of the sea coasts and the legend of sea coast morphogenetic map are described as the basis for further researches.

Modern coastal zone is an open morpholithodynamics system characterized by a set of constant and variable parameters. Estimations of these parameters allows to assess the future development of the whole system. Constant parameters are geological and geomorphologic composition of the coast and its wind-wave mode. Variables are long-period fluctuations of water level due to eustatic variations, tectonic and glacio-isostatic movements. Prediction of the evolution of the coastal zone includes the assessment of the trends of the variable parameters of the morpholithodynamics system. In this study, the above problem is analyzed on the examples of south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea and the Russian sector of the Caspian sea. The possible rise of the Baltic Sea level by 1.0–1.5 m by the end of the XXI century will result in the further destruction of sea coasts, flooding, waterlogging and salinization of coastal areas, which will lead to negative consequences for industrial, municipal and agricultural infrastructures. In the case of the Caspian Sea, the majority of its coasts regardless of the underwater slope has transformed into lagoons due to the sea level rise in recent decades. Coastal erosion will start only when the sea level reaches the 1929 yr stage from which the sea level drop started in the mid XX century. At this stage, a noticeable change of surface slope occurs. At the majority of Caspian coasts activation of coastal erosion will occur when the sea level rise above – 26 m a.s.l.

The protective harbour constructions have an essential impact on morpholithodynamics of the adjacent area of coastal zone. Being artificial capes, port piers make for secondary breaking up of coastal line and, as a consequence, reduce the longitudinal proportion of deposit transport in coastal zone and increase the transverse one.

The coastal dynamics of the Curonian Spit, a large accretive landform with its eroded root, is discussed. For this area, the new data on the coastal development for the last 100 years were obtained; the characteristic of current coastal state was given; mathematical simulation of the coastal processes for assessment of the sediment deficit in the near shore zone was made. Evanescence of the sediment deficit phenomenon in the area under study is demonstrated. Here, even during rather short periods of the deficit increase, the development of wave-induced destructive processes is observed; therefore three major ways to mitigate the risk of coastal erosion (i.e. the construction of impenetrable or penetrable groins, a detached breakwater and an artificial beach) are considered, including the peculiarities of the spit shores development as a result of coastal protection activities.

The supply of large volume of soft technogenic material into coastal zone leads to intensification of alongshore sediment transport and to its accumulation. In result the coastal cliff stabilizes, and valuable sites of coastal zone persist safe from abrasion.

The peculiarities of a coastal morphology of large man-made lakes under the wave-dominated, fluvial dominated and transitional environments were discussed. It was shown that the fluvial-dominated environment is similar to the one in a river delta. In the transitional environments, the gradual replacement of delta sub-environments by shallow areas is observed. In the wave-dominated environments the relief is similar to the characteristic relief of the sea coastal zone.

The process of aeolian sand carrying out from the sea beach and formation of the aeolian features in the coastal zone of Curonian Spit is considered. The dependence is revealed between the quantity of materials transported by wind upon the composition of substratum and angle of wind approach to shoreline. Several coastal sites are distinguished there with different direction and force of the wind-sandy flow.

Sedimentary structure in a delta-like area of the man-made lake basin, in the coastal transitional zone of wavedominated and fluvial-dominated environments, and at the coasts with normal development of reservoirs where wind-induced waves are the key driving factor were thoroughly studied and described for the first time.

The history of Holocene evolution of the Kurshskaya bay-bar - one of the largest accumulative littoral landforms - is under consideration. The vast amount of regional geological data was used. The sea level changes affecting processes on the both shores of the bay-bar, as well as aeolian processes, configurate the recent bay-bar morphology.

The peculiarities of a coastal morphology of large man-made lakes under the wave-dominated, fluvial dominated and transitional environments were discussed. It was shown that the fluvial-dominated environment is similar to the one in a river delta. In the transitional environments, the gradual replacement of delta sub-environments by shallow areas is observed. In the wave-dominated environments the relief is similar to the characteristic relief of the sea coastal zone.

In the large reservoirs the classical development of shores under the impact of wave action and water level fluctuations results in erosion during the water level rise and in the movement of coastline toward water storage during fall in water level. In the case of “non-classical” development water level rise results in the submergence of coastal areas and accumulation, while the fall in the water level results in the cutting of the dereliction, slackening of the beach drift and subsequent cutting of the adjacent shores. Such types of evolution take place on the shores of both large reservoirs and seas. Considering geomorphological similarity of the coasts of seas and the storage lakes, large reservoirs may serve as models for studying and forecasting seashore response to water level fluctuations.