The relief of the Volga-Ural interfluve is considered, where the rivers in the mouths form “embedded” or blind deltas. These deltas terminate close to the Volga-Ural Sands. During spring snowmelt floods, large lakes appear at the mouths of rivers. Therefore, it is difficult to agree with the opinion that the rivers disconnected from the sea during the regression phases due to the low water levels in rivers. Sea regression led to the downcutting of the delta channels into the alluvial and marine deposits. Analysis of the outcrops, taking into account the coastal geomorphology and the impact of the sea level fluctuations on the coast has led to the conclusion that there was no deep Atelian regression and Great Early Khvalynian transgression. It was a Great Khazarian transgression, after which lagoon-transgressive terraces formed sequentially at the background of the gradual lowering of the Caspian Sea. Positive oscillations of sea level led to the formation of lagoons, where the chocolate clays accumulated. All tributary rivers formed deltas that prograded into such lagoons. Therefore, Sea the rivers could not follow the coastline during the subsequent lowering of the Caspian Sea. The shallowing of the lagoons resulted in the drainage of the deltas. When the water level in the lagoons dropped, rivers cut in deltaic deposits and “embedded” or blind deltas were formed.

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 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.

The history of Volga valley from Pliocene till now is under consideration. Geological data of previous investigations prove that large river valley periodically appeared during all stages of new geologic time in the area of Lower Volga. The paleo-valley had migratory entry and characteristic landforms. Some large epochs may be determined: Pliocene - with deep incised valley, Akchaghylian and Apsheronian - the time of marine sediments and alluvium accumulation. During Pleistocene the erosion valleys, which were incised due to the fast decree of the Caspian Sea level, as a rule were being filled with alluvium in the periods of steady sea level. Later alluvium was being covered with marine sediments of transgression. Recent delta of Volga has little in common with ancient deltas in regard to genesis and morphology. It is typical bird-foot delta with a multitude of anabranches and channels.

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.

В работе рассматривается зависимость формирования прибрежно-морского рельефа от колебаний уровня моря и изменений климата за последнее тысячелетие на примере кос юго-восточной Балтики. Морфологический анализ кос и исторические свидетельства позволили наметить следы трех режимов моря в их истории. Показано, что главным фактором возникновения наиболее мощных песчаных формирований является подъем уровня моря при наличии в береговой зоне избыточного количества песка и при оптимальном угле подхода господствующего ветра к генеральному направлению береговой линии. Современное потепление климата и связанный с ним подъем уровня Мирового океана вызывают глобальный процесс дестабилизации прибрежных дюнных массивов.

The existing hypotheses of beach cusps development are considered. Their formation is the combined action of the beach abrasion and accumulation processes depending on the bottom slope, bottom sediments, and wave parameters. In recent decades, there are active debates about the origin of cusps. However, none of the hypotheses fully explains the mechanism of their formation. Thence the existing of some yet poorly explored hydrodynamic processes near the water edge having a significant impact on the cusps formation is supposed. A dynamic equilibrium of the beach at given seaway and the presence of rhythmic splash having sufficient force to move sediments of a given fineness are the main factors of the cusps formation. It apparently depends also on the type of wave breaking. Thus, the emergence of the cusps, their sizes and wave step are directly dependent on local morphodynamic parameters. Scalloped landforms are well represented along the shores of the Curonian and Vistula spits at the South-East Baltic Sea, and they are particularly unique in the lagoon shores. The combination of wind effected phenomena and wave action with of certain slopes of the coastal zone, leads to the development of a special type of acuteangled cusps with long “rumps” on the underwater slope. Long-term observations show that the cusps formation on the lagoon shores is quite possible and regularly re-starts under favorable conditions. At the spit shores different underwater slope parameters and seaway conditions lead to the development of the cusps significantly different from the lagoon’s ones. They are mainly the large forms with smooth contours and rounded tops.