Modelling Palaeo Coastline Changes of the Baltic Sea

Abstract

Since the beginning of the Littorina transgression at nearly 8000 BP the development of the Baltic Sea is closely connected to the global eustasy, reflecting the climate change during the Holocene. Modelling of coastline changes since this time was accomplished by a geostatistical approach using relative sea level curve data. In combination with a recent digital elevation model palaeo coastlines were calculated. Especially in the southern Baltic Sea large areas affected by the transgression are pointed out. A detailed study improved by the implementation of sediment budget calculations in the Mecklenburgian Bight, Germany, outlines the influence of the Littorina transgression at subsiding coasts. In the northern part of the Baltic Sea isostatic uplift of the earth's crust superposes the global sea level rise. Here, regression results in an considerable increase of land area. In summary, the area of the Baltic Sea has decreased by 30%, and the volume has decreased by 47% since 8000 BP.