THE DYNAMICS OF MARINE WATER INTRUSION INTO THE SHALLOW FRESHWATER VISTULA LAGOON

V. A. Gritsenko and I. P. Chubarenko

Both field and model investigations of the dynamics of the Baltic water inflowing into the freshwater Vistula Lagoon due to water exchange are discussed. The classification of observed intrusion modes according to the rate of sea level rise is carried out. The field data analysis and subsequent numerical modeling show that the active propagation of a flow with a significant turn to the right is observed in the case of intensive water intrusion into a shallow lagoon. This effect is explained by joint action of the longshore current and baroclinic rotation, which is produced at the front of a powerful flow of dense sea water spreading through the lagoon waters of lower density.