REVISTA DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DEL ZULIA. 3ª época. Año 12 N° 33, 2021

Vladimir A. Chechko// Evolution of sedimentation in the Vistula Lagoon of the Baltic Sea … 131-148

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46925//rdluz.33.10

Evolution of sedimentation in the Vistula Lagoon of the Baltic Sea

due to anthropogenic impact

Vladimir A. Chechko *

ABSTRACT

The work pursued basic objectives: to study the structure of the sedimentary strata, identify

the sediment units corresponding to specific sedimentation stages of the late Holocene and

evaluate the factors that influenced their formation in the Vistula Lagoon. For the

achievement of the goals, well-known methods were used. The thickness of the silt deposits

was measured by a hand drill. The grain size analysis of bottom sediments was determined

by the mass content of particles of various sizes as a percentage of the test sample mass. The

content of the total amount of organic matter in the bottom sediments and the mass loss

during calcination was determined by the weight method, the determination of the mineral

vivianite was carried out by standard methods accepted in geology. The Research results

showed that in the lower part of the cores, organic-rich silts of olive shades are common,

formed under the influence of river runoff. The sediment composition in the upper part of the

cores is sharply different due to an anthropogenic factor – artificial river runoff regulation.

Instead of silty sediments, the lagoon accumulated poorly consolidated, dark gray fine sand

and siltstone sediments with small organic matter.

KEYWORDS: sediment cores; sedimentary stratum; sedimentation processes; grain-size

parameters; hydrological conditions.

*PhD in Geology and Mineralogy, Senior Scientist, Laboratory for Coastal Systems Study,

Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 36, Nahimovskiy prospekt,

Moscow, Russia, 117997. Moscow, Russia. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3030-

1

165. E-mail: che-chko@mail.ru

Recibido: 02/02/2021

Aceptado: 16/04/2021

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Evolución de la sedimentación en la Laguna del Vístula del Mar

Báltico debido al impacto antropogénico

RESUMEN

El trabajo persiguió objetivos básicos: estudiar la estructura de los estratos sedimentarios,

identificar las unidades de sedimentos correspondientes a etapas específicas de

sedimentación del Holoceno tardío y evaluar los factores que influyeron en su formación en

la Laguna del Vístula. Para el logro de las metas se utilizaron métodos bien conocidos. El

espesor de los depósitos de limo se midió con un taladro manual. El análisis del tamaño de

grano de los sedimentos del fondo se determinó mediante el contenido de masa de partículas

de varios tamaños como porcentaje de la masa de la muestra de prueba. El contenido de la

cantidad total de materia orgánica en los sedimentos del fondo y la pérdida de masa durante

la calcinación se determinó por el método del peso, la determinación del mineral vivianita se

llevó a cabo mediante métodos estándar aceptados en Geología. Los resultados de la

investigación mostraron que en la parte inferior de los núcleos, son comunes los limos ricos

en materia orgánica de tonos oliva, formados bajo la influencia de la escorrentía de los ríos.

La composición de los sedimentos en la parte superior de los núcleos es marcadamente

diferente debido a un factor antropogénico: la regulación de la escorrentía de los ríos

artificiales. En lugar de sedimentos limosos, la laguna acumuló sedimentos de limolita y arena

fina de color gris oscuro poco consolidados con pequeña materia orgánica.

PALABRAS CLAVE: núcleos de sedimentos; estrato sedimentario; procesos de

sedimentación; parámetros granulométricos; condiciones hidrológicas.

Introduction

The increased anthropogenic impact on the processes in the coastal sea areas is

observed almost everywhere (Marín & Ferrer, 2020; Morales et al, 2021). Researchers are

particularly interested in coastal lagoons as unique multi-user systems that concentrate on

economic and social activities. For these reasons, lagoons are subject to numerous

anthropogenic impacts that can affect their biodiversity, sustainability, or even the

functioning of ecosystems. It is shown that almost all currently known factors and sources

of negative impact affect coastal ecosystems (Patin 2015; Anthony et al. 2009; Halpernꢀet al.

2008; Razinkovas et al. 2008; GIWA 2005; Dolotov 1996).

The Vistula Lagoon (Figure 1) belongs to non-tidal coastal geosystems with many

different economic activity forms (Kjerfve & Magill, 1989). Various factors condition the

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state of its lithological system. The supply of sedimentary material is regulated by river

runoff, coastal abrasion, and marine influence (Kennish 2015), the dynamics of the upper

sediment layer is regulated by wind-wave influence, and the tides are systematic run-up

phenomena (Blazhchishin 1999; Chubarenko 1994; Blazchishin 1998). An essential

component of the lithological system is bottom sediments, which are an essential source of

information on climatic, geochemical, and ecological conditions of the water collection and

reservoir, and are used as natural indicators of the status of aquatic ecosystems and the scale

of anthropogenic impact (Dauvalter 2012; Forstner 1979).

Figure 1. Study area and sediment sampling stations. 1- points for measuring the thickness

of silt deposits using a geologist's drill; 2- sediment core sampling points; 3- Baltic strait; 4-

position of the Polish-Russian border

In the works devoted to studying the bottom sediments of the Vistula Lagoon, the

primary attention was focused, as a rule, on their upper (0–10 cm) layer. The features of the

spatial distribution of the main types of sediments on the bottom surface, their granulometric

fractions, and the dynamics of the surface layer of bottom sediments were revealed

(

Szymczak 2019; Chechko 2017). However, the vertical structure of the sedimentary strata

has been studied very poorly. Perhaps the only research in this direction in recent years is the

work (Chechko et al. 2018).

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If the structure and the ratio of the main types of bottom sediments serve as an

indicator of the current processes of the lagoon sedimentation, the changes in the cores show

the dynamics and direction of the processes of formation and accumulation of lagoon

sediments in the historical perspective. The assessment of the morphological structure of

bottom sediments in the cores allows identifying the evolutionary stages of the lagoon

development and drawing a conclusion about the variability of the sedimentation regime in

the lagoon.

Therefore, the author set the following objectives – to study the structure of the

sedimentary strata, identify sediment units corresponding to specific stages of Late Holocene

sedimentation, and assess the factors that influenced their formation.

1

. Study area

The Vistula Lagoon is the second-largest shallow lagoon in the Baltic Sea, with a

maximum depth of 5.2 m and an average depth of 2.7 m, which can be classified as an

estuarine lagoon without tides (Kjerfve & Magill 1989; Lazarenko & Majewski 1971;

Chubarenko et al., 2019; Chubarenko & Margonski 2008). It is located in the south-eastern

part of the sea and is separated from it by a narrow sand spit (Figure 1). Water exchange with

the sea is carried out through the Baltic Strait and is estuarine; the tides are overrunning

phenomena (Blazchishin 1998). This is a transboundary water body. The southwestern part

of the lagoon (43.8% of the area) is under Poland's jurisdiction, and the northeastern part

(

56.2% of the area, Kaliningrad Bay) – under the jurisdiction of Russia, so the results of field

studies are given for the Russian part.

From its origin in the early Atlantic period to the beginning of the twentieth century,

the Vistula Lagoon was subjected only to natural processes; the determining one was the

Vistula River runoff (Witak & Pędziński 2018). A significant part of the sedimentation

material brought by the river was deposited in the estuary area of the Nogat River, due to

which the mouth was pushed into the lagoon, which made it shallower and smaller

(

Lazarenko & Majewski 1971; Plit J. 2010). At the turn of the 20th century, an artificial river

channel was created, through which 90% of the river flow began to flow directly into the sea.

The determining influence of the Vistula River runoff on hydrological cycles,

suspension dynamics, sedimentation, and other sedimentation processes has decreased.

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Simultaneously, the influence of the Baltic Sea significantly increased, and the lagoon salinity

increased to 3.5–5.0 psu (Chubarenko & Margonski 2008; Matciak & Chyła 2018). Due to

the decrease in river flow, the average water level in the lagoon decreased, and the Baltic Sea

waters could easily enter it through the strait. Resuspension processes due to wind-wave

action take the first place in forming the upper layer of sediments (Ambrosimov et al. 2015;

Blazhchishin 1999; Gic-Grusza & Dudkowska 2018). In (Chubarenko 1994), it is shown that

resuspension can cover from 40 to 100% of the lagoon water area. The sedimentary material

entering the lagoon is not fixed at the bottom immediately; it is repeatedly agitated with the

resedimentation of bottom sediments and the partial removal of small fractions through the

strait into the sea (Blazhchishin 1999; Szymczak 2019; Chechko 2017; Cieśliński 2013;

Chechko V. 2008). In genetic terms, terrigenous sedimentary formations with a large range

of dimensions – boulders, gravel, pebbles, mixed-grained sands, siltstones, and silt-pelitic

silts are common on the bottom surface of the Vistula Lagoon (Chechko & Blazchishin 2002;

Uścinowicz & Zachowicz 1966).

2

. Material and methods

Field studies were conducted in the Russian part of the Vistula Lagoon in the summer

of 2020. Sediment cores were collected at nine stations (Figure 1). A geological rod tube with

a diameter of 72 mm, specially designed for work in shallow water bodies, was used for

sampling (Chechko et al. 2019). After lifting the pipe, the core was pushed into the tray, its

morphological description and subsequent division into 5-centimeter segments were

performed. Samples were taken from each segment to determine the natural humidity, and

the rest of the material was packed and sent for laboratory studies.

The thickness of the silt deposits was measured on two transverse profiles (Figure 1)

by a hand drill, which was lowered to the bottom and penetrated the bottom sediments. After

maximum penetration into the sedimentary strata, the drill was rotated clockwise.

Simultaneously, a sediment sample was fixed in the sample receiver at the lower end of the

drill. The drill was then removed, a sediment sample was extracted, the length of the drill

dive was measured, and the sediment thickness was calculated.

The granulometric analysis of bottom sediments was determined by the mass content

of particles of various sizes as a percentage of the test sample mass. It was performed by sieve

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(

fractions > 0.04 mm) and water-mechanical (fractions < 0.04 mm) methods (Budanova et al.

2013). Based on the granulometric analysis results and following the Wentworth

classification (Wentworth 1922), the bottom sediments were typified.

The content of the total amount of organic matter in the bottom sediments was

determined by the weight method (Heiri et al. 2001) (calcination of a sample of bottom

sediments at a temperature of 550 °C). The mass loss during calcination was conventionally

taken as the mass fraction of organic matter. The natural moisture content of sediments was

determined by weight as the ratio of the mass of water removed from the sample by drying

to constant mass to the mass of dry matter of this sample, expressed as a percentage

(

Methodical…1986). The determination of the mineral vivianite was carried out by standard

methods accepted in geology (Ananyeva 2017).

3. Results

Direct measurements of the thickness of the silt layer with a geologist's drill showed

that in the middle, the most profound part of the basin, it exceeded 5 meters. As the

researchers approached coastal shallow water areas, the thickness of the mud layer

decreased; in such cases, the drill completely penetrated it and reached the maternal deposits

(

Figure 2).

Figure 2. The thickness of the silty deposits, determined using a geologist's drill (location of

points is shown in Figure 1). 1-water; 2-silts; 3-maternal deposits

A detailed description of core 556 is given in Table 1 as an example that gives an idea

of the vertical structure of the lagoon sedimentary sequence. Based on the sediment

composition change, the lower (I) and upper (II) sediment packs are distinguished. Each of

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them is distinguished by specific features that reflect the specific conditions of sedimentation

and allow distinguishing the same divisions in other cores.

Table 1. Description of core 556

Depth

from the thicknes

water

surface, cm

0–400

Layer

Pack

No.

Layer

No.

Visual lithological description

s, cm

1

400.0

4.0

Water

4

00–404

Fine-grained silty, unconsolidated, fluid, dark

gray color, strongly watered, with fragments of

clamshells and shell detritus sand. On the layer

surface, there is a live bivalve Rangia cuneata.

Fine-grained siltstone, weakly consolidated,

dark gray, without visible stratification sand.

Apparent bioturbation texture, traces of

benthic animals, numerous clam shell

fragments, and shell detritus are observed.

Soft, dark gray-olive, denser than in the

overlying layer, sandy siltstone. Along the entire

layer, there are inclusions of shell fragments,

shell detritus, their number increases towards

the lower part.

2

3

II

404–420

420–454

16.0

4

34.0

5

6

454–457

457–476

3.0

A cluster of small clamshells, the mineral

component is represented by sandy siltstone.

The upper and lower contacts are clearly

defined.

Homogeneous, vaguely stratified soft fine-

aleurite silt of olive-gray color, weakly

compacted.

19.0

I

7

476–477

477–515

1.0

An accumulation of small fragments and whole

clamshells.

8

38.0

Homogeneous, consolidated, vaguely layered,

soft fine-aleurite silt of olive-gray color, denser

than the sediments of the overlying layers.

Homogeneous, consolidated, vaguely layered,

soft fine-aleurite silt of olive-gray color, visibly

thickening towards the lower part. Small shells

and their fragments are randomly scattered

throughout the layer.

9

515–540

540–562

25.0

22.0

1

0

Soft, consolidated, lumpy dark gray-olive fine-

aleurite silt. The upper contact is clear, well-

defined in color and density.

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The thickness of the upper pack ranged from 32 cm (core 580) to 65 cm (core 537) and

averaged 50 cm for all cores. In its upper part, watered, unconsolidated, dark gray, fine-

grained silty sands with no visible stratification are common. In the lower layers of the

second pack, an increase in siltstone and a decrease in sand material were observed in the

composition of sediments. Individual clam shell fragments and randomly scattered particles

of shell detritus were recorded along the entire pack profile. A characteristic feature of the

upper pack is the bioturbation textures detected in all cores. Sometimes under a relatively

thin (5–15 cm) layer of sediment, clumps of fragments and whole shells of freshwater clams

from 3 to 20 cm were found.

Since the cores did not always reach the maternal deposits, the true thickness of the

lower (I) pack was not elucidated and was limited in each case by the core length. Its

thickness varied from 73 cm (cores 558, 580) to 102 cm (core 556). The lower pack is

represented by denser, consolidated, vaguely layered, soft, olive-colored muddy sediments.

Occasionally, the bulk of the sediments contained unevenly scattered rare shell fragments

and detritus. The upper contact of the pack is clear, well expressed in color and density

characteristics.

The granulometric composition of bottom sediments in the cores is represented by

size fractions with a diameter of < 0.5 mm. Based on the prevailing fraction (0.125–0.063 mm),

the sediments of the upper pack are dominated by fine and very fine sands, the content of

which in the near-surface layers reaches 63%. With the depth of occurrence, the sand content

gradually decreases, and in the lower pack layers, it does not exceed 50%. The main impurity

is coarse silty (0.063–0.04 mm) material (20–36%) and particles < 0.04 mm (8–20%).

In the sediments of the lower pack, sand particles occupy a subordinate position; their

content does not exceed 20%. The predominant siltstone material (average 73%) with a high

proportion (average 15%) of clay parts comes out on top. A characteristic feature of the lower

pack sediments is uniformity in the vertical distribution of the grain size, without significant

changes in the ratio of size fractions.

As noted above, the primary indicator that indirectly characterizes organic matter

content in the bottom sediments was taken as the loss during calcination. The calcination

losses of the upper pack varied from 2 to 13% and averaged 6% for all cores (Table 2). The

minimum (from 2 to 5%) estimated organic content was always observed in the surface (0–

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1

0 cm) layers of the cores. The pack I is characterized by an increase in loss during calcination

across the entire profile. The maximum organic matter content reaches 29%, and on average,

for all cores, it is 19% (Table 2).

Table 2. Amount of loss on anneal in sediment cores

Layer,

cm

Loss on anneal, %

Core, №

5

4

5

4

5

6

9

37

538

4

5

6

7

8

15

18

19

20

21

20

22

27

25

23

22

539

4

6

7

6

7

556

3

5

6

5

6

7

3

4

6

5

7

8

10

12

15

18

15

16

19

22

24

26

24

25

26

558

4

5

6

5

6

7

579

4

5

6

9

3

4

3

4

5

4

3

4

3

5

4

581

2

3

4

6

10

11

0

-5

-10

0-15

5-20

0-25

5-30

0-35

5-40

0-45

5-50

5

1

2

3

4

6

8

14

15

16

15

16

20

18

17

16

17

19

20

22

20

22

9

10

9

7

10

8

9

13

16

17

18

17

21

19

21

20

21

23

25

24

27

20

24

26

23

9

10

9

4

10

18

15

16

17

22

20

23

24

25

22

23

18

50-55

55-60

60-65

10

12

13

15

14

15

16

15

18

20

19

21

20

21

29

12

14

13

14

15

13

19

18

20

21

17

18

20

21

20

18

19

18

9

15

16

17

19

20

22

27

22

23

27

25

23

6

5-70

70-75

75-80

80-85

8

5-90

0-95

5-100

00-105

05-110

9

1

10-115

15-120

20-125

25-130

1

30-135

1

35-140

1

40-145

45-150

1

50-155

55-160

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The natural moisture content of the bottom sediments in the upper pack varied from

4

5 to 90%. Simultaneously, the highest (75–90%) humidity values were always observed in

the surface layers, in the "bottom sediments – water" contact area. A decrease in humidity

was observed with an increase in the depth of sediments. However, in the lower pack layers,

its values again increased markedly.

In the lower pack, sediments were characterized by a consistently high natural

humidity, the values of which varied from 90 to 165%. In this case, the humidity values

changed slightly with increasing sedimentation depth, gradually decreasing towards the

deepest layers of the cores.

Blue ocher (ferric phosphoric acid) was detected in microscopic studies in all cores of

the lower packs, in contrast to the surface layers of sediments, in which it was absent. This

authigenic mineral occurred as well-defined laminal elongated microcrystals grouped in large

weakly split aggregates (sometimes reaching more than 1 cm in diameter) and as powdery

crumbly clusters of indigo blue color.

4

. Discussion

It is known (Lazarenko & Majewski 1971; Plit 2010) that until the early 20th century,

the hydrological and sedimentation regime of the Vistula Lagoon was determined by the river

flow, and the primary source of sediment was the Vistula River, which annually supplied to

the waters of the lagoon 4–5 times as much sediment as any other river. Built in 1916, water-

regulating structures significantly reduced river runoff. Its influence on sedimentation in the

lagoon began to weaken; simultaneously, the role of waves and water exchange across the

Baltic Strait began to increase (Chechko 2008).

Changes in sedimentation conditions affected the formation of the sedimentary strata,

as evidenced by the study results. Despite some differences due to the location of core

sampling points, all of them have a similar vertical structure divided into two divisions: lower

(

I) and upper (II) sediment packs. Such a division indicates that the formation of the

sedimentary strata of the lagoon occurred in two stages, each of which corresponded to

different sedimentation conditions formed under the influence of various factors.

Judging by the features of the granulometric composition and distribution of organic

matter in the lower pack, the main source of sedimentary material during its formation was

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river runoff. A thin sedimentary material was deposited and accumulated in the lagoon basin,

which turned into soft, homogeneous, olive-colored deposits of the lower pack. Their

composition is steadily dominated by silty particles (average 73%) for all cores with a high

proportion (average about 15%) of clay material. The sand component in the bottom

sediments of the lower pack does not take up much space. The uniformity in the vertical

distribution of the granulometric composition indicates the constant nature of the

sedimentary material entering the lagoon from a single source over a long period.

Human intervention in the hydrological regime caused a sharp change in the

sedimentation situation and a significant reduction in the arrival and accumulation of fine

sedimentary material in the lagoon. This is reflected in the composition of the upper pack

sediments formed after the river runoff regulation. According to the data obtained, its

thickness varies from 32 to 65 cm. This is the amount of sedimentation that could have

accumulated in the deep places of the lagoon over the past 100 years at a sedimentation rate

of about 3.5 mm/year (Chubarenko et al. 2019).

This gives grounds to characterize the sediments common in the upper pack as

"modern," i.e., young in historical terms. They are unconsolidated, slightly silted, covered

with a thin oxidized film on top of small sands of dark gray shades, with the proportion of an

average of 63% (as opposed to 8% in the lower pack). Simultaneously, the content of silty

particles significantly decreased – from 73% to 12% (Figure 3). The increase in the sand

fraction is probably due to the increased role of coastal abrasion in the sedimentation

processes, and the decrease in silt particles is due to the reduction of river runoff and the

activation of resuspension processes. It is shown (Blazchishin, 1998; Chechko, 2008) that

one of the results of resuspension is washing the upper layer of sediments from fine particles

with their partial discharge into the sea or resedimentation in other parts of the lagoon. The

absence of layering in the upper pack also indicates the activation of the sediment

spreading processes.

It should be noted that the processes of resuspension characteristic of the modern

environment are a powerful mechanism for self-purification of bottom sediments. In this

case, sorbed mobile forms of heavy metals and other pollutants partially pass from sediments

to water, partially with muddy particles are carried out into the sea (Blazhchishin 1999;

Blazchishin 1998).

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Figure 3. Sedimentological parameters of core 557 (I, II - sediment packs)

A characteristic feature of modern sediments is the presence of bioturbation textures

formed by benthic animals' activity (Figure 4). Traces of animals were observed to a depth of

3

5-40 cm, and in fact, the entire upper pack is a substance for their vital activity. No traces

of animals were found in the deeper layers of the sedimentary strata (Ezhova et al. 2005),

fragments of clamshells and shell detritus were occasionally found.

Figure 4. Block diagram illustrating bioturbation of bottom sediments Vistula Lagoon

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Regularly in the lower layers of modern sediments, there was an accumulation of

fragments and whole shells of freshwater clams, as well as shell detritus. According to the

hypothesis (Blazchishin 1998), this is due to a change in hydrological conditions after

regulating the runoff of the Vistula River. The increase in the water salinity led to the death

of freshwater mollusks and the formation of a characteristic thanatocoenosis in the form of a

layer of shell rock. If the hypothesis is confirmed, it can serve as a horizon separating modern

sediments and sediments accumulated during river runoff dominance.

Essential features that allow judging changes in sedimentation conditions include the

amount of organic matter in the sedimentary strata. In the lower pack, stable high

concentrations were found, and in all the cores obtained, they ranged from 13 to 29% (Table

2, Figure 3). The consistent distribution of organic matter over the depth in the lower pack

sediments, without interruptions or sharp jumps, indicates that the sedimentation

conditions remain unchanged.

The restriction of river runoff has led to an expected reduction in allochthonous

organic matter, and the autochthonous material produced in the lagoon plays a minor role in

sedimentation. Despite the high productivity of phytoplankton, the main part is dissolved

and mineralized; this process continues even after its deposition to the bottom (Emelyanov

2014). Besides, organic particles, being the lightest, may be carried out into the sea when

sediments are agitated. As a result, in modern sediments, low organic matter values are noted,

which are on average no more than 6% for all cores.

Among the physical properties, the natural moisture of bottom sediments responds

commensurately to changes in sedimentation conditions. In the surface (0–10 cm) layer of

modern sediments, the highest contents of the upper pack were found (75–90%). This is a

typical state of the upper layer of sediments, subject to regular sediment spreading and water

saturation.

With an increase in the depth of occurrence, the sediment humidity decreases to 45%

but increases again at the lower pack border. In the lower pack, the moisture content of the

sediments increases significantly and varies from 145 to 195% (Figure 3). This is due to an

increase in sediment dispersion and organic matter saturation since these parameters largely

determine the amount of humidity.

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Among the indicators of the sedimentation environment of lake-lagoon ecosystems,

the blue ocher is considered very convincing. It is formed from organic substances under

reducing conditions with oxygen deficiency and indicates anaerobic destruction of organic

matter. Probably, similar conditions existed in the lagoon during the period of river runoff

dominance since blue ocher aggregates were detected in all the cores of the lower pack

(

Figure 3). Given the high organic matter content, some of the sedimentary layers of the lower

pack can be defined as decay ooze, in which blue ocher has a wide development.

No traces of blue ocher were found in modern sediments, which can be explained by

anthropogenic factors. After the river runoff restriction, the average water level in the Vistula

Lagoon decreased, and the waters of the Baltic Sea could easily enter the lagoon through the

Baltic Strait (Lazarenko & Majewski 1971). The inflow of sea waters and their mixing with

the lagoon waters contributed to the oxygen saturation of the entire water strata. Oxidative

processes began to dominate at the bottom of the lagoon, as evidenced by the oxidized film

on the surface of the bottom sediments.

In the author opinion, the results of the core nine studies can be considered very

interesting. Unlike other cores, it was obtained in a semi-open harbor built in the 1930s, i.e.,

after river runoff restriction. It could be assumed that the core should not contain silts

deposited in the lagoon during the period of river runoff dominance. Studies have confirmed

this assumption. Up to the underlying sands, modern deposits were identified along the

entire core length – dark gray silted fine sands with insignificant organic content, low

humidity values, and a complete absence of blue ocher.

Conclusions

As a result of the core study, the lithological and stratigraphic heterogeneity of the

sedimentary strata of the lagoon was revealed. This suggested the genesis and dominant

influence of factors on Late Holocene sedimentation processes. The data obtained indicate

that the formation of the sedimentary strata of the Vistula Lagoon includes two stages: the

stage of river runoff dominance and the stage that followed its artificial restriction (modern

sedimentation stage).

During the influence of river runoff, mainly soft, fine-aleurite silts of olive shades

enriched with organic matter were accumulated in the lagoon basin. According to their

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composition and properties, some of them can be classified as decay ooze formations. The

uniformity of the sediments and the slight changes with depth indicate the duration,

continuity, and immutability of the sedimentation conditions.

Under the influence of an anthropogenic factor (artificial restriction of river runoff),

sedimentation conditions in the lagoon have radically changed, which resulted in the

cessation of the accumulation of olive, organic-enriched silts. Instead, siltstone formations

with an admixture of fine-grained sands began to accumulate. They were distinguished by

gray color shades, low content of organic substances, and attractive conditions for benthic

animals' lives.

Artificial regulation of river runoff has led to a change in the direction of evolution of

the Vistula Lagoon as a system in general and a change in its natural sedimentation regime,

in particular. The sedimentation situation that has developed under the influence of the

anthropogenic factor can be described as favorable. The lagoon is not threatened by

waterlogging and contamination of bottom sediments due to the existing effective self-

cleaning mechanism.

Funding

The study and grain size analysis of bottom sediment samples were supported by

RFBR project No. 14-45-390013 r_a, analysis and interpretation of data were done with the

support of the state assignment of IO RAS (Theme No.0128-2021-0012).

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