Coastal dune dynamics along the northern Curonian Spit, Lithuania: toward an integrated database

A groundbreaking study on the Curonian Spit reveals that mid-Holocene dune activity was localized and likely lasted only a few centuries, challenging previous assumptions about longer-term dynamics. Researchers integrated ground-penetrating radar (GPR), magnetic susceptibility surveys, radiocarbon dating of palaeosols, and infrared optically stimulated luminescence (IR-OSL) dating to reconstruct aeolian landscape evolution. This approach also addressed potential biases in IR-OSL dating due to soil-forming processes, offering a more accurate timeline. The study extends dune dynamics records back to the mid-Holocene, providing insights into the interplay between climate shifts, forest fires, and human activity. These findings advance our understanding of coastal dune systems and their sensitivity to environmental changes.

BITINAS, A., DOBROTIN, N., BUYNEVICH, I. V., MOLODKOV, A., DAMUSYTE, A., & PUPIENIS, D. (2018). Coastal dune dynamics along the northern Curonian Spit, Lithuania: toward an integrated database. Geological Quarterly, 62(3). https://doi.org/10.7306/gq.1435