southern Baltic Sea

Vistula Lagoon Ice Shove Morphology and Impact Characterized in New Study

In January 2024, an ice shove on the southern coast of the Vistula Lagoon demonstrated how vulnerable low-lying shores can be to winter extremes. Field surveys taken during the event and again in spring revealed ice pile-ups reaching 4-7 meters high, with inland penetration averaging up to 55 meters. The study shows that shoreline elevation and water levels dictated the damage, which included erosion and infrastructure harm. It is a practical reminder that coastal resilience requires understanding these dynamic, measurable forces.