Spatial and temporal variation of water salinity in the Curonian Lagoon

The Curonian lagoon is an estuary, connected to the Baltic Sea through the narrow Klaipéda Strait. The global climate change followed by the rise in water level could cause the change in salinity of estuaries and influence water ecosystems. The growing problem is more intense anthropogenic activity and its influence on the natural environment. The distribution of salinity in the Curonian lagoon and its variation in the course of time and determine reasons for the variation was analyzed. Long-term (1961-2005) changes in water salinity in the Curonian lagoon indicate the increase in the salinity in the northern part of the Curonian lagoon. This process is found to be connected rather to a number of factors and not only with the dredging carried out in the harbor area in the Klaipeda Strait.