Relief and internal structure of the subaqueous sand dunes in the Vistula River mouth

This paper presents the results of bathymetric and seismoacoustic measurements carried out in the canal of the Vistula River mouth (pol. Przekop Wisły). The surveys were conducted with the use of a multibeam echosounder and a parametric sub-bottom profiler. It made it possible to obtain a high resolution bottom morphology measurement, and to identify and characterize an internal structure of subaqueous bedforms. Presence of multiple series of small to large dunes, with their length ranging from 5 up to 55 m and height from 0.1 up to 1.5 m, was established. They were composed mainly of poorly graded medium-grained sands. The nature of the sediment graining was relatively uniform. Significant diversity in terms of the formation sizes was observed, and itwas only loosely dependent on their depth and location within individual relief units. Collateral medium and small formations were found everywhere among the large formations. The bedforms consisted of well-developed steep cross-coset stratification structure. It has been ascertained that the cross-coset thickness of this formation was greater (or equal) than its height. The scope of this work is to identify the relief and structure of subaqueous dunes for the purpose of the assessment of flow properties and bottom conditions in both recent and palaeoenvironments. The obtained results are crucial for determining the state of the Przekop Wisły canal, indicating potential limitations to unconstrained flow of spate water and ice drifting as well as navigation conditions.