Kaliningrad Enclaves and Economic Integration

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Kaliningrad Enclaves and Economic Integration Kaliningrad Enclaves and Economic Integration Evgeny Vinokurov Special Report March 2007 In writing this report, the author is most indebted to Ivan Sergeevich Korolev and Ivan Samson, who were mentors through several years of studying the Kaliningrad economy. The author is grateful to all those, both in Russia and the EU, who commented on the manuscript or on separate chapters at various stages of its progress, namely Michael Emerson, Timur Gareev, Alexey Ignatyev, David Kernohan, Vladimir Kuzin and Artur Usanov. The views expressed are attributable only to the author in a personal capacity and do not necessarily reflect those of CEPS or any other institution with which the author is associated. ISBN-13: 978-92-9079-698-5 Available for free downloading from the CEPS website (http://www.ceps.be) © Copyright 2007, Evgeny Vinokurov Kaliningrad Enclaves and Economic Integration * Evgeny Vinokurov Abstract When the Soviet Union broke up, Kaliningrad suddenly found itself separated from mainland Russia by new frontiers. Hardly any other Russian region has been hit as hard by the economic disruption as Kaliningrad. The geographical situation of the region meant that it was more highly exposed to the destabilising effects of post-communist economic transformation. Since then, a dramatic trade opening has occurred, and regional trade and production have undergone profound changes. Kaliningrad has experienced a major shift in its economic orientation towards the tertiary sector and a new industrial orientation based on its position as an intermediary in EU–Russian trade. In short, that is what this report is about: the present and future economic development of this Russian enclave during its integration into the world economy, its place in the international division of labour and in the Russian–EU economic interface. The major phenomenon relative to the economic development of the region is its enclave status. The report explores the specific features of enclave economies and specifically those of Kaliningrad. It argues that economic openness is a prerequisite for an enclave’s prosperity and the enclave should develop a multi-vectored orientation towards both the Russian market and the EU market, complementing industrial specialisation targeting the mainland with new features. Moreover, as economic integration – with the surrounding state or on a non- discriminatory basis with the rest of the world – has significant positive effects on enclaves, the future of Kaliningrad’s regional economy and its specialisation is profoundly connected to Russian–EU relations and the prospects for their economic cooperation. ∗ Evgeny Vinokurov is a Senior Analyst, Strategy and Research Department, Eurasian Development Bank, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Contents Introduction: Kaliningrad in the conditions of enclavity ........................................................1 Chapter 1. The limitations and opportunities for an enclave’s economy...............................7 1.1 The conceptual framework for a theory of enclaves: Definitions, typology and the mainland–enclave–surrounding state triangle...............................................................7 1.2 Economic features of enclaves......................................................................................9 1.3 Openness as a condition of an enclave’s economic development...............................14 1.4 East Prussia as a German exclave (1920-39) and as a predecessor of Kaliningrad....22 1.5 The theory of enclaves and Kaliningrad .....................................................................25 1.6 Kaliningrad’s society today ........................................................................................29 Chapter 2. Structural characteristics of economic transition ...............................................31 2.1 Structural shifts in the distribution of GRP.................................................................31 2.2 Shifts in employment ..................................................................................................33 2.3 Transformation of industry .........................................................................................34 2.4 Common misunderstandings about investment dynamics ..........................................37 2.5 The 1998 monetary crisis and Kaliningrad’s dependence on Russian economic trends...........................................................................................................................41 2.6 The high share of the shadow economy......................................................................44 2.7 Kaliningrad in comparison..........................................................................................47 Chapter 3. Foreign trade and trade with mainland Russia: An intermediate position between Russia and the EU...................................................................................50 3.1 Commodities and the geographical structure of foreign trade....................................50 3.2 Strong ties to the Russian mainland............................................................................56 3.3 An undeveloped trade in services ...............................................................................58 3.4 Trade forecasts............................................................................................................59 3.5 A high degree of trade openness as a consequence of trade intermediation...............61 Chapter 4. Factors of regional competitiveness......................................................................64 4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................64 4.2 Measurement of comparative advantages, international specialisation and intra- industry trade ..............................................................................................................65 4.3 Kaliningrad’s factors of production............................................................................72 4.4 Domestic policy: The SEZ of Kaliningrad as a springboard to the Russian market...79 4.5 Exclave costs...............................................................................................................83 4.6 Cargo transit, passenger transit and border trading.....................................................85 4.7 A typology of the competitive factors of regions: From generic resources to specific assets ...........................................................................................................................87 4.8 Conclusions.................................................................................................................92 Chapter 5. Regional specialisation, optimal development trajectory and distribution of GRP: A synthesis ...................................................................................................95 5.1 A review of development strategies............................................................................95 5.2 An optimal development strategy ...............................................................................98 5.3 Selected branches of the regional economy: What is their place in regional specialisation in the long run?...................................................................................108 Chapter 6. Main findings and policy consequences .............................................................122 6.1 Main findings............................................................................................................122 6.2 Policy issues: A liberal and positive approach..........................................................125 Glossary of Abbreviations ......................................................................................................131 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................132 Appendix I. Statistics ..............................................................................................................142 Appendix II. Principal typology of enclaves and exclaves..................................................148 List of Figures Figure 1.1 The MES triangle......................................................................................................... 9 Figure 1.2 East Prussia and the Polish Corridor, 1920–39.......................................................... 23 Figure 1.3 Main actors and mechanisms in Kaliningrad’s foreign trade regime ........................ 28 Figure 2.1 Russia’s GDP and Kaliningrad’s GRP in 1995–2006, annual changes (in %).......... 31 Figure 2.2 Share of industries in the total industrial output, 1990–2003 .................................... 34 Figure 2.3 Industrial production: The 1990s crisis and post-1999 rebound (in % to the 1990s, i.e. 1990=100%)................................................................................................................... 35 Figure 2.4 Consumption figures in Russia and the volume of goods delivered from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia, growth (in %)................................................................... 43 Figure 2.5 Correlation of Kaliningrad’s outflows to mainland Russia and total Russian imports, 2000–04 ................................................................................................................. 43 Figure 3.1 Kaliningrad oblast foreign trade flows, 1992–2005 (KRCS methodology) ($ mn)..
Recommended publications
  • Federal Systems and Accommodation of Distinct Groups: a Comparative Survey of Institutional Arrangements for Aboriginal Peoples
    1 arrangements within other federations will focus FEDERAL SYSTEMS AND on provisions for constitutional recognition of ACCOMMODATION OF DISTINCT Aboriginal Peoples, arrangements for Aboriginal GROUPS: A COMPARATIVE SURVEY self-government (including whether these take OF INSTITUTIONAL the form of a constitutional order of government ARRANGEMENTS FOR ABORIGINAL or embody other institutionalized arrangements), the responsibilities assigned to federal and state PEOPLES1 or provincial governments for Aboriginal peoples, and special arrangements for Ronald L. Watts representation of Aboriginal peoples in federal Institute of Intergovernmental Relations and state or provincial institutions if any. Queen's University Kingston, Ontario The paper is therefore divided into five parts: (1) the introduction setting out the scope of the paper, the value of comparative analysis, and the 1. INTRODUCTION basic concepts that will be used; (2) an examination of the utility of the federal concept (1) Purpose, relevance and scope of this for accommodating distinct groups and hence the study particular interests and concerns of Aboriginal peoples; (3) the range of variations among federal The objective of this study is to survey the systems which may facilitate the accommodation applicability of federal theory and practice for of distinct groups and hence Aboriginal peoples; accommodating the interests and concerns of (4) an overview of the actual arrangements for distinct groups within a political system, and Aboriginal populations existing in federations
    [Show full text]
  • Download Paper
    Chair Interbrew – Baillet Latour Working Papers No. 22 THE MAKING OF THE CONCEPT OF THE EU-RUSSIA COMMON ECONOMIC SPACE Evgeny Vinokurov The Making of the Concept of the EU-Russia Common Economic Space The Making of the Concept of the EU-Russia Common Economic Space Evgeny Vinokurov1 Abstract The paper starts with the analysis of the negotiation process leading to the adoption of the Concept of the Common Economic Space (CES) between the EU and Russia. Focusing on the Russian side, it delineates the phases and main activities of the negotiations. The paper comes to the conclusion that the negotiation process on Russia’s side was essentially of a top-down nature, with a dominant role of the governmental bureaucracies and little participation of the business community and the general public. The impact of the economic assessments and studies was limited, too. The paper proceeds with the analysis of the choice of a model for the CES envisaged in the Concept. It argues that the Concept of CES represents an original model in itself, combining elements of the EEA and ‘Swiss’ models; that is, it unites both horizontal and sectoral approaches. It is questionable whether the model envisaged 1 Evgeny Yuryevich Vinokurov is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for World Economy and International Relations RAS, Moscow, and a visiting scholar at KULeuven (e-mail: [email protected]). The author gratefully acknowledges a research grant from the Chair Interbrew Baillet- Latour which enabled him to conduct this research. 1 Evgeny Vinokurov in the Concept is capable to provide a satisfactory solution to the policy-taker challenge.
    [Show full text]
  • The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD
    The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is an autonomous agency engaging in multidisciplinary research on the social dimensions of contemporary problems affecting development. Its work is guided by the conviction that, for effective development policies to be formulated, an understanding of the social and political context is crucial. The Institute attempts to provide governments, development agencies, grassroots organizations and scholars with a better understanding of how development policies and processes of economic, social and environmental change affect different social groups. Working through an extensive network of national research centres, UNRISD aims to promote original research and strengthen research capacity in developing countries. Current research programmes include: Civil Society and Social Movements; Democracy, Governance and Human Rights; Identities, Conflict and Cohesion; Social Policy and Development; and Technology, Business and Society. A list of the Institute’s free and priced publications can be obtained by contacting the Reference Centre. UNRISD, Palais des Nations 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Tel: (41 22) 9173020 Fax: (41 22) 9170650 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.unrisd.org Copyright © United Nations Research Institute for Social Development. This is not a formal UNRISD publication. The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed studies rests solely with their author(s), and availability on the UNRISD Web site (http://www.unrisd.org) does not constitute an endorsement by UNRISD of the opinions expressed in them. 1 Enclavity and Constrained Labour Absorptive Capacity in Southern African Economies* Guy C Z MHONE Draft paper prepared for the discussion at the UNRISD meeting on “The Need to Rethink Development Economics”, 7-8 September 2001, Cape Town, South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • A Technical Note on Spatial Aggregation for Independent Cities and Counties in Virginia Jing Chen West Virginia University, [email protected]
    Regional Research Institute Technical Documents Regional Research Institute 8-8-2017 A Technical Note on Spatial Aggregation for Independent Cities and Counties in Virginia Jing Chen West Virginia University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/rri_tech_docs Part of the Regional Economics Commons Digital Commons Citation Chen, Jing, "A Technical Note on Spatial Aggregation for Independent Cities and Counties in Virginia" (2017). Regional Research Institute Technical Documents. 1. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/rri_tech_docs/1 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Regional Research Institute at The Research Repository @ WVU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Regional Research Institute Technical Documents by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Regional Research Institute West Virginia University Technical Document Series A Technical Note on Spatial Aggregation for Independent Cities and Counties in Virginia Jing Chen, Graduate Research Assistant, Regional Research Institute and Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University RRI TechDoc 2017-03 Date submitted: August 8, 2017 Key words/Codes: Spatial Aggregation, Virginia, Independent Cities, Python; R00, Y10 A Technical Note on Spatial Aggregation for Independent Cities and Counties in Virginia Jing Chen∗ August 8, 2017 Abstract This document provides an overview of two approaches to treat Virginia's independent cites in county-level data sets. Then, issues of spatial aggregation and geographical division change are introdu- ced respectively. A Python function for spatial aggregation is also provided. Although this document focuses on independent cities and counties in Virginia, it can be extended into other regions for spatial aggregation.
    [Show full text]
  • OOB of the Russian Fleet (Kommersant, 2008)
    The Entire Russian Fleet - Kommersant Moscow 21/03/08 09:18 $1 = 23.6781 RUR Moscow 28º F / -2º C €1 = 36.8739 RUR St.Petersburg 25º F / -4º C Search the Archives: >> Today is Mar. 21, 2008 11:14 AM (GMT +0300) Moscow Forum | Archive | Photo | Advertising | Subscribe | Search | PDA | RUS Politics Mar. 20, 2008 E-mail | Home The Entire Russian Fleet February 23rd is traditionally celebrated as the Soviet Army Day (now called the Homeland Defender’s Day), and few people remember that it is also the Day of Russia’s Navy. To compensate for this apparent injustice, Kommersant Vlast analytical weekly has compiled The Entire Russian Fleet directory. It is especially topical since even Russia’s Commander-in-Chief compared himself to a slave on the galleys a week ago. The directory lists all 238 battle ships and submarines of Russia’s Naval Fleet, with their board numbers, year of entering service, name and rank of their commanders. It also contains the data telling to which unit a ship or a submarine belongs. For first-class ships, there are schemes and tactic-technical characteristics. So detailed data on all Russian Navy vessels, from missile cruisers to base type trawlers, is for the first time compiled in one directory, making it unique in the range and amount of information it covers. The Entire Russian Fleet carries on the series of publications devoted to Russia’s armed forces. Vlast has already published similar directories about the Russian Army (#17-18 in 2002, #18 in 2003, and #7 in 2005) and Russia’s military bases (#19 in 2007).
    [Show full text]
  • A Captive Island Kaliningrad Between MOSCOW and the EU
    41 A CAPTIVE ISLAND KAlInIngRAD bETWEEn MOSCOW AnD ThE EU Jadwiga Rogoża, Agata Wierzbowska-Miazga, Iwona Wiśniewska NUMBER 41 WARSAW JULY 2012 A CAPTIVE ISLAND KALININGRAD BETWEEN MOSCOW AND THE EU Jadwiga Rogoża, Agata Wierzbowska-Miazga, Iwona Wiśniewska © Copyright by Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia / Centre for Eastern Studies CONTENT EDITORS Adam Eberhardt, Marek Menkiszak EDITORS Katarzyna Kazimierska, Anna Łabuszewska TRANSLATION Ilona Duchnowicz CO-OPERATION Jim Todd GRAPHIC DESIGN PARA-BUCH CHARTS, MAP, PHOTOGRAPH ON COVER Wojciech Mańkowski DTP GroupMedia PuBLISHER Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich im. Marka Karpia Centre for Eastern Studies ul. Koszykowa 6a, Warsaw, Poland Phone + 48 /22/ 525 80 00 Fax: + 48 /22/ 525 80 40 osw.waw.pl ISBN 978–83–62936–13–7 Contents KEY POINTS /5 INTRODUCTION /8 I. KALININGRAD OBLAST: A SUBJECT OR AN OBJECT OF THE F EDERATION? /9 1. THE AMBER ISLAND: Kaliningrad today /9 1.1. Kaliningrad in the legal, political and economic space of the Russian Federation /9 1.2. Current political situation /13 1.3. The current economic situation /17 1.4. The social situation /24 1.5. Characteristics of the Kaliningrad residents /27 1.6. The ecological situation /32 2. AN AREA UNDER SPECIAL SURVEILLANCE: Moscow’s policy towards the region /34 2.1. The policy of compensating for Kaliningrad’s location as an exclave /34 2.2. The policy of reinforcing social ties with the rest of Russia /43 2.3. The policy of restricted access for foreign partners to the region /45 2.4. The policy of controlling the region’s co-operation with other countries /47 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Evgeny Vinokurov EAEU Among Other Regional Integration
    Evgeny Vinokurov EAEU Among Other Regional Integration Organizations: Comparative Analysis As concerns the ‘universe’ of regional integration organizations, the EAEU is a new kid on the block. As such, it should be compared with other regional and sub-regional organizations. A correct and realistic assessment of its successes and problems is often impeded by its direct and exclusive comparison with the paragon of regional integration — the European Union. However, for a more objective analysis of the EAEU's structural features, successes, and failures, it is useful to compare it with other major regional integration associations — NAFTA, MERCOSUR, Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, ASEAN, and the South African Customs Union. Then everything falls into place. On the one hand, the Eurasian Economic Union is not a flawless "success story". After an initial phase of rapid growth, it hit a certain ceiling by 2016. On the other hand, it has managed to achieve quite a lot. The treaty and institutions are working. The common market for goods is functional, albeit with a number of exemptions. The common labour market is already operational — a huge and often underappreciated achievement. There has been substantial progress in developing common technical regulations, etc. Overall, the EAEU should be viewed not as an exception to the rules, but rather as one of the existing ‘customs unions +’ with its own achievements and problems.1 Its structural features are certainly important, but they are not unique — even those that seem so at first sight. Russia's economic dominance in the EAEU matches South Africa's weight in the South African Customs Union, which is even greater.
    [Show full text]
  • United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names Working
    United Nations Group of Experts on Working Paper Geographical Names No. 46 Eighteenth Session Geneva, 12-23 August 1996 Item 5,9,14 of the Provisional Agenda (5) REPORTS OF TBE DIVISIONS (9) MEETING OF TI-IE WORKING GROUP ON TOPONYMIC DATA FILES AND GAZETTEERS (14) TOPONYMIC GUIDELINES FOR MAP AND OTHER EDITORS REPORT OF THE BRAZILIAN INSTITUTE OF GEOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS fIBGE) Submitted by Sonia Luiza Terron, Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Rio de Janeiro. Report of the Brazilian Institute of Geogrqhy and Statistics ( IBGE ) Items 5 and 9 of the Provisional Agenda Recent Developments on Geoerapbical Names The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, with regard to the 1996 Population and Housing Counts - 1096 Agricultural Census and among many other geographical activities of its responsibility, has updated the toponymic data related to populated places, political, statistical and geographical areas. These data are stored in the Territorial Structures Database, which was built to provide territorial support to the IBGE’s statistical and geographical programs. Since 1991 Demographic Census, the political and administrative division has been expressively changed. In addition to the 54 legal name changes of municipalities and districts, 483 new municipalities were settled in 1993, consequently modifying 496 of the 4,490 existing ones. Considering the district level, almost the same amount of new and modified units has occurred during this period. Furthermore, due to the administrative mobility, the category of populated places (seat of the new municipalities and districts) has been changed, as well as the location of geographical names (features) by administrative division has been updated.
    [Show full text]
  • Initial Stages of Federal Litigation: Overview
    Initial Stages of Federal Litigation: Overview MARCELLUS MCRAE AND ROXANNA IRAN, GIBSON DUNN & CRUTCHER LLP WITH HOLLY B. BIONDO AND ELIZABETH RICHARDSON-ROYER, WITH PRACTICAL LAW LITIGATION A Practice Note explaining the initial steps of a For more information on commencing a lawsuit in federal court, including initial considerations and drafting the case initiating civil lawsuit in US district courts and the major documents, see Practice Notes, Commencing a Federal Lawsuit: procedural and practical considerations counsel Initial Considerations (http://us.practicallaw.com/3-504-0061) and Commencing a Federal Lawsuit: Drafting the Complaint (http:// face during a lawsuit's early stages. Specifically, us.practicallaw.com/5-506-8600); see also Standard Document, this Note explains how to begin a lawsuit, Complaint (Federal) (http://us.practicallaw.com/9-507-9951). respond to a complaint, prepare to defend a The plaintiff must include with the complaint: lawsuit and comply with discovery obligations The $400 filing fee. early in the litigation. Two copies of a corporate disclosure statement, if required (FRCP 7.1). A civil cover sheet, if required by the court's local rules. This Note explains the initial steps of a civil lawsuit in US district For more information on filing procedures in federal court, see courts (the trial courts of the federal court system) and the major Practice Note, Commencing a Federal Lawsuit: Filing and Serving the procedural and practical considerations counsel face during a Complaint (http://us.practicallaw.com/9-506-3484). lawsuit's early stages. It covers the steps from filing a complaint through the initial disclosures litigants must make in connection with SERVICE OF PROCESS discovery.
    [Show full text]
  • Schumpeterian Political Economy
    ISSN 1680-8754 PRODUCTION SERIES DEVELOPMENT Micro-macro interactions, growth and income distribution revisited Mario Cimoli Gabriel Porcile ECLAC - Production Development Series No. 212 Micro-macro interactions, growth and income... CEPAL 212 - Serie Xxxxx N° xxx N° Xxxxx Serie Título documento... documento... Título Micro-macro interactions, growth and income distribution revisited (Dejar 2 cm de separación mínima con nombre de serie a izquierda) la serie de nombre con mínima separación de cm 2 (Dejar Mario Cimoli Gabriel Porcile 1 ECLAC - Production Development Series No. 212 Micro-macro interactions, growth and income... CEPAL - Se rie Xxxxx N° xxx N° Xxxxx rie Título documento... documento... Título This document has been prepared by Mario Cimoli, Chief of the Division of Production, Productivity and a izquierda) la serie de nombre con mínima separación de cm 2 (Dejar Management of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and Gabriel Porcile, Economic Affairs Officer from the same Division. We are very grateful to Danilo Spinola, Antonio Soares Neto, Tomas Saieg, Nunzia Saporito, Felipe Correa, Luis Cáceres, Martin Fernandez and Reto Bertoni, who made useful comments on previous versions of the paper. The views expressed in this document, which has been reproduced without formal editing, are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Organization. United Nations publication ISSN: 1680-8754 (Electronic version) ISSN: 1020-5179 (Print version) LC/TS.2017/55 Distribution: Limited Copyright © United Nations, June 2017. All rights reserved. Printed at United Nations, Santiago S.17-00522 Applications for authorization to reproduce this work in whole or in part should be sent to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Publications and Web Services Division, [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of New Trans-Border Water Routes in the South-East Baltic: Methodology and Practice Kropinova, Elena G.; Anokhin, Aleksey
    www.ssoar.info The development of new trans-border water routes in the South-East Baltic: methodology and practice Kropinova, Elena G.; Anokhin, Aleksey Veröffentlichungsversion / Published Version Zeitschriftenartikel / journal article Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Kropinova, E. G., & Anokhin, A. (2014). The development of new trans-border water routes in the South-East Baltic: methodology and practice. Baltic Region, 3, 121-136. https://doi.org/10.5922/2079-8555-2014-3-11 Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Dieser Text wird unter einer Free Digital Peer Publishing Licence This document is made available under a Free Digital Peer zur Verfügung gestellt. Nähere Auskünfte zu den DiPP-Lizenzen Publishing Licence. For more Information see: finden Sie hier: http://www.dipp.nrw.de/lizenzen/dppl/service/dppl/ http://www.dipp.nrw.de/lizenzen/dppl/service/dppl/ Diese Version ist zitierbar unter / This version is citable under: https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-51373-9 E. Kropinova, A. Anokhin This article offers an integrative ap- THE DEVELOPMENT proach to the development of trans-border water routes. Route development is analy- OF NEW TRANS-BORDER sed in the context of system approach as in- WATER ROUTES tegration of geographical, climatic, mea- ning-related, infrastructural, and market- IN THE SOUTH-EAST ing components. The authors analyse the Russian and European approaches to route BALTIC: METHODOLOGY development. The article focuses on the in- stitutional environment and tourist and rec- AND PRACTICE reational resources necessary for water route development. Special attention is paid to the activity aspect of tourist resour- * ces. At the same time, the development of Ö.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact of the Artificial Strait in the Vistula Spit on the Hydrodynamics
    water Article Impact of the Artificial Strait in the Vistula Spit on the Hydrodynamics of the Vistula Lagoon (Baltic Sea) Michał Szydłowski * , Tomasz Kolerski and Piotr Zima Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gda´nskUniversity of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gda´nsk,Poland; [email protected] (T.K.); [email protected] (P.Z.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +48-58-347-1809 Received: 25 March 2019; Accepted: 8 May 2019; Published: 10 May 2019 Abstract: In the Vistula Lagoon, storm surges are induced by variable sea levels in the Gulf of Gda´nsk and wind action. The rising of the water level in the southern part of the basin, exceeding 1.0 m above mean sea level, can be dangerous for the lowland area of Zuławy˙ Elbl ˛askie,causing the inundation of the polders adjacent to the lagoon. One of the potential possibilities to limit the flood risk is to decrease the water level in the lagoon during strong storm surges by opening an artificial canal to join the lagoon with the Gulf of Gda´nsk.The decision to build a new strait in the Vistula Spit was made in 2017. In order to analyze the impact of the artificial connection between the sea and the lagoon during periods of high water stages in the southern part the lagoon, mathematical modelling of the hydrodynamics of the Vistula Lagoon is required. This paper presents the shallow water equations (SWEs) model adapted to simulate storm surges driven by the wind and sea tides, and the numerical results obtained for the present (without the new strait) and future (with the new strait) configuration of the Vistula Lagoon.
    [Show full text]