Time Shift of Wind Influence on the Movement of Surface Water Masses in the Szczecin Lagoon

Purpose: The study's specific objectives were to analyze the interaction between the prevailing hydrometeorological conditions and the trajectory of water layer movement in the Szczecin Lagoon (southern Baltic, Poland). Design/Methodology/Approach: Research experiments verifying the drift movement trajectory under various hydrometeorological conditions were carried out in the Szczecin Lagoon. In the presented analysis, 17 fragments from ten drift trajectories were selected, in which there was a clear time shift in the influence of the wind direction on the change of the drifting direction. Statistical analysis of directional and linear data allowed us to link the directions and speeds of drifters moving with the wind parameters recorded in two places, Świnoujście and Trzebież, with an appropriate time shift. Findings: As a result of the research, it was found that the change of the wind direction influences the direction change of the flow of surface waters in the Szczecinski Lagoon with an unavoidable delay. A significant correlation was found between the speed of changes in the wind direction and the initial wind direction. A relationship was also shown between the distance of the test site from the weather station and the registered wind direction change. Originality/value: The presented relationships between some fundamental processes in the energy transfer between wind and water surface may be beneficial for the maritime administration, which is responsible for the safety of navigation in the studied water area. The analysis results can be used in SAR actions and to project the track of water pollutants.