Erika Čepienė

Mrs. Erika Čepienė

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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29 January 2022 in Water
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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EČErika Čepienė
Erika Čepienė
LDLina Dailidytė
Lina Dailidytė
ESEdvinas Stoneviĉius
Edvinas Stoneviĉius
IDInga Dailidiene
Inga Dailidiene
Due to climate change, extreme floods are projected to increase in the 21st century in Europe. As a result, flood risk and flood-related losses might increase. It is therefore essential to simulate potential floods not only relying on historical but also future projecting data. Such simulations can provide necessary information for the development of flood protection measures and spatial planning. This paper analyzes the risk of compound flooding in the Danė River under different river discharge and Klaipėda Strait water level probabilities. Additionally, we examine how a water level rise of 1 m in the Klaipėda Strait could impact Danė River floods in Klaipėda city. Flood extent was estimated with the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) and visualized with ArcGIS Pro. Research results show that a rise in the water level in the Klaipėda Strait has a greater impact on the central part of Klaipėda city, while that of the maximum discharge rates of the river affected the northern upstream part of the analyzed river section. A sea level rise of 1 m could lead to an increase in areas affected by Danė floods by up to three times. Floods can cause significant damage to the infrastructure of Klaipėda port city, urbanized territories in the city center, and residential areas in the northern part of the city. Our results confirm that, in the long run, sea level rise will significantly impact the urban areas of the Klaipėda city situated near the Baltic Sea coast.

27 September 2023 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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IDInga Dailidienė
Inga Dailidienė
ISInesa Servaitė
Inesa Servaitė
RDRemigijus Dailidė
Remigijus Dailidė
EČErika Čepienė
Erika Čepienė
Lolita RapolienėLolita Rapolienė
Lolita Rapolienė
DVDonatas Valiukas
Donatas Valiukas
Climate change is leading to an annual increase in extreme conditions. Public health is closely related to weather conditions; hence, climate change becomes a major factor concerning every-day human health conditions. The most common extreme natural phenomenon that affects people’s health is the summer heat wave. During the 21st century, as the air temperature continues to rise, the sea surface temperature (SST) rises along with it, especially along the seacoasts. More massive water bodies, such as seas or larger lagoons, that warm up during the day do not allow the ambient air to cool down quickly, causing the air temperature to often be warmer at night in the coastal area than in the continental part of the continent. Currently, not only an increase in the number of days with heat waves is observed, but also an increase in the number of tropical nights in the coastal zone of the Southeastern Baltic Sea. In this work, heat waves are analyzed in the seaside resorts of Lithuania, where the effects of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon are most dominant.

26 December 2022 in Water
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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IŠIlona Šakurova
Ilona Šakurova
VKVitalijus Kondrat
Vitalijus Kondrat
Eglė BaltranaitėEglė Baltranaitė
Eglė Baltranaitė
EČErika Čepienė
Erika Čepienė
LKLoreta Kelpšaitė-Rimkienė
Loreta Kelpšaitė-Rimkienė
The Port of Klaipėda, located at the Klaipėda strait, divides the Lithuanian coast into two different geomorphological parts: southern—the coast of the Curonian Spit, and northern—the mainland coast. Port jetties interrupt the main sediment transport path along the South-Eastern Baltic Sea’s coast. Port of Klaipėda reconstruction in 2002 and the beach nourishment project which started in 2014 significantly influenced the northern part of the coast, which led to changes in the coastal zone evolution. The measurements in various periods are essential for cross-shore profile elevation to analyze seabed morphology and sedimentation patterns. These data highlight our understanding of the scale and timing of seabed erosion or sedimentation processes scale and timing. This study evaluates the impact of anthropogenic pressure and natural factors on coastal geomorphology and dynamics. In order to assess the latter changes, the cross-shore profile evolution and sediment budget were analyzed as well as nearshore bathymetry changes. The data illustrated a changing picture of the entire shore profile—on land and underwater.

27 September 2024 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AAAiste Andriule
Aiste Andriule
EČErika Čepienė
Erika Čepienė
Paulius RapalisPaulius Rapalis
Paulius Rapalis
IDInga Dailidiene
Inga Dailidiene
This research addresses a gap in localized air quality assessments by measuring pollution levels in Klaipeda, a Baltic port city, using passive solid particle collectors and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) diffusion tubes. Passive sampling techniques were employed due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of deployment, allowing for practical monitoring over short-term periods. By targeting diverse functional zones, this study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of air pollution patterns and seasonal variations in the region. Air pollution, primarily from NO2 and particulate matter (PM), poses significant risks to public health, especially in densely populated urban areas. Air quality was assessed by measuring total suspended particulates (TSP) and NO2 concentrations across 19 strategically chosen sites, covering key functional zones, such as industrial areas, green spaces, residential neighborhoods, transport hubs, and the port. Results show elevated pollution levels near major roads and the port area, likely driven by heavy traffic, industrial emissions, and port activities. These patterns correlate with areas of higher population density, highlighting the intersection of air quality challenges with human health risks in urbanized zones. Seasonal data reveal a notable peak in NO2 concentrations during winter, likely due to increased heating demand and reduced atmospheric dispersion. These findings suggest that air quality management strategies should be adaptive to seasonal fluctuations, particularly by addressing emissions from heating sources in colder months. The study underscores the necessity of integrating sustainable urban planning with targeted air quality interventions. Expanding green spaces, enhancing traffic regulation, and establishing protective zones near industrial areas are critical strategies for mitigating pollution. These insights are essential for guiding both urban development and public health policies in Klaipeda and other coastal cities facing similar environmental challenges.

1 January 2021 in Baltic Region
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
DVDaiva Verkulevičiūtė-Kriukienė
Daiva Verkulevičiūtė-Kriukienė
ABAngelija Buciene
Angelija Buciene
EČErika Čepienė
Erika Čepienė
Regional parks in Lithuania preserve the most valuable physical and cultural components of the landscape, NATURA 2000 habitats, etc. They are usually located in natural or semi-natural landscapes of rural areas. These territories, however, have a higher depopulation rate than urbanised districts. Still, conservation priority areas were expected to attract young families as permanent residents and make their population more stable. This study aims to investigate changes in the rural population in three regional parks of the Klaipėda county to determine the number of abandoned villages (with no residents) and vanishing ones (with a population < 5), as compared to territories with no conservation regime. The article examines migration as one of the determinants of depopulation. The analysis of national and local statistics, institutional documents, and structured interviews revealed that the conservation regime applied in regional parks did not necessarily encourage local people to stay or newcomers to arrive. Proximity to the sea and towns with developed social infrastructure remains a priority when looking for a residence in the countryside.

24 April 2025 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AAAiste Andriule
Aiste Andriule
SSSergej Suzdalev
Sergej Suzdalev
EČErika Čepienė
Erika Čepienė
IDInga Dailidiene
Inga Dailidiene
This study examines the spatial distribution of chemical elements in the urban environment of Klaipėda Seaport City, assessing their concentrations in industrial, residential, and port zones. Particulate matter (PM) samples were collected using passive sampling methods and analyzed for their chemical composition to identify pollution patterns. Beyond spatial pollution analysis, a detailed correlation analysis of pollutants was conducted to determine potential emission sources across different functional city zones. The results indicate significantly elevated concentrations of heavy metals in port and transport zones, highlighting the necessity for targeted air quality improvement measures and innovative pollution mitigation strategies.