The aim of the article is to present the temporal and spatial variability of the cliff coast erosion of the Wolin Island in 2012–2020 in three time periods (2012–2015, 2015–2018, 2018–2020). The research used data from airborne laser scanning (ALS), based on which DEM models were made. Based on the differences between the models, the amount of sediment that was eroded by the sea waves was determined. The conducted research showed that, in the analyzed period, the dynamics of the Wolin cliffs were characterized by high variability. The greatest erosion was observed on sandy cliffs, and the smallest on clay cliffs and on cliffs that are densely covered with vegetation. In the sediment budget studies, two seashore erosivity indicators were proposed: length-normalized sediment budget (L_B) (m³/m) and area-normalized sediment budget (A_B) (m³/m²). The average annual dynamics of the cliff edge erosion on the Wolin Island was found to be L_B = 6.6 ± 0.3 m³/m/a, A_B = 0.17 ± 0.01 m³/m²/a. The results obtained are comparable with other postglacial cliffs. The use of the differential analysis of DEM models allows for the determination of the dynamics of the cliff coast and may be used in spatial development and planning of seashore protection zones.

Climate changes, sea transgression and sea coast erosion observed today cause dynamic changes in coastal ecosystems. In the elaboration, cause and effect interrelations between abiotic hazards (hydrometeorological conditions and sea coast morphodynamics) and biotic (Cephalanthero rubrae-Fagetum phytocoenosis) components of natural environment have been defined. An up-to-date phytosociological analysis of a very valuable Cephalanthero rubrae-Fagetum site on cliff tableland was conducted in the context of hitherto temporal variability of climatic conditions and the rate of cliff coast recession. Also, the development prognosis of the researched site in the 21st century is provided, with respect to the expected climate changes and cliff's morphodynamics. The conducted research actions revealed the influence of global hazards (e.g. climate changes, sea transgression and sea coast erosion) on changes in the natural environment on regional scale (with the example of the site of Cephalanthero rubrae-Fagetum on a cliff coast of Wolin island in Poland). It has been established that in the 21st century, a relatively larger hazard to the functioning of the researched site is climate changes (i.e. mostly changes in thermal and precipitation conditions) not the sea coast erosion.

The functioning of plant associations, including forest associations, in the coastal cliff edge zone of the Pomeranian Bay in the Wolin National Park (WNP) is determined by short-term factors related to the dynamics of erosion and denudation processes and long-term phytoclimatic conditions' changes. The study presents a temporary analysis of the occurrence of sea abrasion and water and aeolian erosion, based on the applied hydrometeorological threshold values. The influence of changes in phytoclimatic conditions on the development and productivity of coastal forests with the dominant species of Fagus sylvatica was also presented. Assessments of spatial susceptibility to erosion of the cliff coast and the existing plant associations were also carried out in conditions of the risk of coast erosion. It was found that 55% of the cliff edge zone of the Pomeranian Bay of the WNP and the forest associations (mainly Luzulo pilosae-Fagetum) occurring there are in the zone of particular risk of increased erosion and denudation processes. In addition, unfavourable trends in changes in phytoclimatic conditions in the 21st century were found, which reflect climate changes unfavourable to the development of beech forests on Wolin Island.

Climate changes, sea transgression and sea coast erosion observed today cause dynamic changes in coastal ecosystems. In the elaboration, cause and effect interrelations between abiotic hazards (hydrometeorological conditions and sea coast morphodynamics) and biotic (Cephalanthero rubrae – Fagetum phytocoenosis) components of natural environment have been defined. An up-to-date phytosociological analysis of a very valuable Cephalanthero rubrae – Fagetum site on cliff tableland was conducted in the context of hitherto temporal variability of climatic conditions and the rate of cliff coast recession. Also, the development prognosis of the researched site in the 21st century is provided, with respect to the expected climate changes and cliff's morphodynamics. The conducted research actions revealed the influence of global hazards (e.g., climate changes, sea transgression and sea coast erosion) onto changes in natural environment on regional scale (with the example of the site of Cephalanthero rubrae – Fagetum on cliff coast of Wolin Island in Poland). It has been established that in the 21st century, a relatively larger hazard to the functioning of the researched site are climate changes, not the sea coast erosion.

During the period of climate change affecting the increase in the frequency of extreme events, the problems of the functioning of the sea coasts become very important. The process of raising the World Ocean level directly threatens coastal areas which are inhabited by more than half of population.This situation is also observed on the Polish coast. The very intense and often uncontrolled tourist and economic development of this region requires the introduction of protection systems aimed at limiting the adverse changes caused by extreme processes. Anthropogenic coastal transformations commonly contribute to the modification of natural morphogenetic processes. As a result, the development of the coastal zone goes in an unknown direction.The current problems related to the functioning of cliff coasts prompted the authors to conduct research on the impact of storm surges on the transformation of the morphology of the unconsolidated cliffs of Wolin Island. The research consisted of annual measurements of cliff morphology using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in the period 2013-2019. The obtained measurement series allowed to demonstrate spatial diversity and time variability of erosion and accumulation processes in various hydrometeorological conditions. Differential analyzes allowed to quantify of the sediment budget on different sections of the cliffs. Based on the proposed denudation indicators, spatial and temporal differentiation of cliff dynamics and efficiency was presented.

Erosion-denudation valleys are an important element of the relief of the cliff coast of Wolin Island. Detailed research covered the Zielony Parów catchment area with an area of approximately 9.57 ha. The length of the studied form is 491 m. Lithological studies have shown that the bottom of the valley is composed of sandy sediments with a poor and moderate sorting. The data obtained from the airborne laser scanning (ALS) made it possible to conduct a study of the morphometric conditions of the catchment area. In the first stage, a digital elevation model (DEM) with a resolution of 1 m was created, which was then used to create a series of morphometric models. The analyses carried out made it possible to present a quantitative assessment of the valley morphology and to indicate the areas most susceptible to water erosion processes. The differences between the maximum height measured at the top of the valley slope (Hmax) and the minimum height at the bottom of the valley (Hmin) are 66.4 m. The data indicate a high potential energy of the relief. The maximum valley depth is 34 m. The catchment area is dominated by strongly inclined and steep slopes. Using erosion potential indices (LS-factor, SPI) allowed the selection of areas most susceptible to water erosion. In the analysed area, slopes in the south-eastern and western parts of the catchment show a high erosion potential.