There was an error in the original publication [
1]. It was based on inappropriate citations in the Discussion section. The phenomenon mentioned in this paragraph was originally described by different authors than those mentioned in the original version of the article. The name of the phenomenon itself was also changed to better reflect the context proposed by the mentioned authors. The correct reference to the first detailed description of the mentioned phenomenon was already mentioned in the Introduction section of the original article.
A correction has been made to Section 4 (Discussion), paragraph 3:
The heightened dune erosion in the area may also be attributed to the long, oblique to the shore depressions present in the bottom topography. The issue has been under investigation since the 1990s. Among other research, in 1999 Gajewski et al. [27] identified such seabed forms during extensive bathymetric surveys. Their research revealed non-uniform bottom topography at greater depths characterized by significant depressions called “runnels” resulting in wave energy concentration [41]. These underwater features allow greater wave energy to reach the coast in favorable meteorological conditions. Notably, one such “energy window”, aligned with the area around km H 10.9, likely contributed to increased dune erosion along this stretch. Bathymetric maps suggest that in the nearshore zone of the northwestern part of the Hel Peninsula, there are at least five such energy windows at: 4.3, 6.4, 7.8, 10.9, and 12 km H (Figure 21). All these “runnels” are oriented obliquely to the coast, and their axis is directed approximately from northwest to southeast, which, given the relatively frequent occurrence of northwesterly winds in the study area, increases the likelihood of intensified coastal erosion along these specific sections of the coast. The influence of bottom relief and similar seabed forms on erosion has already been confirmed on another section of the Polish coast in the vicinity of the Widowo Nature Reserve located approximately 20 km west of Władysławowo [44].
A correction has been also made to Section 4 (Discussion), paragraph 18:
The Hel Peninsula is an area where the largest, most expensive, and priority protective actions of coastal engineering are carried out. Nowhere else on the Polish coast are works undertaken on such a wide scale, to such an extent, and for so long [2]. However, it should be noted that all actions taken do not eliminate the causes of erosion. They merely mitigate its effects. To eliminate the causes of erosion, the reasons for it should be identified, which, despite over 50 years of work, have not been satisfactorily conducted. As mentioned, coastal erosion on the Peninsula is associated with the nonlinear overlapping of three main causes: (1) disturbance of sediment transport from the cliffs of Jastrzębia Góra eastward, (2) exposure of the Peninsula to the largest storms from the NE directions, and (3) underwater “runnels” (so-called “energy windows” identified by Gajewski et al.), which bring more wave energy to the shore. On the other hand, as mentioned, in the past, the Peninsula was not a continuous structure; it was a morphological feature that seasonally changed its shape and position, with natural channels appearing and disappearing. As long as this area was not anthropologically utilized, it did not bother anyone. With the appearance of humans, there arose the need to secure the coast. In this context, it should be emphasized that all protective actions undertaken by humans after World War II; hence, the last 70 years are just a moment in the history of the Peninsula’s life. The coastal protection strategy implemented in the 1980s, the most serious and expensive protective actions conducted on the Polish coast, has been ongoing for only about 30 years [50].
The two references mentioned below needed to be deleted and others (46–53) needed to be adjusted to the new numeration (except those mentioned in the corrections above—which already have corrected reference numeration):
44. Furmańczyk, K.; Musielak, S. Hel’s Peninsula Coastal Zone Changes in the Last 40 Years Based on Remote Sensing Methods; ESA Publication Division; ESTEC: Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 1990.
45. Basinski, T.; Mielczarski, A.; Szmytkiewicz, M. Hel Peninsula Protection Concept; Report; Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydro-Engineering: Gdańsk, Poland, 1990.
With this correction, the order of some of the references has been adjusted accordingly. The authors state that the scientific conclusions are unaffected. This correction was approved by the Academic Editor. The original publication has also been updated.
