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Number of results: 253
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Abstract

The paper aims at reconstructing Pleistocene slope processes and transformation of tectonic relief in two sections across the northern margin of the Krzeszowice Graben. The investigations are based on the analysis of deposits present on the slopes of fault-line scarps. The lithology and stratigraphy of these deposits was reconstructed based on analysis of outcrops and boreholes. Detailed lithological logs were prepared, along with grain size analyses, and determination of CaCO3, Fe2O3 and Corg contents in fine-grained sediments. The studied fault-line scarps were transformed by Pleistocene denudation. The type and intensity of these processes were different in the sections studied. In the Będkowice area, accumulation prevailed; the fault-line scarp became covered with sediments. In the Karniowice area, in turn, periglacial processes caused degradation of the fault-controlled slope. In the lower part of the fault-line scarp, the intensity of degradation processes was limited by repeated presence of sediment cover which preserved the substratum. Differences in the intensity and type of Pleistocene denudation can be explained by different heights of fault-line scarps, controlled by tectonic structure and neotectonic movements.
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Halina Pawelec
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Abstract

Neotectonic studies in Poland concern mainly manifestations of those tectonic movements that have been active in Late Neogene and Quaternary times, as well as geodetically measured recent vertical and horizontal crustal motions. Among problems of particular interest, the following should be listed: periodicity of neotectonic (mostly Quaternary) activity, estimation of the parametres of the neotectonic stress field, amplitudes and rates of Quaternary and recent movements, development of neotectonic troughs and young faults, mutual relationships among photolineaments, geological structures and recent seismicity, as well as the role of tectonic reactivation of fault zones due to human activity. Neotectonic faults in Poland have developed in Neogene and Quaternary times due to reactivation of Laramian or older structures, or in the Quaternary due to reactivation of Neogene faults. The size of throw of Quaternary faults changes from 40-50 m and >100 m in the Sudetes and the Lublin Upland, to several - several tens of metres in the Carpathians. The average rate of faulting during Quaternary times has been 0.02 to 0.05 mm/yr, what enables one to include these structures into the domains of inactive or low-activity faults. A similar conclusion can be drawn from the results of repeated precise levellings and GPS campaigns. Strike-slip displacements have been postulated for some of these faults. Isolated faults in Central Poland have shown middle Quaternary thrusting of the order of 40-50 m, and some of the Outer Carpathian overthrusts tend to reveal young Quaternary activity, as indicated, i.a., by concentrations of fractured pebbles within the thrust zones. Episodes of increased intensity of faulting took place in the early Quaternary, in the Mazovian (Holsteinian) Interglacial, and during or shortly after the Odranian (Drenthe) glacial stage. Some of the faults have also been active in Holocene times. Recent seismic activity is often related to strike-slip faults, which in the Carpathians trend ENE-WSW and NE-SW, whereas outside the Carpathians they are oriented parallel to the margin of the East-European Platform and the Sudetic Marginal Fault. Future investigations should put more emphasis on palaeoseismotectonic phenomena and practical application of neotectonic research.
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Authors and Affiliations

Witold Zuchiewicz
Janusz Badura
Marek Jarosiński
Committee for Quaternary Research Polish Academy of Sciences Commission on Neotectonics
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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a multidisciplinary project dealing with analysis of young crustal movements in the Orava Basin, Polish Western Carpathians, on the basis of a three year long gravimetric, geodetic, geological and morphostructural study. The problem consists in quantitative interpretation of the obtained gravimetric results, i.e. in combining temporal gravity changes with those of geodynamic crustal processes. Gravity surveys conducted in 2004 and 2005 show a decrease in gravity values at benchmarks situated in the Central Carpathian Palaeogene Basin and Magura Nappe, while the central potion of the Orava Basin reveals the opposite trend. Such changes, if confirmed by successive measurement campaigns, appear to indicate recent uplift of the basin margins and subsidence of the basin itself.
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Authors and Affiliations

Monika Łój
Janusz Madej
Sławomir Porzucek
Witold Zuchiewicz
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Abstract

One of the shortcomings of the analysis of subfossil Cladocera (water flee) remains is that preservation of remains is selective. Of Daphnia spp. which are very common in zooplankton assemblages of lakes, usually only postabdominal claws and ephippia are found. In the present paper I describe Daphnia shell margins and some tail spines from the Holocene sediments of a lake in southern Finland where the margins were much more abundant than the postabdominal claws, indicating that postabdominal claws may be underrepresented. Daphnia claws, shell margins and tail spines were found also in surface samples of 17 Finnish lakes and thus the abundance of tail spines could be compared with that of postabdominal claws. The results showed that in most cases the tail spines are more abundant than postabdominal claws and may give a closer estimate of the true abundance of Daphnia. However, in some lakes claws were clearly more frequent than tail spines. Apparently, there are differences in preservation of different types of Daphnia remains between lakes, possibly connected with water chemistry. Overall, the results indicate that probably Daphnia remains are always underrepresented in lake sediments.
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Kaarina Sarmaja- Korjonen
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Abstract

In this paper we describe a fossil graben and associated normal faults and joints. The graben occurs in the section of the Vistulian (Weichselian) and Holocene sediments in an archaeological excavation site at Brzezie, in the central part of the Polish Carpathian Foredeep (Wieliczka-Gdów Upland, western part of the Sandomierz Basin). Normal faults strike mostly NNE-SSW and dip steeply about 65 - 850. Some of them, namely master normal faults, bound the fossil graben. The joints form orthogonal pattern and are closely spaced close to the faults. They developed simultaneously with faulting. Normal faulting took place during the Vistulian - Mesoholocene (Neoholocene?) time, according to age of the archaeological artefacts which were found in the faulted sediments. The faulting was probably finished during the Neolithic or even later, during the Bronze Age. The NNE-striking normal faults connected with graben formation could have been produced by reactivation of a NE-striking sinistral regional fault in the basement.
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Authors and Affiliations

Marta Rauch-Włodarska
Tomasz Kalicki
Wojciech Włodarski
Anna Budek
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Abstract

This paper presents the results of a detailed analysis of fractured clasts hosted within Miocene and Pleistocene paraconglomerates that are exposed close to a map-scale overthrust. Both these paraconglomerates bear numerous fractured clasts (22-50%). The architecture of fractures (joints and minor faults) is well-organized and independent of both clast orientation and the degree of clast roundness. The fractures were formed in situ, most probably due to neotectonic activity of the map-scale overthrust. The number of fractured clasts is positively correlated with the clast size, and negatively correlated with the grain-size of clasts of detrital rocks. The number of fractured clasts increases in clasts of detrital rocks, compared to those of quartzites and magmatic rocks.
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Authors and Affiliations

Antoni K. Tokarski
Anna Świerczewska
Witold Zuchiewicz
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Abstract

Alona protzi is a rare species of Cladocera, occurring in lake littoral throughout Europe. However, little is known about this animal, and so far it has not been included in provisional lists of species found in Finland. In this short report we present our findings of Alona protzi, both recent and subfossil material, as well as one previous, unpublished finding site of the species in Finland. We found three subfossil shells of this species in the bottom sediments of two lakes. In a third lake we found intact animals, an ephippial female and a male, while sampling stony bottom of lake littoral.
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Authors and Affiliations

Mirva Nykänen
Kaarina Sarmaja-Korjonen
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Abstract

Cladoceran remains preserve selectively in lake sediments. Possibly all Cladocera species leave at least some identifiable remains in lake sediments. Exosceletal body parts of families Chydoridae and Bosminidae preserve best but other families are only variably represented in sediments by their outer body parts. Identification of all possible remains helps to achieve more precise palaeolimnological reconstruction of past ecosystems by Cladocera analysis. This article describes, together with photograph and line drawing the subfossil post-abdomen and post-abdominal claw of Ceriodaphnia, previously not widely identified.
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Authors and Affiliations

Liisa Nevalainen
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Abstract

The present work is a part of the development of a method which uses the relative proportions of asexually and sexually reproducing chydorid females to reconstruct the length of the open-water season. Surface sediments (5 cm) of Lake Aitajärvi, northern Finnish Lapland, were examined for modern and recent proportions of chydorid cladoceran ephippia in subarctic climate near the pine limit. The total chydorid ephippium proportions (TCE) were steadily 9.5-9.7 % in the Aitajärvi sediment but declined to 8.4 % in the uppermost sample. The result was compared with the surface sediment TCE from four lakes in southern Finland where it varied between 3-6%. It was also compared with the TCE from two lakes in northernmost Finnish Lapland above the treeline in very severe climate, where it was 26-30 %. These very high values suggest that there might be a threshold in climate conditions between Aitajärvi and the two northernmost lakes that alters the reproduction of chydorids towards an even more important role of sexual reproduction.
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Authors and Affiliations

Kaarina Sarmaja- Korjonen
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Abstract

Neotectonic structures of the Upper Silesia that originated during the last 5 Ma (Pliocene and Quaternary) overlap Miocene grabens and horsts of the Carpathian Foredeep. They had been reactivated in Pliocene as an effect of the young Alpine uplift of the Carpathian Foredeep. It is postulated that ice-sheet derived compaction of a thick Miocene deposits was the most significant agent of the development of neotectonic depressions. Glacioisostasy of mobile bedrock structures was presumably also an important component of vertical movements. The amplitude of neotectonic movements is estimated to 40-100 m, basing on DEM map analysis, analysis of sub-Quaternary structural maps, and the Pleistocene cover thickness. The present-day tectonic phenomena are generated by mining-induced seismicity. These are connected with stress relaxation in the deep bedrock thrust zones of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin.
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Authors and Affiliations

Józef Lewandowski
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Abstract

There are 40 coal mines in Poland now. One of them (coal mine “Bogdanka”) is situated in Lublin Coal Basin, other are localised in Silesia and Małopolska regions. Coal mining is a source of large amounts of wastes. Mean annual production of wastes in only Lublin Coal Basin exceeds 2 million Mg, 65% of which is disposed on a heap. The rest is used to restore opencast excavations, to construct and repair local roads and to produce building materials. It seems that large amount of these wastes could be used to construct or modernize flood embankments and dykes. Using mine wastes as building materials requires the knowledge of their geotechnical parameters. A characteristic feature of mine wastes is their gradual weathering which affects geotechnical parameters largely determined by their mineral and petrographic composition.

This paper describes analyses of geotechnical parameters of mine wastes from Lublin Coal Basin (heap near coal mine “Bogdanka”) of various storage times and of samples collected after 10 years of exploitation of a dyke between ponds made of these wastes at the break of 1993 and 1994. Detailed analyses involved: grain size distribution, natural and optimum moisture content, maximum dry den-sity, shear strength and coefficient of permeability. Obtained results were compared with literature data pertaining to mine wastes from Upper Silesian Coal Basin and from other European coal basins.

Performed studies showed that coal mining wastes produced in Lublin Coal Basin significantly differed in the grain size distribution from wastes originating from Upper Silesian Coal Basin and that weathering proceeded in a different way in wastes produced in both sites.

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Authors and Affiliations

Piotr Filipowicz
Magdalena Borys
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Abstract

Water is a sensitive and limited resource, mainly in intensively used agricultural areas in Austria, where groundwater is used as drinking water as well as for irrigation purposes. In order to guarantee a sustainable use of irrigation water, soil water measurement devices can be used to opti-mise irrigation, which means that controlling the soil water content in the entire root system may prevent water stress due to water deficiency on the one hand, and over wetting on the other hand. Furthermore, losses of nutrients due to leaching can be avoided. Several research studies on that topic were initiated during the last few years. The soil water status on selected fields planted with different crops (onions, carrots, sugar beets, sweet maize, zucchini) was monitored continuously by FDR (Fre-quency Domain Reflectometry) soil water measurement devices. Sensors in different depths measure the plant water uptake in the root zone under standard irrigation practices on different sites and dif-ferent soils, respectively. The deepest sensor is installed to avoid deep percolation caused by over irrigation. By means of these data, irrigation could be regulated based on the actual plant water re-quirements to keep the soil water content within an ideal range for crop development.

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Authors and Affiliations

Peter Cepuder
Reinhard Nolz
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Abstract

The relative relationships “yield – evapotranspiration” were used long time ago. The well known linear relationship yi = 1 – ky (1 – ei), where yi is relative yield, ky – yield response factor and ei – relative evapotranspiration was proposed. It’s usually assumed that ky is constant for a given crop and climatic conditions. It was found, however, that ky for late variety of maize H 708 varied through the study years (1984–1990) in the Plovdiv region (South Bulgaria, altitude 150 m). During the dry years it was significantly higher than in the medium and humid years. The range of ky for maize in this location was 1.12–1.90, the average value being 1.50. The climate in the Sofia region (the ex-perimental field of Chelopechene, altitude 550 m) is comparatively more humid. The two regions approximately outlined the boundaries of the appropriate economical conditions for grain maize pro-duction. The experiments in the Sofia region were carried out in the years 1994–2000. The seven years results for mean variety maize showed that the relationships “yield – evapotranspiration” and, respectively, ky varied at these climatic conditions too. The highest ky value was 1.41 for the driest year (2000) and the lowest value – 1.05 for the most wet years (1995, 1999). The value of ky for av-erage years was 1.21. The yield response factor ky is of more significance when the relative evapotranspiration is less than 0.7–0.8. Thus, the extreme or the average values of ky could be used for the corresponding climatic regions. The relationships between ky and relative yield were estab-lished without considering irrigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

Bojidara Mladenova
Ivan Varlev
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Abstract

No adequate reaction has been observed of the decreased contaminant loads discharged by Łódź, particularly the loads of phosphorus, on its concentration in the Ner River. That’s why the im-pact of sediment on phosphorus content in the water was evaluated. Not only was the amount of phosphorus taken under consideration but also the equilibrium phosphate concentration (EPCo). The meaning of EPCo is that any phosphate concentration in the water below this value will lead to phos-phorus release from sediments. Performed study shows that in the Puczniew cross-section EPCo is higher then phosphorus concentration in water, thus with mean concentration of PO4 equal to 9.5 mg PO4·dm–3 phosphorus could be released from sediments. This concentration in Lutomiersk cross-section, however, equals 1.2 mg PO4·dm–3.

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Authors and Affiliations

Józef Mosiej
Hubert Komorowski
Agnieszka Karczmarczyk
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Abstract

The objective of the study was to characterise the quality of surface waters in order to de-termine their vulnerability to pollution by nitrogen compounds from agricultural activity, as well as to specify the areas with increased exposure, where nitrogen runoff from agricultural sources has to be reduced. It was necessary to determine surface waters liable to pollution by these compounds due to the fact that agricultural production should be carried out in the way which limits and prevents water pollution by nitrogen compounds of agricultural origin. The study addressed the following is-sues: the concentration of nitrogen compounds in the surface waters of the Middle Odra Basin, and the extent of eutrophication in flowing inland waters (with nitrogen as the main nutrient). The results have been plotted in figures and gathered in tables.

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Authors and Affiliations

Agnieszka Kolanek
Rafalina Korol
Marzenna Strońska
Urszula Szyjkowska
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Abstract

The very wet conditions of recent years in Europe have made it clear that measures will have to be taken in this century to prevent flooding. The question is how to manage groundwater in order to reduce the anticipated increased hydrological risk. Furthermore the surface water quality in the Netherlands is insufficient to meet the standards of the Water Framework Directive. The required improvements are difficult to reach, because the diffuse loads of nutrients from agricultural land can not be easily reduced. This demands for innovative solutions with respect to improve the surface wa-ter quality. In this pilot study the focus is on the purification in reed fields and use it as well to reduce the effects of the anticipated climate change. An experimental evidence on a practical scale is lacking and therefore in the woodland area of Lankheet in the eastern part of the Netherlands, 3 ha has been planted with reeds to purify the river water. The aim of the study is further to store the purified water in the groundwater in order to reduce climate change effects. For the hydrological situation a scenario study was set up, using a regional hydrological model to simulate the groundwater flow together with the water flow in a network of water courses. The analysis will give knowledge on the multifunc-tional use of such a system.

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Authors and Affiliations

Erik P. Querner
Henry M. Mulder
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Abstract

The study presents the critical evaluation of existing drainage systems from legal, eco-nomical, environmental and technical viewpoints. Nearly 80% of agricultural land in Lithuania drained by underground drainage systems covers around 3 million hectares. The prevailing large scale drainage systems with a complex of engineering structures such as conducting ditches, drains and collectors, local roads, bridges or farm road-crossings, dikes, dams, water reservoirs, pumping stations for irrigation and for drainage need today an efficient management solution in a new economic situation. The detailed analysis of legal and economic instruments adopted in transferring the management responsibilities of drainage systems to users has been carried out. The study resulted in a number of practical contributions towards the amendments in the Law on Land Reclamation in Lithuania and the establishment of a system of indicators that would allow rationalisation of subsidy allocations for the maintenance and improvement of the drainage systems. These subsidies from the state budget make at the moment the largest share among the investment sources. The financial and in kind contribution of drainage users is permanently increasing as are the allocations of the structural funds for public projects. The EU pre-accession programme SAPARD started in 2000 has supported some investments in rural areas. Unfortunately, it did not support the drainage infrastructure properly. A critical review of previous measures allowed suggesting new actions within the framework of the actual support from EU structural funds.

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Authors and Affiliations

Antanas Maziliauskas
Vytautas Morkunas
Zenonas Rimkus
Valentinas Šaulys
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Abstract

The paper characterizes the status, trends and perspectives of irrigation in Poland after the reforms in agriculture and technology. Irrigation in Poland has supplemental character. It is used in short periods during the growing season and plays an important role in mitigating the effects of drought on crop production. Sub-irrigation from ditches is applied on permanent grasslands, sprin-kling – in field cultivation of arable crops, sprinkling and drip irrigation – in vegetable growing in open areas, micro-jets and drip irrigation systems – in orchards. Drip irrigation and micro-jets sys-tems are also applied in plant cultivation in greenhouses.

Under the economic conditions of Polish agriculture irrigation is often an unprofitable measure. The existing irrigation systems and facilities are only used to a small extent. After changes in the forms of ownership in agriculture, the large-area sprinkling systems were degraded. Small irrigation systems, mainly drip irrigation and micro-sprinkler irrigation, have recently become more common in private farms. Sub-irrigation systems are largely degraded and used only to a small extent if at all. In order to use these systems more effectively, it is necessary to reconstruct and modernize them. In many cases the factor preventing the use of irrigation systems is the deficit of water of required qual-ity and its availability. Besides unfavourable economic conditions, it is one of the main limitations in the development of irrigation in Poland.

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Authors and Affiliations

Leszek Łabędzki
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Abstract

Flooding in the northern part of The Netherlands has caused serious economic threats to densely populated areas. Therefore a project has been carried out in a pilot area to assess the retention of water in two river basins as a way to reduce flooding. The physically-based groundwater and sur-face water model SIMGRO was used to model the hydrology of the basins. The model was calibrated using discharges and groundwater levels. Scenarios of measures to assess the possibility of retaining water in the basin were then defined and tested. The first measure was the retention of higher dis-charges using culverts or gates in the upstream part of the basin. The second measure was to make the streams shallower and thereby, increase flood plain storage. The last measure was flood water storage in a designated area in the downstream part of one basin. The analysis indicates that holding water in the upstream parts of the basins proved to be feasible and can result in significant reductions of peak flows.

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Authors and Affiliations

Erik P. Querner
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Abstract

In order to maintain and improve water quality, man has an increasing need to understand the relations among basin land use and in stream water quality. Being concerned about quality and quantity status of European waters European Union has adopted Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EU). The process of pressure and impact analyses and water status assessment is termed, in short, as “first characterisation” of water bodies. In accordance to WFD programmes of measures have to be developed by 2009. In WFD programmes existing measures for water protection directed by other EU directives such are Nitrate, Urban Waste Water, Dangerous Substances and IPPC will be further developed and new added. In the paper, we describe the first characterisation of the Slovene waters and show cross compliance of the Nitrate and Water Framework Directives in Slovenia

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Authors and Affiliations

Marina Pintar
Lidija Globevnik
Urška Bremec
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Abstract

The current climate warming results in a quick recession of glaciers on the northern slopes and valleys of the Lindströmfjellet-Hĺbergnuten mountain ridge in Nordenskiöld Land. The equilibrium line altitude has risen from c. 500-550 m in 1936 to c.750 m in 2001 and c. 800 m in 2006. The slopes, almost completely glaciated during the Little Ice Age, and even in 1936, have mostly been abandoned by glaciers afterwards. The upper parts of the glaciers undergo a clear retreat diminishing their accumulative (firn) fields. The lower parts of the active glacial tongues have been transformed into marginal zones built of dead ice covered with morainic and glacifluvial deposits. The surfaces of the marginal zones are progressively lowered due to ablation of dead ice. The state of the described glaciers is not balanced under the current climatic conditions. Thus, the landscape transformation of the mountain ridge will most certainly continue.

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Authors and Affiliations

Wiesław Ziaja
Robert Pipała
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Abstract

The common and ecologically important cyanobacterial form-genus Leptolyngbya is widely distributed in numerous ecosystems over the Earth's biosphere. Several morphospecies dominate microbial communities in polar habitats, but their diversity and local ecological significance are little known. Several articles characterising strains isolated from Antarctic coastal habitats by molecular methods were published, but knowledge of their phenotype and ecological characters are indispensable for future detailed environmental studies. Distinct morpho- and ecotypes (ecologically important morphospecies) from maritime Antarctica are characterised in this article. Eight dominant Leptolyngbya types from subaerophytic and freshwater habitats were recognised, and four of them (L. borchgrevinkii, L. fritschiana, L. nigrescens and L. vincentii) are described as new distinct species.

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Authors and Affiliations

Jiří Komárek
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Abstract

Sphagnum riparium (Bryophyta) is recorded and described from the Wedel Jarlsberg Land on Spitsbergen, the Arctic Svalbard Archipelago. It is the northernmost known population of the species in the Northern Hemisphere. The distribution of the two known Sphagnum species in the Hornsund area, viz. S. riparium and S. squarrosum is mapped and described.

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Authors and Affiliations

Bronisław Wojtuń

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