Adam Kotarba

Transport, sorting and deposition processes of Alpine debris slope deposits in the Polish Tatra Mountains

This study is an inventory of different types of talus slopes found in the Polish Tatra mountains close to Zakopane. Several active and inactive types were found; rockfall talus, alluvial talus and complex slopes formed by different processes. The slope deposits are described in relation to the altitudinal zonation of climates and the active processes. The paper finally presents an hypothesis, based on our findings, for the Postglacial slope deposition in this part of the Tatra Mts. Aims and background This study aims to analyse the morphogenetic evolution of slope deposits in terms of transport, sorting and deposition. The development of slope deposits in relation to climatic variation and altitudinal zonation of climates is also discussed. Field studies were made within two areas in the Polish Tatra Mountains, where the spatial distribution of forms was mapped by air-photo interpretation (Fig 1). The field observations, which include measurements of particle form, size and orientation as well as slope morphometry, were made close to the experimental sites used by Kotarba and others (cf Kotarba et al. 1979 and Kotarba 1981) for studies of the present slope activity in the area. The study areas The Tatra mountains constitute the highest and northernmost high mountain group of the Carpathians. Field studies were made close to Lake Morskie Oko (Fig 2) and in the Hala G4sienicowa area (Fig 3). A total of eleven different slopes were studied in detail. The rocks of the study areas can be described as granitoids belonging to the Paleozoic core of the mountain range (Table 1). The relief in the field areas is about 1300-2000 Geografiska annaler * 66 A (1984) 4 Fig. 1. The study area in Southern Poland. metres and is characterized by very steep mountain slopes below peaks and ridges reaching an altitude of about 2300-2500 metres. While different types of slope deposits cover the lowest parts of the slopes, the valley floors are characterized by glacial drift or glacifluvial deposits. The general climate of the area is summarized in Table 2. The altitudinal zonation of climates have been made by Hess (1965). He divides the mountain range into six distinct altitudinal zones such as temperate-warm s 2200 m of altitude. According to Klimaszewski (1971), the most intense present day frost weathering occurs in the interval between 1700 and 2050 metres above sea-level, hence the highest peaks are excluded having too cold a climate with a lower freeze-thaw intensity compared with the lower zone (cf also Kotarba and Starkel 1972).

Lichenometrical studies and dating of debris flow deposits in the High Tatra Mountains, Poland

ABSTRACTA growth curve for Rhizocarpon lichens has been constructed for a valley in the Polish High Tatra Mountains. Monuments and buildings of known age have been, used as measurement sites for the lichen sizes. The lichen growth could be described by the equation: Ld = 0,44 A—4, where Ld - lichen diameter in mm, A-lichen age in years. As an application, this curve has been used for dating of debris flow deposits. These datings show that most of the investigated debris flows were triggered during the later part of the Little Ice Age, due to alluviation. During the last hundred years, only a few debris flows have occurred.

Model of slide slope evolution in flysch mountains (an example drawn from the Polish Carpathians)

Summary In order to determine the dynamic features of slide slopes in the Polish flysch Carpathians, one slope was chosen for observation over three years. The slope is named detrusive because of a lack of a strong erosion at its base, which can cause the displacement of colluvial masses. During the period of investigation (July 1972 – August 1975) such environmental factors were analysed as: precipitation, groundwater changes in piezometers installed within the sliding masses, and hydrologic conditions in the creek flowing close to the slope base. At the same time geomorphological and hydrological mapping was carried out at a scale of 1 : 1000, together with repeated measurements of the positions of fixed geodetic points. Both shallow refraction and electric resistivity soundings were made to establish the surface of undisturbed slope under the mobile material. Climatic and hydrologic data were correlated with the dynamic features of the colluvial material. On this base a morphodynamic division of the slide slope was established and described by a cascading model of mass transport.

Recent Debris Flows in the Tatra Mountains

This chapter results from the interpretation of the data collected by field studies of debris flow events including geomorphological effects, of an Ikonos satellite image from 2004, and the DEM prepared for the entire Tatra massif. Based on about 20-year-long field observations, the rainfall thresholds necessary to trigger debris flows have been identified. Such thresholds, however, vary with lithology and relief. As it is illustrated by the lack of debris flows associated with the extreme weather events in May and June of 2010 in the Tatras, there is no clear relationship between periods of high daily precipitations and the triggering of this type of mass movement. The most spectacular topographic impacts of debris flows are observed in the middle section of the vertical profile of the mountains. Debris flow activity is strongly conditioned by relief (topography and substrate properties) that resulted from Pleistocene glacial and periglacial morphogenesis.

ABIOTIC NATURE OF THE TATRA MOUNTAINS: A NEW CARTOGRAPHIC PICTURE

The Atlas of the Tatra Mountains is published by the Tatra National Park. This excellent work was elaborated by a team of 130 scientists from Poland and Slovakia. Abiotic nature in these mountains is depicted on 82 maps and 165 accompanying illustrations. The maps illustrate both the Polish and Slovak parts of the Tatras, and contain explanations in three languages: Polish, Slovak and English.

Glacial Erosion in the Abisko Mountains: Kärkevagge and Vassivagge, Northern Sweden

Abstract This paper discusses direct current resistivity soundings and geomorphological studies of Quaternary deposits in two glacial troughs in the Abisko Mountains of northern Sweden. The subject of the fieldwork is the depth of Pleistocene glacial erosion. Studies were carried out in 1998 and 2003 in the Kärkevagge and Vassivagge. The estimated thickness of Quaternary deposits and bedrock properties are discussed in the broader context of glacial erosion studies in the Abisko area. Geophysical and geomorphological studies suggest that the depth of glacial erosion was highly differentiated from –190 m in the Torneträsk basin to the metric overall erosion on the upland plateau. In medium‐sized valleys several kilometres long, erosion depth measures 30–50 m. Present‐day stream channel patterns reveal a strong relation to the bedrock configuration in valley floors