Mirosław Żelazny

Geomorphological changes within a hillslope caused by a windthrow event in the tatra mountains, southern poland

Abstract Tree uprooting plays an important role in hillslope evolution. The geomorphological impact of tree uprooting after a foehn wind occurrence, in December 2013 in the Tatra Mountains, was investigated. Geomorphological mapping was conducted in three watersheds. Additionally, in one of the watersheds, 459 windthrow pits were measured, in an area of 6.4 ha. The mean volume of a pit was 2.41 m3, and the mean surface area was 5.47 m2. 3.9% of the area was affected by windthrow pits, however locally the magnitude of changes was significantly higher, reaching up to 14.5% of the surface area. Slope inclination weakly influenced the effects of uprooting, and a decrease in the average depth of pits on steep slopes was observed. Individual windthrow pits (five cases) initiated the activity of geomorphological processes, and two cases of periodic springs were noted. Changes in the relief of small landforms caused by tree uprooting were documented. Windthrow creation facilitated the delivery of the soil material from the slopes into the channels.

Environmental and Land Use Determinants of Stream Water Chemistry During Flood Events in Small Carpathian Foothill Catchments in Poland

The goal of the research was to determine which factors control changes in the chemical composition of stream water during floods of different types: storm floods, frontal precipitation floods, and snowmelt floods. Three catchments in the Carpathian Foothills of woodland, agricultural and of mixed land use were examined and the data were explored with R-mode factor analysis. Three factors driving changes in the chemical composition of stream water during floods of particular types were identified for each catchment. The first factor (hydrological) is related to the magnitude of flow, the second factor (meteorological) is linked with air temperature and soil temperature, and the third factor (circulation) is related to mechanisms of water transfer to stream channels (surface runoff, shallow throughflow). The fourth factor (anthropogenic), related to the dilution of highly polluted pre-event waters with less polluted event waters, was identified only for the anthropogenically altered, agricultural and mixed-use catchments.

Intra-annual groundwater levels and water temperature patterns in raised bogs affected by human impact in mountain areas in Poland

Over the last century, the vast majority of peatlands in Europe have experienced substantial transformation as a result of drainage works that led to an imbalance in the natural hydrologic regime as well as changes in vegetation composition. The ongoing study aims to reconstruct the natural hydrologic regime of peatlands and restore their typical vegetation communities. In this study, we examine the variability of groundwater levels and groundwater temperature in raised bogs located in the Bieszczady Mts. in southern Poland. Both groundwater table levels and groundwater temperature serve to characterise the hydrology of peatlands, which in turn is critical for plant growth and rates of relevant biochemical processes. Our objective is to determine the predominant scale of intra-annual variability in time series and identify their potential sources by assessing the adaptive response of peat bogs to key changes in weather conditions. For this purpose, data obtained from 9 monitoring wells located in peat bogs, with a varying degree of degradation, were used. Fluctuations in time series and potential linkages between selected variables were analysed in the frequency domain using the continuous wavelet transform. The results show that peat bogs exhibit a relatively high stability of groundwater table levels and groundwater temperature despite meaningful changes in weather conditions. The most visible response of peat bogs to weather conditions was observed in summer and autumn. Our study demonstrates that degraded peat bogs experience the largest decrease in groundwater table levels and more frequent fluctuations. In contrast, groundwater temperature remained stable throughout the year at all the studied bog sites.

Effect of Land Use, Seasonality, and Hydrometeorological Conditions on the K+ Concentration–Discharge Relationship During Different Types of Floods in Carpathian Foothills Catchments (Poland)

The purpose of the study was to determine the role of land use, seasonality, and hydrometeorological conditions on the relationship between stream water potassium (K+) concentration and discharge during different types of floods—short- and long-duration rainfall floods as well as snowmelt floods on frozen and thawed soils. The research was conducted in small catchments (agricultural, woodland, mixed-use) in the Carpathian Foothills (Poland). In the woodland catchment, lower K+ concentrations were noted for each given specific runoff value for summer rainfall floods versus snowmelt floods (seasonal effect). In the agricultural and mixed-use catchments, the opposite was true due to their greater ability to flush K+ out of the soil in the summer. In the stream draining woodland catchment, higher K+ concentrations occurred during the rising limb than during the falling limb of the hydrograph (clockwise hysteresis) for all flood types, except for snowmelt floods with the ground not frozen. In the agricultural catchment, clockwise hystereses were produced for short- and long-duration rainfall floods caused by high-intensity, high-volume rainfall, while anticlockwise hystereses were produced for short- and long-duration rainfall floods caused by low-intensity, low-volume rainfall as well as during snowmelt floods with the soil frozen and not frozen. In the mixed-use catchment, the hysteresis direction was also affected by different lag times for water reaching stream channels from areas with different land use. K+ hystereses for the woodland catchment were more narrow than those for the agricultural and mixed-use catchments due to a smaller pool of K+ in the woodland catchment. In all streams, the widest hystereses were produced for rainfall floods preceded by a long period without rainfall.

Factors and Mechanisms Affecting Seasonal Changes in the Prevalence of Microbiological Indicators of Water Quality and Nutrient Concentrations in Waters of the Białka River Catchment, Southern Poland.

This 3-year study was aimed to understand the factors and mechanisms that cause the temporal changes in the concentration of microbiological indicators of water quality and nutrient concentration in selected sites of the Białka river catchment (southern Poland) situated in direct vicinity of the largest ski station in the region. The analysis comprised 35 sampling campaigns conducted in five sites. Water temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity were measured during sampling, laboratory analyses included determination of the selected nutrients content (NH4, NO3, NO2, PO4); and the number of mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria, coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli. Based on the cluster analysis, the collected samples were grouped into three to four groups, depending on the most characteristic features. Seasonal variation was evident, showing the predominance of either anthropogenic or natural-environment factors, depending on the considered season. On the other hand, principal component analysis revealed clear effect of various forms of land use in different sites.

Effect of deforestation on stream water chemistry in the Skrzyczne massif (the Beskid Śląski Mountains in southern Poland)

The purpose of the study was to identify the factors affecting stream water chemistry in the small mountain catchments deforested to varying degrees, from 98.7 to 14.1%, due to long-term acid deposition. Water samples were collected monthly in 2013 and 2014 from 17 streams flowing across three distinct elevation zones in the Skrzyczne massif (Poland): Upper, Middle and Lower Forest Zone. Chemical and physical analyses, including the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total mineral content (Mt), water temperature, and the concentrations of Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Na(+), K(+), HCO3(-), SO4(2-), Cl(-), and NO3(-), were conducted. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the most important factor affecting water chemistry was human impact associated with changes in pH, SO4(2-) concentration, and the concentration of most of the main ions. The substantial acidity of the studied environment contributed to the exclusion of natural factors, associated with changes in discharge, from the list of major factors revealed by PCA. All of the streams were characterized by very low EC, Mt, and low concentrations of the main ions such as Ca(2+) and HCO3(-). This is the effect of continuous leaching of solutes from the soils by acidic precipitation. The lowest parameter values were measured for the streams situated in the Upper Forest Zone, which is associated with greater acid deposition at the higher elevations. In the streams located in the Upper Forest Zone, a higher percentage of SO4(2-) occurred than in the streams situated in the Middle and Lower Forest Zones. However, the largest share of SO4(2-) was measured in the most deforested catchment. The saturation of the studied deforested catchment with sulfur compounds is reflected by a positive correlation between SO4(2-) and discharge. Hence, a forest acts as a natural buffer that limits the level of acidity in the natural environment caused by acidic atmospheric deposition.

Effect of the construction of ski runs on changes in relief in a mountain catchment (Inner Carpathians, Southern Poland)

In the last decade increasing popularity of winter tourism in mountain areas in Poland influenced development of ski infrastructure. This type of human activity may induce changes in mountain relief. The purpose of the study was to quantify ongoing change patterns via: (i) a determination of spatial and quantitative changes in catchment covered by new ski runs, (ii) a determination of the effect of new ski runs on the rejuvenation of relief in valleys adjacent to ski runs, (iii) an identification of changes in the surface runoff pattern before and after the construction of ski runs. The research was carried out in the Remiaszów catchment on two ski runs (southern Poland). Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data from 2013 and 2016 were also used in the study along with Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) data from 2015. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) point clouds were interpolated to create multi-temporal DEMs and then these DEMs were used to derive DoDs. These were used to identify erosion and accumulation zones. The Convergence Index (CI) was used to determine the direction of surface runoff. The largest changes in relief were observed in areas with ski runs, with ski run E lowering an average of 0.07m (±0.03m), and ski run N an average of 0.12m (±0.03m). The entire area lowered about 0.02m. The construction of new ski runs resulted in a rejuvenation of denudation valleys located in the vicinity of existing ski runs. Valley incisions reaching 1.5m (±0.15m) were observed. Both the convergence and divergence zones for surface runoff were identified, which made it possible to show changes in the geometry of flow direction. The identification of these sites may help forecast erosion and deposition zones. In general, this may make it easier to identify areas substantially susceptible to relief change.

The geomorphic activity of forest roads and its dependencies in the Tatra Mountains

ABSTRACT Forest roads in mountain areas have a significant impact on the changes of water circulation and cause the development of numerous erosion and accumulation forms. The aim of the study was to investigate the magnitude of geomorphic changes within forest roads, determine the factors influencing it, and assess the rate of erosion/accumulation within these roads. Geomorphological mapping of forest roads (6.2 km) was conducted. Roads were divided into homogeneous morphogenetic sections, and a set of parameters was measured for each of them. In order to determine the main factors responsible for relief changes within the roads, the Principal Component Analysis was used. The t-test for two independent samples was also used to check the influence of the bedrock type on the geomorphic changes within roads. Repeated cross-sectional profile measurements were conducted to determine the intensity of erosion and accumulation processes. Our results show that the magnitude of geomorphic changes within forest roads mostly depends on the presence of subsurface flow interception from the cutslope, which in most cases occurs when a road is constructed across a convergent slope area. The strength of the bedrock also has a significant impact on relief transformations, which is expressed in the higher amount of accumulation and erosion features, and higher dissection depths within weaker rocks. The highest annual rate of road deepening is 10 cm yr−1.

Effect of water stage and tree stand composition on spatiotemporal differentiation of spring water chemistry draining Carpathian flysch slopes (Gorce Mts)

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting spring water chemistry in different tree stands and to measure the influence of water stage on the physicochemical parameters of spring waters in a small Carpathian catchment. Water samples were collected three times per year at various stages of the water: after the spring thaw, after a period of heavy rain and after a dry period in 2011 and 2012. Water samples were left in the laboratory to reach room temperature (19-20°C) and analyzed for EC (reference T=25°C) and pH. After filtration through 0.45μm PTFE syringe filters, the water samples were analyzed by means of ion chromatography using a DIONEX ICS 5000 unit. The following ions were analyzed: Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3-, SO42-, Cl-, and NO3-. Multivariate analysis (PCA) allowed the identification of two factors of spring water chemistry: factor 1, water stage and factor 2 tree stand composition. Seasonal variation of spring water chemistry showed that, higher pH values and mineralization as well as higher concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ were measured during low water stage periods while lower EC and pH values were noted after spring snowmelt and rainfall, when higher concentrations of NO3- and SO42- were also found. Higher concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ and higher pH of spring waters located in beech-fir stands and in those mixed with a large proportion of beech as well as a lower concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3-, pH, conductivity and mineralization of these spring waters, in which the alimentation areas were covered by upper subalpine spruce stands were noted.

Spatial variation of the chemical composition of lake waters in the Tatra National Park

Abstract The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting the spatial variation of the chemical composition of lake waters in the Tatra Mountains. In most cases, the lake waters are acidic and very dilute, with a low ionic content and low conductivity values. In general, HCO3- is the predominant anion and Ca2+ is the predominant cation in the chemical composition of the analysed water samples. Among nutrients, NO3- is the dominant form of nitrogen, but also NH4+ may be found in lake waters. By using principal component analysis (PCA) two factors have been identified that explain 63.6% of the variation in the chemical composition of water. Factor 1, which explains 43.2% of the total variability, is associated with Ca2+, SO42-, HCO3-, Na+, pH and lake area and is related to weathering and atmospheric deposition. Factor 2 explains 20.4% of the total variability and is associated with Mg2+, K+, Cl- and with lake altitude. In terms of chemical composition, based on the projection of cases of the first and second factor, the lakes in the Tatra Mountains may be divided into four groups, representing the following: lakes situated within the subalpine forest at the lowest altitude (<1300 m a.s.l.), characterized by medium mineralization (~14 mg dm-3) and the highest concentration of NH4+ and Cl- (Group I, 8 lakes); slightly alkaline lakes, with the lowest average acidification, medium mineralization (~31 mg dm-3) and the highest concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, HCO3-, SO42-, and low concentrations of NO3- (Group II, 2 lakes); small lakes (<0.01 ha) located within the alpine meadow and the nival zones at high elevations with the lowest mean mineralization (~4.3 mg dm-3), with the highest ammonium contribution to the sum of ions among all lakes and the largest sensitivity to acidification (Group III, 13 lakes); large lakes with high mineralization and slightly acidic pH (Group IV, 26 lakes) and medium mineralization (~31 mg dm-3).