Geographia Polonica (2015) vol. 88, iss. 3

Influence of the Czorsztyn-Sromowce Wyżne Reservoir Complex on the Dunajec River thermal-regime

Łukasz Wiejaczka, Małgorzata Kijowska-Strugała, Paweł Pierwoła, Mariusz Nowak

Geographia Polonica (2015) vol. 88, iss. 3, pp. 467-482 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/GPol.0029

Abstract

The main objective of this paper was to demonstrate the changes in the natural thermal regime of the middle course of the Dunajec River, caused by the construction of the reservoir complex in the villages of Czorsztyn and Sromowce Wyżne 1994-1997. The analysis is based on water temperature measurements conducted in the river longitudinal profile, four times at the turn of 2012/2013 under hydrometeorological conditions for each season of the year. The field research results were expanded to include an analysis of archival materials relating to the temperature of the Dunajec River, in the hydrological years from 1984 to 2007, at the village of Krościenko’s water-gauging station. The station is located approximately 22 km downstream from the Czorsztyn and Sromowce Wyżne Reservoirs. The analysis showed that the formation of the Czorsztyn-Sromowce Wyżne Reservoir Complex caused a distinct change in the thermal regime of the mid-Dunajec River. Under favorable conditions these changes reach the Rożnów-Czchów Reservoir Complex.

Keywords: Carpathians, Czorsztyn Reservoir, Dunajec River, Sromowce Wyżne Reservoir, water temperature

Łukasz Wiejaczka [wieja@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland
Małgorzata Kijowska-Strugała [mkijowska@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland
Paweł Pierwoła, The Hydroelectric Power Plants Complex ZEW Niedzica S.A. Widokowa 1, 34-441 Niedzica: Poland
Mariusz Nowak, The Hydroelectric Power Plants Complex ZEW Niedzica S.A. Widokowa 1, 34-441 Niedzica: Poland