Geographia Polonica (2023) vol. 96, iss. 4
Jaskinia Lodowa w Ciemniaku (Ice Cave in Ciemniak), Western Tatra, Poland - over a century-long investigations of climate warming-caused degradation of subterranean ice mass
Geographia Polonica (2023) vol. 96, iss. 4, pp. 405-430 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0262
Abstract
Jaskinia Lodowa w Ciemniaku (Ice Cave in Ciemniak), in the Tatra Mountains (Tatry), is believed to host the largest subterranean ice mass in Poland. It has been known for over a century, however, the onset of its scientific investigations dates back to 1922, when Tadeusz and Stefan Zwoliński mapped it. Since then, it has become one of the best-known caves in Poland. It was described in over a hundred scientific and popular science papers. They include findings of international importance, e.g. works related to radioisotopes, ice-mass balance and age. However, some of the questions asked a century ago are still partly unanswered. One may wonder if they will be delivered before climate warming causes the largest ‘cave glacier’ in Poland to disappear.
Keywords: Speleology, cryosphere, Western Tatras, history of cave research, ice cave, climate change
[jan.barabach@up.poznan.pl], Department of Land Improvement, Environmental Development and Spatial Management Poznań University of Life Sciences Piątkowska 94E, 60-649 Poznań: Poland
[witek@amu.edu.pl], Geohazards Research Unit, Institute of Geology Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 12, 61-680 Poznań Poland
[ditta.kicinska@amu.edu.pl], Department of Dynamic Geology and Applied Petrography, Institute of Geology Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 12, 61-680 Poznań: Poland
[zuzannapalinska@gmail.com], Cryosphere Research Unit, Institute of Geoecology and Geoinformation Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 10, 61-680 Poznań: Poland
[rzera@amu.edu.pl], Geohazards Research Unit, Institute of Geology Adam Mickiewicz University Bogumiła Krygowskiego 12, 61-680 Poznań Poland
