Geographia Polonica (2022) vol. 95, iss. 3
Articles
Geographia Polonica (2022) vol. 95, iss. 3, pp. 205-225 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0233
Abstract
Agriculture has been the major driver of deforestation in Europe in the last 1000 years. In the past, forests were also exploited for charcoal production; however, the spatial scale/extent of this activity and its impact are unknown. LIDAR data can be used as a noninvasive tool to investigate the small-scale diversity of the land relief, including forested areas. These data can reveal the extent anthropogenic modifications of topography present-day as well as in the past. One of the activities that can be analyzed based on LIDAR data is spatial distribution of charcoal production. A preliminary LIDAR data analysis indicated the intensity of this practice and its potential impact on the natural environment. This prompted us to analyze the environmental impact of charcoal hearths in northern Poland. As it turned out, this topic exceeded the scope of earth sciences and became a transdisciplinary one. In this work, we will use the research methods typical of biogeography, dendroecology, paleoecology, soil science, biology, botany, history, onomastics, as well as art history, in order to thoroughly understand not only the natural consequences but also the social and economic consequences of charcoal production. This paper presents the assumptions of our project, the research methodology, and the preliminary results. We have identified using LIDAR data more than 73 thousand relief forms which can be remnants of charcoal hearths. Our preliminary results confirmed large scale impact of past human activity related to charcoal production and suitability of the methods used for detecting and reconstructing charcoal hearths as well as determining the distribution and magnitude of past forest use for charcoal production in NW Poland.
Keywords: anthropopression, relict charcoal hearths, legacy effects, deforestation, LIDAR, multiproxy, Central Europe
[michal.slowinski@geopan.torun.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Department of Soil Science Warsaw University of Life Sciences Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw: Poland
[tzwiazek@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. Stanisława Leszczyckiego PAN
, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
[aj.halas@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of Geological Sciences Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of History The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin: Poland
, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of Archaeology Nicolaus Copernicus University Szosa Bydgoska 44/48, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology Warsaw University of Life Sciences Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw: Poland
, Centre for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Nicolaus Copernicus University Sienkiewicza 30/32, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
, Centre for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage Nicolaus Copernicus University Sienkiewicza 30/32, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[mkramkowski@geopan.torun.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania PAN
, Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment University of Pisa, Italy
[sebtys@wp.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
[boguslawa_kruczkowska@sggw.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
[aniak@twarda.pan.pl], Department of Geoecology Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
[ekolaczk@twarda.pan.pl], Department of Geoecology Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization, Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
, Institute of Polish Language Polish Academy of Sciences al. Mickiewicza 31, 31-120 Kraków: Poland
, Faculty of History Nicolaus Copernicus University ul. Bojarskiego 1, 87-100 Toruń: Poland
[m.niedzielski@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
[konopski@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
[darek@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Kopernika 19, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
Geographia Polonica (2022) vol. 95, iss. 3, pp. 227-253 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0234
Abstract
We present a training set, the database involving physical-chemical water parameters together with the subfossil Cladocera and diatoms community composition in the surface sediments of 64 postglacial lakes in NE Poland sampled along a wide trophic gradient (from oligo- to highly eutrophic). The most important water parameters measured in water were chlorophyll-a, electrical conductivity (EC) and oxygen concentration. In addition, total phosphorus (TP) and Secchi depth (SD) were determined for the surface water layer. The data collected will be used to calculate a transfer-function for quantitative reconstruction of trophic state in fresh water temperate lakes.
Keywords: Lake training-set, water properties, summer vertical profiles, subfossil Cladocera, subfossil diatoms
[izawiska@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw: Poland
[woszczyk@amu.edu.pl], Institute Geoecology and Geoinformation Adam Mickiewicz University Dzięgielowa 27, 61-680 Poznań: Poland
[monika.rzodkiewicz@amu.edu.pl], Institute Geoecology and Geoinformation Adam Mickiewicz University Dzięgielowa 27, 61-680 Poznań: Poland
How Covid-19 pandemic influenced air quality in Polish cities – lessons from three lockdowns
Geographia Polonica (2022) vol. 95, iss. 3, pp. 255-274 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0235
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine how COVID-19 pandemic influenced air quality in the chosen Polish cities. Data on nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, fine and coarse particulate matter concentrations from air quality monitoring stations was used to compare pollutants levels during the pandemic and in the 5-year pre-pandemicperiod. The impact of the pandemic on the air quality has been analysed using linear mixed effect models, adjusting for long-term, seasonal and weekly trends and meteorological conditions. Results showed that during the pandemic, until the second lockdown only nitrogen oxides levels were significantly reduced (up to 20%), while when again loosening restrictions the rebound effect led to 20-30% increase of all analysed pollutants.
Keywords: air pollution, COVID-19, lockdown, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter
[klindner@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
[k.leziak@uw.edu.pl], Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies University of Warsaw Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warsaw: Poland
[broede@ifado.de], Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at TU Dortmund (IfADo) Ardeystrasse 67, 44139 Dortmund: Germany
Relationships between sunshine duration and air temperature in Poland
Geographia Polonica (2022) vol. 95, iss. 3, pp. 275-290 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0236
Abstract
The aim of the paper is to characterize the trends of sunshine duration (SDU) and air temperature in Poland, which may help understand the mechanism of contemporary climate change. The daily totals of SDU and daily data on air temperature from the years 1971-2020, from 25 synoptic stations in Poland are the basic source data. The series of records of the two variables showed that the points of change in the level of stabilization of the value of SDU and air temperature are close to each other, and confirm known in the literature “globaldimming” and “global brightening” periods. The linear regression model confirmed that sunshine duration explains well the variability of, and increase in day-time air temperature in Poland in the warm part of the year.
Keywords: global warming, climate change, sunshine duration, air temperature, trends, Poland
[d.matuszko@uj.edu.pl], Department of Climatology, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management Jagiellonian University Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków: Poland
[k.bartoszek@umcs.pl (], Department of Meteorology and Climatology Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Kraśnicka 2D, 20-718 Lublin: Poland
[jakub.soroka@imgw.pl], Institute of Meteorology and Water Management National Research Institute Sybiraków 10, 66-400 Gorzów Wielkopolski: Poland