The dependence of relief on tectonics in the South -West Escarpment Zone of Tomaszowskie Roztocze (SE Poland)

The relatively undeforrned South-West escarpment zone (SWEZ) of Roztocze, SE Poland, is marginal to the East European Platform, which is covered by a thick succession of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic rocks. Cainozoic sediments, previously much more widely distributed and largely destroyed by erosion, still fill some valleys and also crop out in the hills of the inner and outer escarpments. The escarpment zone comprises several morphological elements: an outer hill zone, inner inselbergs and a median depression zone of tectonic origin. Transverse to the escarpment, these elements are compartmentalised by transverse valleys, many of which are fault-controlled. Morphometric and geomorphological studies show that the SWEZ of Roztocze was repeatedly tectonically activated. Neotectonic redevelopment has resulted from controls in the underlying basement. Hence there are many young faults, a large number of open fault-fissures and a complex system of joints, all of which have influenced landform development in this area to a considerable degree. The main scarps have been developed along the longitudinal fault zones and, along the transverse fault zones, breach valleys. Joint systems have controlled the development of secondary relief forms. The close association of relief and various elements of the geological structure in the SWEZ of Roztocze mean that cartographic methods can reliably be employed in studies of the landforms in this area

Application of ArcNEO for assessment of neotectonic activity illustrated by the upper Wieprz catchment (Roztocze, south-eastern Poland)

W opracowaniu zaprezentowano schemat działania narzędzia ArcNEO, zwiększającego funkcjonalność programu ArcGIS 10.1 i pozwalającego na typowanie obszarów względnie mobilnych tektonicznie. Narzędzie ArcNEO działa w oparciu o dane wektorowe (granice zlewni poszczególnych rzędów, wybrane profile poprzeczne zlewni, dla których wyznacza się wartości wskaźnika Vf, szerokość dna doliny) oraz cyfrowy model wysokościowy (CMW). Generuje ono parametry zlewni oraz trzy grupy wskaźników: dwie (wysokościowe i powierzchniowe) opisujące parametry zlewni oraz jedną (liniową) – opisującą cechy form rzeźby w zlewniach. Wielkości wskaźników są podstawą do oszacowania młodej mobilności tektonicznej. Działanie narzędzia ArcNEO przedstawiono na przykładzie zlewni górnego Wieprza, położonej na lubelskim obszarze wyżynnym. Opracowana aplikacja może być stosowana do wskazywania obszarów względnie aktywnych/nieaktywnych tektonicznie w innych regionach o stosunkowo jednorodnej budowie geologicznej, a także do określania charakterystyk fizjograficznych zlewni.The current study presents the function of the ArcNEO tool, which increases the functionality of the ArcGIS 10.1 software and facilitates identification of relatively mobile tectonic areas. The ArcNEO tool works on vector layers (boundaries between catchments of different orders, selected transverse catchment profiles with their calculated Vf index values, the width of the valley floor) and the digital elevation model (DEM). The tool generates catchment parameters and three groups of indices: two (elevation and surface) describe catchment parameters and one (linear) describes the characteristics of catchment relief. The values of the indices are used in estimation of new tectonic mobility. The function of the ArcNEO tool is presented on the example of the upper Wieprz catchment located in the Lublin Upland area. The application developed can be used to identify relatively active/inactive tectonic areas in other regions characterised by a relatively homogeneous geological structure and to provide physiographic features of catchments

Spatial relationships between the distribution of springs with the highest discharge and the neotectonics of the Biała Łada catchment in the Goraj Roztocze region (central-east Poland)

Considerations of the relationships between the groundwater systems and neotectonics in the Roztocze region have been first undertaken by J. Malinowski in the 1970s. Until now, no research results have supported or challenged the hypothesis proposed by this author. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to present the results of a detailed analysis of the relationships between the distribution of springs characterised by the highest discharge rates and neotectonics. The study area covered the Roztocze part of the Biała Łada catchment, which has been subjected to detailed hydrogeological and hydrological investigations since the 1960s. The study was based on spatial data concerning the distribution of springs and information about the discharge rates of the largest springs. The data were juxtaposed with the relatively active tectonic zones distinguished in the catchment based on the relative tectonic activity index (Iat). The index was calculated using ArcGIS software, based on DEM, and with the use of the ArcNEO tool. The investigations indicated that springs with the highest discharge rates are located in the intersection zone of the main Biała Łada dislocation with accompanying faults. Additionally, the springs are located in the mouth sections of dry, asymmetric valleys and at the foot of their steep slopes following isostatically elevated hanging walls. The results support the hypothesis put forward by J. Malinowski (1993), who suggested that the distribution of springs with the highest discharge rates is determined by tectonics of the rock massif, in particular the distribution of the main dislocations and the accompanying subordinate discontinuous tectonic structures

Conditions for the development of load-cast structures in alluvial sedi- ments of the Wisłok River valley near Rzeszów (south-eastern Poland)

The article presents the results of geological and geomorphological research concerning load-cast structures outcropping in the alluvial terrace sediments of theWisłok River in the Fore-Carpathian Erosional Valley. Given the large dimensions of these structures, reaching 1.5 m in some places, as well as their strong accumulation and diversity (i.e. drop-like and pocket-like structures), the authors attempted to establish the environmental factors that had determined the development of the structures in periglacial deposits of the Weichselian Glaciation. The structures were analysed in two accessible outcrops where sediments are represented by flood rhythmite and organic deposits, overlain by channel sands. Sandy load-cast structures occur in flood rhythmite and loamy deposits. The formation of load-cast structures probably started due to earthquakes in the Upper Pleniglacial period. The various shapes of load-cast structures were constrained by the various physical properties of the sediments and the escape of water during the deformation process

Morphometric methods in geomorphological research of the Lublin Region

W artykule dokonano przeglądu prac, w których zastosowano metody morfometryczne zmierzające do analizy i uwydatnienia cech geomorfologicznych regionu lubelskiego. Szczególną uwagę zwrócono na moSliwość wykorzystania wskaźników morfometrycznych do: oceny mobilności neotektonicznej obszaru, zwłaszcza Roztocza i Wyżyny Lubelskiej, analiz zależności pomiędzy orientacją i kształtem głównych form rzeźby a orientacją uskoków lub/i mezostruktur tektonicznych, szacowania rozmiarów erozji wąwozowej na Wyżynie Lubelskiej (zwłaszcza na Płaskowyżu Nałęczowskim) i Roztoczu Gorajskim oraz wydzielania regionów geomorfologicznych WySyny Lubelskiej w oparciu o wysokości względne i średnie oraz poziomy denudacyjne. Przywołano również próbę zastosowania metod morfometrycznych do szacowania głębokości podłoża i pomiarów miąższości osadów plejstoceńskoholoceńskich, w dolinie Sopotu na Roztoczu Tomaszowskim. Duże znaczenie praktyczne, zwłaszcza w planowaniu przestrzennym, może mieć mapa średnich nachyleń, która dobrze oddaje zróżnicowanie spadków terenu w odniesieniu do budowy geologicznej analizowanego obszaru. Metody morfometryczne pozwalają na prezentowanie przestrzennego rozmieszczenia form, zjawisk i procesów oraz ich ocenę. Oprócz tego umożliwiają interpretację struktury analizowanych obszarów, jak również rozważania natury paleogeograficznej.The article provides a review of the studies where morphometric methods were used to analyse and highlight the geomorphological settings of the Lublin Region. Special emphasis was given to the possibility of using morphometric coefficients in: the evaluation of the neotectonic mobility of the area, particularly the Lublin Upland and Roztocze, an analysis of the relations between the orientation and shape of main relief forms and the orientation of faults and/or tectonic mesostructures, assessing the extent of gully erosion in the Lublin Upland (particularly in the Nałęczów Plateau) and Goraj Roztocze, and distinguishing the geomorphological regions of the Lublin Upland on the basis of relative and mean altitudes and denudation horizons. An attempt at using morphometric methods to estimate the depth of the basal complex and to measure the thickness of Pleistocene and Holocene deposits in the Sopot Valley in Tomaszów Roztocze has also been discussed. Map of average slope, due to accurate depiction of the diversity of relief inclination with connection to geological structure, can be of large practical importance, especially for spatial planning. Morphometric methods allow for presenting spatial distribution of forms, phenomena and processes, as well as their evaluation. In addition, they allow for interpreting the structure of studied areas and reflexions of paleogeographical nature

Neotectonic mobility of the Roztocze region, Ukrainian part, Central Europe: insights from morphometric studies

The results of geological, geomorphic and hydrogeological research indicate spatially variable neotectonic activity of the Ukrainian part of the Roztocze region. This activity is confirmed by analysis of some geometric and morphometric coefficients (especially drainage basin elongation ratio, drainage basin circulatory ratio, drainage basin shape and lemniscate coefficient), which were calculated for 1646 drainage areas of the 3rd to 6th order, and morphometric linear coefficients (mountain-front sinuosity index and valley floor width-valley height ratio coefficient), which characterise the fault scarps. The south-western margin of the Rava Roztocze and Yaniv Roztocze regions, following NW-SE-trending faults, belongs to structures of the 1st or 2nd class of relative tectonic activity. On the other hand, in the north-eastern marginal zone in the Ukrainian part of the Roztocze region, a relatively active segment comprised between Maheriv and Zhashkiv shows a characteristic NW-SE orientation of valleys, controlled by a network of secondary sub-parallel faults. In the southern part of the analysed area, the Stavchanka River drainage basin related to the NW-striking fault zone, and the sub-parallel edge of the zone of the Vereshytsia-upper Mlynivka transverse depression are relatively active. Some relatively inactive areas are those of smaller drainage basins of the 3rd to 6th order, located within the zone of the main watershed between the Rata and Lubaczówka rivers in the Rava Roztocze region and the Zubra and Poltva rivers in the Lviv Roztocze region

Structural control on the relief in the Lublin Upland and the Roztocze region

The main relief features of the Lublin Upland (sensu Jahn, 1956) and Roztocze were formed during the early and middle Cenozoic stages of the Meta-Carpathian Ridge morphogenesis. They are clearly conditioned by the structure of the Upper Cretaceous-Palaeogene complex of the marginal part of the East European Craton. The following factors were of fundamental significance for the relief development in the study area: 1) Alpine and modern tectonic activity, which conditioned the horst nature of some morphostructures and the type of fissuring of rock massif, and 2) lithological diversity of the Upper Cretaceous-Palaeogene complex as well as the Miocene and Pliocene deposits, which influenced its strength features