The influence of waters from hard-coal mines on the hydrochemical relations of Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) rivers

Surface waters of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) are highly transformed in quality as a consequence of salty minewater discharge to the hydrographic net. These waters drain coal beds which are extracted to a depth of 1000 m. The amount of minewater, discharging directly or indirectly to the river net of the USCB reaches 8-9 m3/s with a variability in particular years of 1-1.5 m3/s, which depends on hydrological conditions of the levels extracted. In 1994, the salt load introduced together with these waters to the Vistula and the Oder reached 6793 tons per 24 hours of chloride ions and 1351 tons per 24 hours of sulphate ions. This accounted for over 50% of the chlorides and about 35% of the sulphates discharged to surface waters in the country. Furthermore, a part of the minewater also contains radioactive elements (radium22 ). The chance to improve the quality of the Oder and Vistula waters in the nearest future is meagre

Baza noclegowa jako element zagospodarowania turystycznego Ustronia - śląskiego uzdrowiska statutowego

"Przestrzeń geograficzna, składająca się z elementów naturalnych (środowisko przyrodnicze) oraz antropogenicznych (środowisko antropogeniczne), stanowi źródło walorów turystycznych, które odpowiednio przystosowane do obsługi ruchu turystycznego, mogą zmienić się w atrakcje, a następnie produkty turystyczne. Wszystkie działania zmierzające do przystosowania środowiska geograficznego dla potrzeb turystyki określone zostały jako zagospodarowanie turystyczne, które może być prowadzone w celach: przystosowania walorów turystycznych, zapewnienia możliwości dojazdu oraz zapewnienia niezbędnych warunków egzystencji turystów1. Zagospodarowanie turystyczne (infrastruktura turystyczna) stanowi zbiór wszystkich obiektów, urządzeń, instytucji, a więc całą bazę świadczącą usługi dla turystów2. Obejmuje ono zatem wszystkie te elementy, które zapewniają prawidłowe funkcjonowanie miejsca recepcji turystycznej, stanowiąc bardzo istotny element rozwoju turystyki w danym regionie"

Charakterystyka hydrologiczno-hydrochemiczna zlewni rzeki Koszarawy

Hydrological characteristics of the catchment area of the river Koszarawa including selected hydrochemical components was based on the analysis: the results of hydrometric research carried out in hydrological year 2007/2008 and hydrological data of the quality surface water monitoring by WIOŚ. The catchment area of the river Koszarawa is characterized by high varia-bility of flows, result from the diversity of components of the geographical environment and the human activity. The hydro-chemical analysis classify surface waters of this catchment area to the first class quality

Factors influencing floods in the urbanized and industrialized areas of the Upper Silesia Industrial Region in the 19th and 20th centuries (the Kłodnica catchment case study)

The occurrence and pattern of floods in urban industrial areas depend on both the hydro-meteorological and physico-geographical properties of the catchment area and on the degree of anthropogenic transformation of land. The area selected for research is one of the largest urban mining-industrial districts in Europe, known as the Upper Silesian Industrial Region (USIR). Besides the ‘typical’ flood risk, which manifests itself in rivers overflowing their banks, this catchment is also threatened with floods that do not depend on meteorological factors but are caused by the formation of flood lands in areas transformed due to deep mining of hard coal. The pattern of floods in the catchment has also been influenced by changes in the forms of land use resulting from the growth of urbanized areas. Because of the increasing flood risk and the fact that it is impossible to build water storage reservoirs other possibilities of improving water retention capacity in the catchment have been indicated

Sex- and age-related differences in the management and outcomes of chronic heart failure: an analysis of patients from the ESC HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

Aims: This study aimed to assess age- and sex-related differences in management and 1-year risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Methods and results: Of 16 354 patients included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, 9428 chronic HF patients were analysed [median age: 66 years; 28.5% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37%]. Rates of use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) were high (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: 85.7%, 88.7% and 58.8%, respectively). Crude GDMT utilization rates were lower in women than in men (all differences: P\ua0 64 0.001), and GDMT use became lower with ageing in both sexes, at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT prescription; however, age >75 years was a significant predictor of GDMT underutilization. Rates of all-cause mortality were lower in women than in men (7.1% vs. 8.7%; P\ua0=\ua00.015), as were rates of all-cause hospitalization (21.9% vs. 27.3%; P\ua075 years. Conclusions: There was a decline in GDMT use with advanced age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT or adverse outcomes. However, age >75 years independently predicted lower GDMT use and higher all-cause mortality in patients with LVEF 6445%

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in environmental research and water management

The article presents the content of digital thematic maps: sozological and hydrographic as well as the basic principles of their preparation. It contains selected examples of applications of these maps in the research of natural environment and water management in the Upper Silesia region and its surroundings. This area is one of the most transformed regions due to human economic activity in Europe

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Environmental Research and Water Management

The article presents the content of digital thematic maps: sozological and hydrographic as well as the basic principles of their preparation. It contains selected examples of applications of these maps in the research of natural environment and water management in the Upper Silesia region and its surroundings. This area is one of the most transformed regions due to human economic activity in Europe

Water level fluctuations in the Turawa Reservoir in relation to the tourist use of the water body

The aim of the paper is to assess the fluctuations of water levels in the Turawa Reservoir (50° 43' N, 18° 08' E) in relation to the tourist use of the water body. The reservoir is situated within the macroregion of the Silesian Lowland in the mesoregion of the Opole Plain. In administrative terms, the reservoir is situated in the pole Province within the borough of Turawa. In hydrological terms, in turn, it is situated in the catchment area of the Mała Panew river, which belongs to the basin of the Odra river. The Turawa Reservoir was opened for use in 1938, and in 1948 it was filled with water to its maximum for the first time. At present, the surface area of the reservoir, when it is filled with water to its maximum, is about 20.8 km2, its volume 99.5 mln m3, and its depth exceeds 13 meters. In the period of hydrological years 1976-2000 water levels in this reservoir were characterized by high, unnoticed in natural conditions, amplitudes of changes reaching 6.99 m. Anthropogenically stimulated fluctuations in the water level result in conflicts in terms of tasks and functions that the Turawa Reservoir was designed for. Changes in the level of the water surface in the Turawa Reservoir resulted from the impact of the natural factors (thaw and rainfall related high water levels), as well as anthropogenic ones (the need to improve sailing conditions, water supply for industrial and municipal needs). Decreasing the fluctuations of water levels in the Turawa Reservoir is necessary in order to maintain its tourist-recreational functions and keep the ecological condition of its waters at the appropriate level