Przemiany geosystemów zbiorników wodnych powstałych w nieckach osiadania na Wyżynie Katowickiej

The group of water reservoirs filling subsidence depressions is unquestionably result of interaction between human and the environment. These reservoirs undoubtedly are an unintentional effect of human activity, carried out in the Katowice Upland. They originated, are formed and still will appear irrespective of human being. Spatial and temporal variability of analysed reservoir occurrence directly results from the intensity of subsiding process, and the complexity of geological-mining factors in the area described causes, that terrain deformations, induced by deep mining, appear during mineral resource exploitation and after its finishing. The tendency to close mines, observed not long before now, will influence on the rate reduction of reservoir origination only inconsiderably, because subsiding can be observed even after tens of years after output stopping. The process of reservoir forming will be finished not before the complete stabilisation of rock mass. Owing to these reasons the described water reservoirs are element of landscape, which is characterised by large dynamics of changes in their number and occupied area as well. Considering shape, the reservoirs in subsidence depressions usually refer to forming subsidence depression, therefore the outline of shoreline often assumes an oval shape. But in respect of the presence of numerous terrain barriers (e.g. railway and road embankments) and human interference in newly originating reservoirs, and especially objects, which function in the environment for a certain time, their appearance becomes notably modified. In the area of the Katowice Upland very small and small reservoirs predominate because their range is permanently limiting in an essential way. The decided majority of them possesses the unitary area, which does not exceed 10 ha, but only not numerous objects are characterised by larger size. In the case of their depth the situation is similar, these depths are small and usually shaped at the level of 2—3 meters, more rarely reaching greater values in the deepest places. Not great area and capacity of described water reservoirs influences the limitation of shore processes development considerably. There are, admittedly, changes of different kind in morphology of shore zone but originated landforms have decidedly more accumulation than abrasion character. Simultaneously, their number is small and little varied. Among natural factors modelling shores of these reservoirs the largest importance is played by wind waving, but then human activity causes the most visible changes in their morphology. In described water reservoirs flat shores predominate. They are almost usually overgrown by vegetation, and these shores have a natural character simultaneously. Large contribution is also typical for anthropogenic shores, which are shaped by human being. They are high shores. Within analysed water reservoirs in subsidence depressions natural high shores were not observed, they are also devoid of anthropogenic flat shores. Water reservoirs in subsidence depressions located in the Katowice Upland are characterised by very large pollution of bottom deposits by heavy metals. Among five analysed elements especially zinc, lead and cadmium exceeded many times the level of accepted geochemical background. It especially refers to reservoirs located in the terrain of natural-landscape complex „Żabie Doły” (“Frog pits”). Among them one should mention reservoir No. 6, in case of which maximum zinc content amounted to 5 404.43 mg/kg, whereas average lead concentration was shaped at the level 1 335.43 mg/kg, and cadmium was present in amount of 41.68 mg/kg. In some reservoirs overstandard copper content also pointed at the contamination of bottom deposits. This phenomenon also refers to many other artificial water reservoirs located in the area of Katowice Upland. Thereby, it confirms varied influence of human impact, which decides of pollution degree of bottom deposits. Bottom deposits prove ecological changes occurring in the neighbourhood of water reservoirs as geosystems. Functioning of water reservoirs in subsidence depressions in the Katowice Upland under conditions of varied anthropopression decides also of different physicochemical properties of stored waters. But for the majority of them significant pollution, especially by biogenic compounds (phosphates and nitrates), is observed. The last-mentioned compounds are responsible for eutrophication of these geosystems. In reservoirs No. 1 and 2 in the period 2003—2005 the presence of phosphates at the level above 1 mg PO4 3−/dm3 was stated many times, and in the case of reservoir No. 5 phosphate concentration exceeded 2 mg PO4 3−/dm3 with maximum amounting to 2.444 mg PO4 3−/dm3. In described water reservoirs very large nitrate amounts occurred, they often exceeded the level of 100 mg NO3−/dm3. These compounds in such amounts were especially typical for reservoirs No. 3, 4, 6 and 8, whereas absolute maximum values referred to reservoir No. 2 situated in Sosnowiec, in which sporadically present nitrates were observed at the level of 340 mg NO3−/dm3. Large amounts of bioelements in the described geosystems cause systematic growth in water fertility, intensifying biological production in a form of increase in algae biomass. Among disadvantageous signs of eutrophication in the described reservoirs are also numbered as follows: decrease in water transparency, overoxygenation of surface water layers at simultaneous lack of oxygen at the bottom and thereby threat to life of aerobic organisms, worsening of light conditions, distinct increase in water pH-reaction and intensive overgrowing of reservoirs. High degree of limnic water salinity and the presence of heavy metals betoken also degradation of the majority of characterised lake geosystems. Especially chlorides occurred in above-natural amounts, what peculiarly refers to reservoirs No.: 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8, in which their amount usually exceeded 200 mg Cl−/dm3. These compounds rather often reached the level of 1 000 mg Cl−/dm3, and absolute maximum referred to the reservoir No. 8, in which chlorides were measured in amount of 1 580 mg Cl−/dm3. In a case of sulphates the situation looks similarly, the largest amounts occurred in reservoir No. 5, with maximum amounting to 1 450 mg SO4 3−/dm3. That this why the mentioned parameters were usually numbered among the lowest quality classes of surface waters, and noted concentrations of heavy metals, such as zinc, exceeded the border values of parameters of water quality referring to good and higher than good ecological state of surface waters. But bad qualitative state of waters does not refer to all described reservoirs. Reservoirs, which undergo moderate influence of human impact, have waters of relatively good quality, although in these cases the periodical worsening in physicochemical properties also happens. Water reservoirs in subsidence depressions in an essential way modify the local water cycle. They undoubtedly are hydrological objects making new link, thanks to which the changes in direction of water migration in the area of Katowice Upland happen. On the one hand, subsiding processes appearing at the terrain surface cause calculable material wastes, but on the other hand — functioning of the described reservoirs, especially at degraded parts of the Katowice Upland, can influence the improvement of landscape aesthetics of these terrains. Water reservoirs, together with their nearest neighbourhood, fulfil also very important natural functions, making the habitat for existence and reproduction for many animal species and causing the increase in biological diversity. The more so because, this genetic group of anthropogenic water reservoirs possesses completely shaped connections with particular components of the natural environment since the beginning of bowl forming. Processes occurring here have a natural character. Reservoirs in subsidence depressions are treated as the mining waste and according to the idea of legal rules they should be reclaimed through the restoring former state. But numerous investigations carried out within this range prove, that in many well-founded cases the best effects are obtained by land reclamation in water direction. The final effect of such activities is total naturalisation of described reservoirs, which in the end fulfil the same function as natural lakes. In the Katowice Upland many reservoirs in subsidence depressions occur, which as left to themselves undergo spontaneous regeneration and currently they make a valuable element of this terrain landscape. Therefore one should tend to preserve such reservoirs and also to restore the following water-mud biotopes in post-exploitation terrains of the Katowice Upland

Twardość ogólna wód wybranych zbiorników wodnych w nieckach osiadania Wyżyny Śląskiej

The paper presents results of investigations on total water hardness of water reservoirs in subsidence depressions located in the Silesian Upland. The considerations included concentrations of calcium and magnesium as chiefly responsible for the water hardness. The author also discussed the main reasons of total water hardness variety with regard to the natural environmental conditions and the influence of varied human impact

Agresywność węglanowa wód wybranych zbiorników wodnych w nieckach osiadania na Wyżynie Katowickiej

In the period of three hydrological years 2003–2005 hydrochemical studies were conducted in 10 marked out water reservoirs in subsidence depressions located in Katowice Upland. The aim of research was to determine the carbonate aggressiveness in water of reservoirs to state if the precipitation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) occurs. It was found that among reservoirs investigated predominate objects in which the saturation index SIc took on positive valu

Course of ice phenomena in small water reservoir in Katowice (Poland) in the winter season 2011/2012

Investigations on the ice phenomena were carried out on a small water reservoir located in the northern part of Katowice, at A4 motorway, in terrains of the Shopping-Service Centre “3 Ponds” (“Trzy Stawy”). Observations on the course of ice phenomena were performed in the winter season 2011/2012. Measurements were started in the moment occurrence of the first forms of the ice phenomena and were finished after their complete disappearance. The investigations had a character of systematic, daily observations and consisted in the mapping of ice phenomena. Among basic research aims should be numbered as follows: evaluation of the ice phenomena course, the identification of the ice phenomena forms, determination of changes in the range of ice cover and its characteristics in terms of recreational use as well. The first effects of low air temperatures occurred on the 19th November of 2011. At the beginning the ice phenomena in a form of so-called shore naledi and shore ice appeared. The formation of a compact ice cover happened not before than after nearly two months. Permanent ice cover formed on 16th January 2012. At the end of ice cover occurrence its crashing followed, reflecting in a form of numerous fissures in the ice. The complete disappearance of processes and forms ice phenomena happened on the 21st March 2012. Ice phenomena in the winter season 2011/2012 occurred for 124 days from the 18th November 2011 till the 21st March 2012, including uninterruptedly for 65 days. Ice cover in the initial stage had an ephemeral character. Safe recreational use of ice cover at the reservoir (e.g. walking, fishing, ice skating) was possible only for about 20 days, when its thickness exceeded 15 cm and ice composition had a homogenous (crystalline) structure. The course of ice phenomena indicates their quasinatural character, resulting from the natural conditions

Floods in the Upper Part of Vistula and Odra River Basins in the 19th and 20th Centuries

Celem badań jest analiza powodzi w XIX i XX w. w górnej części dorzecza Odry (tj. po ujście Nysy Kłodzkiej) oraz w górnej części dorzecza Wisły (tj. po profil w Krakowie). Powierzchnia badanej części dorzecza Odry wynosi 13 455 km2, a długość koryta rzeki około 273,0 km. Wisła na opisywanym odcinku ma długość 184,8 km, a powierzchnia zlewni wynosi około 8101 km2. Warunki środowiska geograficznego dorzecza górnej Wisły i Odry powodują powstawanie powodzi zarówno w półroczu letnim, jak i zimowym. Z przeprowadzonych analiz dla okresu XIX i XX wieku wynika, że w przebiegu powodzi można wyróżnić dwa ich zasadnicze typy. Wezbrania o jednej kulminacji w XIX wieku w górnej części dorzecza Odry wystąpiły w latach: 1813, 1831, 1879, 1889, 1890 i 1896, a w górnej części dorzecza Wisły w latach: 1805, 1813, 1816, 1818, 1826, 1830, 1834, 1844 i 1845. W XX wieku podobne zjawiska notowano na Odrze w latach: 1903, 1909, 1911, 1915, 1925, 1960, 1970 i 1985, a na Wiśle w latach: 1903, 1908, 1925, 1931, 1934, 1939, 1948, 1951, 1970, 1972, 1991, 1996, 1997 i 1999. Do drugiego typu powodzi zaliczono te o dwóch, trzech i większej liczbie kulminacji. Ich przyczyną były fale następujących po sobie dużych opadów deszczu, przedzielone kilku-, kilkunastodniowymi, a nawet kilkutygodniowymi okresami bezopadowymi. Tego typu powodzie wystąpiły na górnej Odrze w latach: 1847, 1854, 1880, 1888, 1892, 1897 i 1899, a na Wiśle jedynie dwie powodzie z 1839 i 1843 roku odznaczały się dwiema kulminacjami. W XX wieku na górnej Odrze powodzie o tego typu parametrach miały miejsce w latach: 1902, 1926, 1939, 1940, 1972, 1977 i 1997, a na górnej Wiśle były to: 1906, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1940, 1958, 1960 oraz 1987. Na przestrzeni XIX i XX wieku wystąpiło tylko kilka przypadków, gdy powodzie miały miejsce zarówno w górnej części dorzecza Wisły, jak i w górnej części dorzecza Odry. Taka sytuacja zazwyczaj miała miejsce w przypadku katastrofalnych wezbrań, do których zalicza się m.in. te z lat: 1813, 1903, 1915, 1925, 1939, 1940, 1960, 1970, 1972 i 1997

The development of freshwater deltas and their environmental and economic significance

The article presents the results of studies concerning the delta forms that arise as a result of the sedimentation of the debris fed to water bodies by watercourses. The study covered several dozen anthropogenic water bodies in the Upper Silesia region, which is well known for its high degree of urbanisation and industrialisation. Basic research work included morphometric measurements of deltas, analyses of the mechanical and chemical composition of delta sediments and analyses of the chemical composition of the common reed growing on the deltas. The research has demonstrated that the deltas exhibit certain characteristics typical of anthropogenic forms that result from the pollutants found in watercourses. In delta sediments, grains of sand usually dominate, but in many cases the share of the < 0.02 mm fraction is as high as ca. 30%. Sediments often contain fine coal and other organic pollutants, which is reflected by high weight loss on ignition. The content of trace elements in delta sediments is usually many times higher than the geochemical background for all types of sedimentary rocks. Deltas are an environment where pollutants accumulate and some of them are assimilated by plants. The content of macro elements in common reed tissues from different deltas does not vary widely while the content of trace elements often results from their content in the sediments. The material that forms deltas can be extracted and in some cases even used as fuel

Anthropogenic enrichment of the chemical composition of bottom sediments of water bodies in the neighborhood of a non-ferrous metal smelter (Silesian Upland, Southern Poland)

An assessment was carried out of the anthropogenic enrichment of the chemical composition of the bottom sediments of water bodies situated in an area with an urban and industrial character (63.7% of the total area). The endorheic catchments of the water bodies studied are lithologically uniform with sandy formations accounting for more than 90% of the surface area. On the basis of geoaccumulation index values, it was found that the bottom sediments of the water bodies studied were contaminated with the following elements: Cd, Zn, S, As, Pb, Sr, Co, Cr, Cu, Ba, Ni, V, Be, in degrees ranging from moderate to extreme, with lower contamination (or absence of contamination) with the same elements being found in the formations present in the vicinity and in the substrate of the basins of water bodies. It was found that one consequence of the fact that these water bodies are located in urban and industrial areas is that there is anthropogenic enrichment of the chemical composition of bottom sediments with certain basic components (organic matter, Mn, Ca and P compounds) and trace elements: Cd, Zn, Pb, Sb, As, Cu and Co, Br, Ni, S, Be, Cs, Sr, V, Cr, Sc, Ba, U, Ce, Eu and Th, with virtually no enrichment of sediments with the other basic and trace components analysed (La, Rb, K2O, Nd, Sm, Na2O, Hf, SiO2, Zr)

Zbiornik Poraj

"W sąsiedztwie miejscowości Poraj, w 1978 r. wybudowano zaporę spiętrzającą wody Warty, tworząc w ten sposób największy zbiornik wodny w północnej części województwa śląskiego. Miejscowość Poraj położona jest w odległości około 17 km na południe od Częstochowy i stanowi ośrodek gminy o powierzchni niespełna 58 km2, zamieszkałej przez około 10 tys. osób. Właścicielem zbiornika Poraj w przeszłości była Huta Częstochowa, a od końca 2000 r. zarządzaniem obiektem zajmuje się Regionalny Zarząd Gospodarki Wodnej z siedzibą w Poznaniu. Zaporę zbiornika zlokalizowano w 764 kilometrze biegu rzeki Warty (licząc od ujścia), zamykając zlewnię o powierzchni 389 km2, w odległości 44 km od źródeł rzeki." [...] (fragm.

Zbiornik Pławniowice

"Zbiornik Pławniowice położony jest w środkowej części województwa śląskiego, kilka kilometrów od jego zachodniej granicy. Znajduje się w zlewni Potoku Toszeckiego, który po opuszczeniu jeziora uchodzi do Kłodnicy, prawostronnego dopływu Odry. Zbiornik znajduje się w granicach tzw. Górnośląskiego Pojezierza Antropogenicznego. Pod względem fizycznogeograficznym tereny te zaliczane są do najdalej na wschód wysuniętej części mezoregionu Kotlina Raciborska, która wchodzi w skład makroregionu Nizina Śląska." [...] (fragm.

Zlodzenie zbiorników wodnych w Kotlinie Dąbrowskiej

In the winter season 2008/2009 the estimation of ice cover course in water reservoirs of Dąbrowa Basin was made. Observations and investigations proved the variety in intensity course of ice phenomena occurrence in particular water reservoirs. Studies carried out allowed statement of quasinatural regime of ice phenomena, and particular phases of seasonal ice cover resulted from the existence of local conditions of mainly natural character. Differences existing at the stage of water surface freezing up and thawing resulted mainly from morphometric dissimilarities of limnic objects under investigation