Changes in the thickness of ice cover on water bodies subject to human pressure (Silesian Upland, southern Poland)

The paper discusses the reasons behind the variation in the thickness of ice on 39 anthropogenic water bodies located in the Silesian Upland (southern Poland). The studies were conducted over the course of three consecutive winter seasons. The measurements and observations were scheduled every 2 days during the freezing and ablation of the ice, and every 4 days when ice cover was present. Each time the thickness of the ice cover and the snow layer covering it were measured. The results show that the 35 water bodies studied are characterized by a similar - quasi-natural - ice regime, in which ice thickness variation depends mostly on the air temperature and the thickness of the snow layer covering the ice. The ice thickness on those water bodies does not significantly differ from that observed on lakes located in northern Poland, measuring on average from circa 4 to 21 cm, and with maximum thicknesses ranging from circa 14 to 40 cm, depending on the season. Four water bodies are characterized by different ice conditions; in their case the average and maximum ice thickness was significantly lower. In the Niezdara N water body this was caused by the inflow of warmer potamic water (quasi-natural regime), whereas in Pod Borem, Sośnicka, and Somerek it was caused by discharges of warm mine water (anthropogenic regime)

Ice Regime of the Kozłowa Góra Reservoir (Southern Poland) as an Indicator of Changes of the Thermal Conditions of Ambient Air

Ice phenomena are construed as the occurrence of ice in water irrespective of its structure, form, and duration. One of the most frequently discussed research problems is the possibility of using long-term ice phenology as an indicator of changes of the thermal conditions of ambient air. The study used correlation analysis and regression models in order to determine changes in the parameters studied over time. In order to compare the ice regime of the study reservoir and other lakes in the region, discriminant function analysis, principal components analysis (PCA), and canonical redundancy analysis (RDA) were applied. During the 52 winter seasons studied (1964–2015), there were weak but still statistically significant trends concerning the increase in air temperature in the region (by 0.3 C per decade), the reduction in the number of days with ice cover (by 8.6 days per decade) and the decline in the maximum and average thicknesses of lake ice (by 2.0 cm and 1.2 cm per decade). The low average depth and volume capacity are reflected in the rapid freezing rate of the reservoir, and its location results in a longer duration of ice cover, greater ice thickness, and later dates of its melting

Is the naturalization of the townscape a condition of de-industrialization? An example of Bytom in southern Poland

A characteristic element of the transformations of cities in Central and Eastern Europe after 1990 was the emergence of shrinking cities. The main problem related to shrinking cities is around how this process developed as a result of rapidly intensifying de-industrialization. While many studies in this area are devoted to demographic, social, and economic issues, relatively few studies address the spatial dimension. In this article, the example of spatial development in the (post-) mining city of Bytom in southern Poland is discussed, pointing to the need for a multifaceted approach to this issue. This article begins with an attempt to contextualize this issue within a broader time perspective. Such an analysis makes it possible to better situate contemporary changes in the context of the processes that were visible in previous periods. Next, these changes are described using two methods. The basis of the first method is comparisons between the different types of land use. The second method, which is emphasized, is the method of A. Macias, which indicates the degree of naturalization/anthropogenization of space. Macias’ method is crucial in the context of discussions about the future of post-mining towns, where attention is paid, among other things, to the issue of sustainable development

Conditions of spatiotemporal variability of the thickness of the ice cover on lakes in the Tatra Mountains

This research aimed to identify the impact of local climatic and topographic conditions on the formation and development of the ice cover in highmountain lakes and the representativeness assessment of periodic point measurements of the ice cover thickness by taking into consideration the role of the avalanches on the icing of the lakes. Field works included measurement of the ice and snow cover thickness of seven lakes situated in the Tatra Mountains (UNESCO biosphere reserve) at the beginning and the end of the 2017/2018 winter season. In addition, morphometric, topographic and daily meteorological data of lakes from local IMGW (Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management) stations and satellite images were used. The obtained results enabled us to quantify the impact of the winter eolian snow accumulation on the variation in ice thickness. This variation was ranging from several centimetres up to about 2 meters and had a tendency to increase during the winter season. The thickest ice covers occurred in the most shaded places in the direct vicinity of rock walls. The obtained results confirm a dominating role of the snow cover in the variation of the ice thickness within individual lakes

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)

Hypsometric changes in urban areas resulting from multiple years of mining activity

The impact of multiple years of underground mining of minerals on changes in the elevation of an urban area has been evaluated using the case study of Bytom in southern Poland. Between 1883 and 2011, that city experienced changes in absolute minimum (from 250.0 to 243.0 m a.s.l.) and maximum (from 340.0 to 348.4 m a.s.l.) elevations. During that period, the difference between minimum and maximum elevations increased from 90.0 to 105.4 m. The consequence of underground mining has been the formation of extensive subsidence basins with a maximum depth of 35 m. Where the terrain became raised, its elevation rose most commonly by 1.1 m to 5.0 m, with maximum increase in elevation caused by human activity amounting to 35 m. The rate of anthropogenic subsidence in the city between 1883 and 2011 averaged 43 mm/year (5.5 m over the study period)

The ice phenomena dynamics of small anthropogenic water bodies in the Silesian Upland, Poland

The aim of this study was to determine the dynamics of the process of a course of ice creation phenomena in two small water bodies located in the Silesian Upland. The studies and observations of ice formation on the water bodies were conducted during the period 10th November 2011 to 23rd March 2012. The following parameters were determined each day: degree of ice coverage on each water body, thickness and ice structure and thickness of snow cover on each water body. From the studies it results that a course of the ice formation of both water bodies was almost identical. The same maximum ice thickness was recorded in both cases. It was 36 cm in that season, with slight differences in average thickness. The course of particular phases of ice formation in different water regions was also very similar. The number of days with the ice phenomena and the number of days from the beginning to the end of the ice phenomena were identical in both cases, being 96 and 131 days, respectively. The slight differences over several days were recorded in the case of: number of days with shore ice (lb), number of days with partial ice cover (lcz), number of days with an incomplete ice cover (lnp), number of breaks in the ice cover (B). Additionally, with daily measurements of ice cover thickness the relationships between the course of the average daily air temperature from the meteorological station of Faculty of Earth Sciences of University of Silesia and the daily changes in the ice thickness in the water regions in question were determined by using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. In both cases the relationships were strong and they were r= −0,84(p<0,001) for the Amendy water body and r= −0,87 (p<0,001) for the Żabie Doły S water body. The maximum and average ice thickness, duration of the ice phenomena and ice cover and the obtained correlation coefficients between the air temperature and the changes in the ice thickness show that the water bodies in question are characterized by a quasi-natural ice regime

Determinants of Spatial Variability of Ice Thickness in Lakes in High Mountains of the Temperate Zone—The Case of the Tatra Mountains

Vertical and horizontal variation in the ice cover of mountain lakes in the temperate climate zone has not been thoroughly studied. The study concerned ice phenomena in four lakes located in the Tatra National Park in the Tatra Mountains (the Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy, Czarny Staw pod Rysami, Morskie Oko, and Smreczyński Staw). The research, which was conducted in the 2018/2019 winter season, included an analysis of variability in atmospheric conditions, an analysis of presence of ice phenomena on satellite images, field work (measurements of ice layer and of snow and slush layer thickness were conducted at a total of 151 sites), and statistical analyses. It was determined that negative air temperature was just one factor among those that determined the maximum thickness of the ice forming on lakes in high mountains. It was found that in addition to ambient thermal conditions, a major factor affecting the magnitude of variation in lake ice thickness was the thickness of the snow overlying the ice and its spatial variability. Thicker ice cover tended to form in areas where a thick layer of snow was deposited. The decisive factor that contributed to a significant variation in ice thickness between lakes was the uneven accretion of snow ice from above. The maximum ice thickness values modeled using Stefan’s formula were significantly underestimated (accounting for 38–61% of the ice thickness measured) relative to the highest ice thickness values found empirically at the end of the winter season. Study results fill a gap in our knowledge and methodology related to vertical and horizontal variation in the ice cover of mountain lakes; they also have significant applications, indicating the risk of winter use of water bodies with different ice cover structure, thickness, and extent

A Comparison of Model Calculations of Ice Thickness with the Observations on Small Water Bodies in Katowice Upland (Southern Poland)

Small bodies of water in densely populated areas have not yet been thoroughly studied in terms of their ice cover. Filling the existing research gap related to ice cover occurrence is therefore important for identifying natural processes (e.g., response to climate warming and water oxygenation in winter), and also has socio-economic significance (e.g., reducing the risk of loss of health and life for potential ice cover users). This paper addresses the issue of determining the utility of two simple empirical models based on the accumulated freezing degree-days (AFDD) formula for predicting maximum ice thickness in water bodies. The study covered 11 small anthropogenic water bodies located in the Katowice Upland and consisted of comparing the values obtained from modelling with actual ice thicknesses observed during three winter seasons (2009/2010, 2010/2011, and 2011/2012). The best fit was obtained between the values observed and those calculated using Stefan&rsquo;s formula with an empirical coefficient of 0.014. A poorer fit was obtained for Zubov&rsquo;s formula (with the exception of the 2011/2012 season), which is primarily due to the fact that this model does not account for the thickness of the snow accumulated on the ice cover. Bengst&rsquo;cise forecasting of the state of the ice cover and the provision of the relevant information to interested users will increase the safety of using such water bodies in climate warming conditions, reducing the number of accidents

A Comparison of Model Calculations of Ice Thickness with the Observations on Small Water Bodies in Katowice Upland (Southern Poland)

Small bodies of water in densely populated areas have not yet been thoroughly studied in terms of their ice cover. Filling the existing research gap related to ice cover occurrence is therefore important for identifying natural processes (e.g., response to climate warming and water oxygenation in winter), and also has socio-economic significance (e.g., reducing the risk of loss of health and life for potential ice cover users). This paper addresses the issue of determining the utility of two simple empirical models based on the accumulated freezing degree-days (AFDD) formula for predicting maximum ice thickness in water bodies. The study covered 11 small anthropogenic water bodies located in the Katowice Upland and consisted of comparing the values obtained from modelling with actual ice thicknesses observed during three winter seasons (2009/2010, 2010/2011, and 2011/2012). The best fit was obtained between the values observed and those calculated using Stefan’s formula with an empirical coefficient of 0.014. A poorer fit was obtained for Zubov’s formula (with the exception of the 2011/2012 season), which is primarily due to the fact that this model does not account for the thickness of the snow accumulated on the ice cover. Bengst’cise forecasting of the state of the ice cover and the provision of the relevant information to interested users will increase the safety of using such water bodies in climate warming conditions, reducing the number of accidents