Wieloletnia zmienność kriosfery Tatr

The work presents multi-annual variability of cryosphere components in the Tatra Mountains in the second part of the 20th century and in the first decade of the 21st century. The results of direct field observations and methods of description statistics, moving averages and linear models were applied. The following values were calculated: maximum and minimum values, mean arithmetic values with standard errors, standard deviations, 11-years moving averages. Trends of the investigated data with normal distribution were calculated using the method of smallest squares, and their statistical significance was checked with t test (significance level α≤0,05). The determined trends poorly explain the multi-annual variability of cryosphere in the Tatras and they are usually not statistically significant. On the other hand, the trends of development of seasonal and multiannual, ground and underground components of cryosphere were convergent, despite the fact that they are different in terms of their susceptibility to climatic impulses. The obtained results revealed: a) decrease of days with snow cover and maximal thickness of snow cover, b) decrease of duration and thickness of ice cover on lakes, c) intensive mass exchange (“rejuvenation”) of glacierets, and d) degradation of permafrost patches. These changes evidence an air temperature increase both in winter seasons and summer seasons and the decrease of snow precipitation. They are also consistent with global changes of cryosphere

Classification of the Tatra Mountain lakes in terms of the duration of their ice cover (Poland and Slovakia)

This paper presents the results of a classification of the Tatra lakes based on the duration of their ice cover, altitude, volume, and potential incoming solar radiation (PISR). It is embedded in the context of the impact of current climate change on the mountain environment. A digital elevation model, morphometric data, satellite imagery from the winter seasons of 2015-2017 and the Wroc#aw taxonomy method were used in the study. It was found that the order of freezing and thawing of the lakes investigated may change from year to year. The relationship between ice cover duration and altitude is clearly weakened by variations in lake volumes, with insolation having a noticeably lesser effect. Determining the duration of ice cover of the lakes over several seasons facilitates identifying the similarities and dissimilarities between them. Five groups of lakes displaying similar characteristics were identified as well as 2 groups of lakes with highly individual characteristics. Based on the data obtained, it can be concluded that the duration of ice cover on the Tatra lakes has been shortening noticeably over the last 100 years. Small high-altitude lakes seem to be most vulnerable to climate change

Structure of the heat balance of the Mięguszowiecki Glacieret (Tatra Mts) in summer in the period of high cloudiness and precipitation

W artykule przedstawiono wyniki pierwszych pomiarów i obliczeń energii wykorzystywanej w procesie topnienia powierzchni Lodowczyka Mięguszowieckiego w Tatrach. Na podstawie zarejestrowanych danych z automatycznej stacji meteorologicznej (promieniowa-nie krótkofalowe i długofalowe, temperatura i wilgotność powietrza, temperatura śniegu, prędkość wiatru) obliczono wartości głównych składników bilansu cieplnego powierzchni lodowczyka; salda promieniowania oraz strumieni ciepła odczuwalnego i utajonego

Zmienność temperatury u spodu sezonowej pokrywy śnieżnej w strefie sporadycznego występowania wieloletniej zmarzliny w Tatrach

Pokrywa śnieżna ze względu na swoją niską przewodność termiczną chroni podłoże przed zimową utratą ciepła. Natomiast jej wysokie albedo i entalpia przejścia fazowego ograniczają przepływ ciepła z atmosfery do gruntu podczas roztopów (Zhang 2005). W zależności od bilansu ciepła powierzchni gruntu wieloletnia zmarzlina może rozwijać się zarówno u spodu niskiej, jak i wysokiej sezonowej pokrywy śnieżnej (m.in. Goodrich 1982). W tym ostatnim przypadku przyczyną może być także zimowa cyrkulacja powietrza wewnątrz stoków usypiskowych i lodowców gruzowych (m.in. Delaloye, Lambiel 2005)

The problem of permafrost detection based on bottom temperature snow cover – the Tatra Mts. case

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki zimowego monitoringu temperatury powierzchni gruntu w piętrze alpejskim Tatr, na stanowiskach, w których wcześniej udokumentowano istnienie lub brak wieloletniej zmarzliny. Świadczą one, że (1) konwencjonalna interpretacja wyników kartowania wieloletniej zmarzliny metodą BTS może być zawodna; (2) współczesna wieloletnia zmarzlina w piętrze alpejskim Tatr rozwija się zarówno pod cienką jak i pod grubą pokrywą śnieżną, a jej istnienie może być związane głównie z lokalną cyrkulacją zimnego powietrza nad powierzchnią terenu

Postglacial talus slope development imaged by the ERT method: comparison of slopes from SW Spitsbergen, Norway and Tatra Mountains, Poland

Talus slopes are a common sedimentary formation both in polar and high-mountain areas, but their development is still not sufficiently understood. This article discusses the environmental factors that have been influencing development of talus slopes since the deglaciation and their impact on the internal structure of slopes. Case studies of the slopes from SW Spitsbergen and the Tatra Mountains in Poland were compared in order to explore different evolution stages. Slopes’ structurewas analysed using geophysical surveys based on two-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with a Wenner- Schlumberger array and an electrode spacing of 5 m, combined with geomorphological observations. The investigated talus slopes represent the paraglacial, periglacial and talus-alluvial environments. New data on the internal structure of talus slopes developing in the present or past glaciated areas adds to understanding talus slope evolution. There are many different views concerning the development of slopes during the paraglacial period, whose analysis seems to be crucial in the background of climate change and their record in slope structures. In addition, the study provided valuable information on the development and degradation of permafrost in slope materials

Variability of the snow avalanche danger in the Tatra Mountains during the past nine decades

In order to recognise the variability of the snow avalanche danger in the Tatra Mountains, the danger levels on consecutive days with snow cover over the last nine decades were calculated. To accomplish this task, the longest series of meteorological data were used from the Tatras along with an empirical method for determining the regional avalanche danger on the basis of elementary meteorological data. The results point to the fact that over the last 25 years the number of days with a level 2 avalanche danger significantly decreased, whereas the number of days with level 1 increased. This should result in a decreasing trend in the incidence of small and medium-sized natural avalanches. In the structure of snow cover, the percentage of melt forms might increase. However, this should not correlate with a significant increase in wet-snow avalanches, because the number of days with wet snow also reduces. The contemporary changes in the snow conditions and avalanche danger in the subalpine belt of the Tatras have been primarily associated with an increase in the air temperature (shorter winters and less snow)

Glacial ice and permafrost distribution in the Medena kotlina (Slovak Tatras) : mapped with application of GPR and GST measurements

The paper presents results of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys and Ground SurfaceTemperature (GST) monitoring at the largest Tatra’s glacieret and the adjacent debris slope, where inthe period 2002–2003, the only outcrop of buried massive ice in the whole Carpathian-Balcanian re-gion was exposed. The aim of these investigations were to determine the ice limit in the debris sub-stratum and its relation to the contemporary glacieret. This made it possible to verify the results of theearlier DC resistivity and electromagnetic soundings, and to better detect the glacieret bed. The newdata confirm the existence of a buried glacial ice both in the floor of the contemporary glacieret and inthe debris slope of the Medena kotlina. The range of this ice is however smaller than it had been as-sumed in earlier investigations. Within the debris slope, it contributes to creation of an isolated patchof contemporary permafrost containing mainly interstitial ice. Its occurrence is influenced byorographic conditions

Application of ground penetrating radar to identification of thickness and structure of sediments in postglacial lakes, illustrated with an example of the Mały Staw lake (the Karkonosze Mountains)

This paper has been aimed at demonstrating the applicability of the ground penetrating radar to acquiring basic information on lake sediments and geomorphological conditions of their deposition in the basin of Mały Staw lake. The lake area is one of the most comprehensively studied part of the Polish part of the Karkonosze Mountains. The application of radar soundings enabled a fast and environmentally friendly verification as well as updating the results of previous research on the thickness and structure of the sediments of this glacial lake. Mały Staw lake is formed at the postglacial depression in the granite bedrock. The bottom of the lake is composed of limnic depos-its of the maximum thickness reaching up to 15 m. The postglacial formations occurring below them probably contain a buried moraine of the youngest recessional phase. Solid rock is located about 25 meters beneath the current bottom of the lake