{"title":"Vertical Variability of Night Sky Brightness in Urbanised Areas","authors":"Dominika Karpińska, Mieczysław Kunz","doi":"10.2478/quageo-2023-0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2023-0001","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Excessive amounts of artificial light emitted into the lower atmosphere at night have already become an everyday feature of modern urban landscapes, and gradually also a phenomenon associated with areas located outside large human settlements. Urban islands of light have been the subject of targeted research conducted for several decades by scientists representing miscellaneous fields of science. In Toruń, regular research on the phenomenon of light smog has been carried out for several years at a number of sites located throughout the city. Recently, research has been started on the variability of the night sky brightness in a vertical gradient. To this end, repeatable measurements were made at specific altitudes at two locations in the city using a drone with an automatic light metre on board. The values of the night sky brightness thus obtained allowed us to determine its variability in the vertical gradient up to an altitude of 120 m, as well as to test the possibility of using drones in targeted studies of the light pollution phenomenon.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42454873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Vertical Variability of Night Sky Brightness in Urbanised Areas","authors":"Dominika Karpińska, Mieczysław Kunz","doi":"10.14746/quageo-2023-0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14746/quageo-2023-0001","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Excessive amounts of artificial light emitted into the lower atmosphere at night have already become an everyday feature of modern urban landscapes, and gradually also a phenomenon associated with areas located outside large human settlements. Urban islands of light have been the subject of targeted research conducted for several decades by scientists representing miscellaneous fields of science. In Toruń, regular research on the phenomenon of light smog has been carried out for several years at a number of sites located throughout the city. Recently, research has been started on the variability of the night sky brightness in a vertical gradient. To this end, repeatable measurements were made at specific altitudes at two locations in the city using a drone with an automatic light metre on board. The values of the night sky brightness thus obtained allowed us to determine its variability in the vertical gradient up to an altitude of 120 m, as well as to test the possibility of using drones in targeted studies of the light pollution phenomenon.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"66619247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Marsz, L. Sobkowiak, A. Styszyńska, D. Wrzesiński
{"title":"Causes and Course of Climate Change and Its Hydrological Consequences in the Greater Poland Region in 1951–2020","authors":"A. Marsz, L. Sobkowiak, A. Styszyńska, D. Wrzesiński","doi":"10.2478/quageo-2022-0033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2022-0033","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The paper presents effects of changes in climatic elements in the Greater Poland region (Poland), their causes and consequences for shaping the water balance of this area, copying with the most severe water deficit in Poland. The study period covers 70 years (1951–2020). The research identified an abrupt and significant change in the climate of Greater Poland, which started between 1987 and 1989, concerning not only air temperature but also a wider spectrum of climatic elements. The change in the state of the climate, which covers the entire Atlantic-Eurasian circulation sector, results from a sudden change in the macro-circulation conditions in the middle troposphere (500 hPa). The reason for the change in the mid-tropospheric circulation is an equally abrupt and simultaneous change in the intensity of the ocean heat transport by the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation (NA THC). Climate change observed in Greater Poland is manifested in an increase in sunshine duration (SD) and air temperature, a decrease in relative humidity, a change in the cloud structure, and an increase in the degree of sky coverage. The main, physical reason for an increase in air temperature is a rapid and strong increase in SD in the warm half-years, which began after 1988, and a significant increase in the frequency of positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) phases in winters. The ongoing climate change entails various effects, among which the most important is considered to be hydrological consequences. The water balance of Greater Poland is becoming increasingly unfavourable, mainly as a result of a rapid increase in field evaporation.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48303660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Marsz, L. Sobkowiak, A. Styszyńska, D. Wrzesiński
{"title":"Causes and Course of Climate Change and Its Hydrological Consequences in the Greater Poland Region in 1951–2020","authors":"A. Marsz, L. Sobkowiak, A. Styszyńska, D. Wrzesiński","doi":"10.14746/quageo-2022-0033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14746/quageo-2022-0033","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The paper presents effects of changes in climatic elements in the Greater Poland region (Poland), their causes and consequences for shaping the water balance of this area, copying with the most severe water deficit in Poland. The study period covers 70 years (1951–2020). The research identified an abrupt and significant change in the climate of Greater Poland, which started between 1987 and 1989, concerning not only air temperature but also a wider spectrum of climatic elements. The change in the state of the climate, which covers the entire Atlantic-Eurasian circulation sector, results from a sudden change in the macro-circulation conditions in the middle troposphere (500 hPa). The reason for the change in the mid-tropospheric circulation is an equally abrupt and simultaneous change in the intensity of the ocean heat transport by the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation (NA THC). Climate change observed in Greater Poland is manifested in an increase in sunshine duration (SD) and air temperature, a decrease in relative humidity, a change in the cloud structure, and an increase in the degree of sky coverage. The main, physical reason for an increase in air temperature is a rapid and strong increase in SD in the warm half-years, which began after 1988, and a significant increase in the frequency of positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) phases in winters. The ongoing climate change entails various effects, among which the most important is considered to be hydrological consequences. The water balance of Greater Poland is becoming increasingly unfavourable, mainly as a result of a rapid increase in field evaporation.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47102258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Geotourism Potential of Show Caves in Poland","authors":"A. Zieliński, A. Marek, Z. Zwoliński","doi":"10.2478/quageo-2022-0032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2022-0032","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In the modern world, tourism is a very dynamically growing industry with significant impact on the economic prosperity of many regions or even countries. The paper presents the geotourism potential of the 12 show (commercial) caves in Poland before and during the current pandemic time. Survey results demonstrate that caves are major geotourist attractions. In 2019, they were visited by a total of almost 950,000 people. The attendance might have exceeded even a million if the popular Mroźna Cave in the Tatras had not been temporarily closed to visitors due to a rockfall in winter period 2018/2019. In 2020, all the show caves combined were visited by a more than 390,000 people, which amounted to about 41% of the total attendance recorded for 2019. The most visited cave proved to be Smocza Jama (Dragon's Den) in the centre of Kraków, which recorded almost 422,000 visitors in 2019. A preliminary assessment of the attractiveness of the caves as geosites is given. The most attractive caves as geosites were identified as: Bear Cave, Upper Wierzchowska Cave, and Bat Cave. It is possible to confidently assert that the celebration of the International Year of Caves and Karst (IYCK) in 2021–2022 will increase interest in caves and translate into a revival of cave tourism.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43345518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Geotourism Potential of Show Caves in Poland","authors":"A. Zieliński, A. Marek, Z. Zwoliński","doi":"10.14746/quageo-2022-0032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14746/quageo-2022-0032","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In the modern world, tourism is a very dynamically growing industry with significant impact on the economic prosperity of many regions or even countries. The paper presents the geotourism potential of the 12 show (commercial) caves in Poland before and during the current pandemic time. Survey results demonstrate that caves are major geotourist attractions. In 2019, they were visited by a total of almost 950,000 people. The attendance might have exceeded even a million if the popular Mroźna Cave in the Tatras had not been temporarily closed to visitors due to a rockfall in winter period 2018/2019. In 2020, all the show caves combined were visited by a more than 390,000 people, which amounted to about 41% of the total attendance recorded for 2019. The most visited cave proved to be Smocza Jama (Dragon's Den) in the centre of Kraków, which recorded almost 422,000 visitors in 2019. A preliminary assessment of the attractiveness of the caves as geosites is given. The most attractive caves as geosites were identified as: Bear Cave, Upper Wierzchowska Cave, and Bat Cave. It is possible to confidently assert that the celebration of the International Year of Caves and Karst (IYCK) in 2021–2022 will increase interest in caves and translate into a revival of cave tourism.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45223556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of Atmospheric Circulation on the Occurrence of Very Strong and Extreme Cold Stress in Poland","authors":"M. Owczarek, A. Tomczyk","doi":"10.2478/quageo-2022-0028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2022-0028","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The primary objective of the study was the determination of the spatial and multiannual variability of occurrence of days with very strong and extreme cold stress in Poland according to the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), as well as determination of baric conditions favouring their occurrence. The study was based on data from the years 1966/67 to 2018/19 from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute and National Centre for Environmental Prediction/National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR). The research showed a statistically significant decrease in the number of days with very strong and extreme cold stress on half of the analysed stations, and a slight tendency or no changes on the remaining stations. The occurrence of days with extreme cold stress in Poland, as revealed by the analysis was primarily related to the presence of high-pressure systems blocking zonal circulation. The study resulted in the designation of three circulation types, i.e. two types related to anticyclonic systems and one cyclonic type.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41352756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reflectance Spectroscopy in Geology and Soil Sciences: Literature Review","authors":"Ireneusz Badura, M. Dąbski","doi":"10.2478/quageo-2022-0031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2022-0031","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This article presents a literature review of studies utilising reflectance spectroscopy in geological research. We describe a variety of available spectral libraries together with providing examples of spectral reflectance diagrams, and explain the basic spectral ranges. Geologists can use different methods of data collection, for example, sensors mounted on satellites, airborne [including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms] or portable spectroradiometers, and different ways of data processing. Most geological mapping based on reflectance spectroscopy is performed in the Arctic region, where vegetation does not obscure images. However, mineral mapping, studies of hot spring deposits, and rock/soil weathering alterations are also performed in lower latitudes. The development, combination and unification of all spectral data acquisition methods open up new possibilities for applications in a variety of geological and soil studies.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47503593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Variability of Water Exchange in the Hyporheic Zone of a Lowland River in Poland Based on Gradientometric Studies","authors":"M. Marciniak, M. Ziułkiewicz, M. Górecki","doi":"10.2478/quageo-2022-0030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2022-0030","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Moszczenica is a lowland river, which is a third-order river with a length of 55 km; it flows into the Bzura River in central Poland. The objective of this study was to evaluate two important factors in the exchange between surface water and groundwater in the hyporheic zone: a considerable change in water flow conditions and various origins of riverbed sections, natural and artificial. To identify the spatial variation of the hydraulic gradient in the hyporheic zone of the river, a gradientmeter was applied. The measurements show that at low water stages, upwelling was dominant, with an evidently inactive zone, whereas downwelling was inconsiderable. However, the morphology of the riverbed changed during the flood flow, and downwelling clearly dominated. Upwelling zones retained their activity despite a major change in hydrological conditions. Present studies on the artificially dug Moszczenica Canal have documented outflow of water from an artificial medieval canal to a naturally formed drainage base. This means that despite the passage of hundreds of years, the natural drainage base of the Moszczenica River is still active. Studies have demonstrated the applicability of the gradientmeter for evaluating the interaction between surface and groundwaters in the hyporheic zone.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48087982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdellah Ait Barka, J. Rais, A. Barakat, Elhassan Louz, Samir Nadem
{"title":"The Karst Landscapes of Beni Mellal Atlas (Central Morocco): Identification for Promoting Geoconservation and Tourism","authors":"Abdellah Ait Barka, J. Rais, A. Barakat, Elhassan Louz, Samir Nadem","doi":"10.2478/quageo-2022-0027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2022-0027","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Atlas of Beni Mellal is located in the Moroccan central High Atlas, characterized by an important geo-diversity that attracts tourists every year. However, the number of visitors remains limited due to the lack of the promotion means, enhancement and mediation of this heritage. The obtained data indicate that the studied area preserves a great number of karst geosites, such as ruiniform landscapes, caves, poljes, sinkholes, Karren, shaft cave and many remarkable reliefs such as canyons and cliffs. This work concerns the inventory, the quantitative evaluation and the enhancement of the remarkable geomorphosites. The results reveal the presence of 21 sites, including six karst forms; five ruiniform landscapes and one karren form, one enviable panoramic viewpoint and five karst springs, four caves, two travertines, two waterfalls, and one structural relief geosite; canyon, and one tepee structures. However, these sites are not protected against all types of degradation, because the general public does not recognize them. These karst forms are very vulnerable, they cannot reproduce quickly, and their deterioration leads to their permanent disappearance. That is why this heritage must be the object of a particular attention of the whole community. The valorisation of these geomorphologic assets is the proposal of a number of circuits and geo-tourist routes from the perspective of local and integrated development.","PeriodicalId":46433,"journal":{"name":"Quaestiones Geographicae","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41374231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}