uniwersytet im. adama mickiewicza w...

Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu Komitet Badań Polarnych Polskiej Akademii Nauk

Klub Polarny Polskiego Towarzystwa Geograficznego Polskie Konsorcjum Polarne

Stacja Polarna UAM „Petuniabukta” Stowarzyszenie Geomorfologów Polskich Stowarzyszenie Gospodarka Przestrzenna

XXXVII Sympozjum Polarne

„Polar Change – Global Change”

Streszczenia

Poznań, 7-10 czerwca 2018

Redakcja: Jakub Małecki Krzysztof Rymer Agata Buchwał Andrzej Kostrzewski Komitet organizacyjny Sympozjum: Przewodniczący: Jakub Małecki Sekretarz: Krzysztof Rymer Andrzej Kostrzewski Grzegorz Rachlewicz Agata Buchwał Justyna Weltrowska Marcin Winowski Sebastian Kendzierski Tomasz Kurczaba

Projekt logo i okładki oraz zdjęcie na okładce: Tomasz Kurczaba

Organizatorzy:

Druk i oprawa:

Bogucki Wydawnictwo Naukowe

ul. Górna Wilda 90, 61-576 Poznań

tel. +48 61 8336580

e-mail: [email protected]

www.bogucki.com.pl

© Instytut Geoekologii i Geoinformacji Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu

ISBN 978-83-7986-189-7

Publikacja współfinansowana przez Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza

w Poznaniu i Polską Akademię Nauk

XXXVII Sympozjum Polarne „Polar Change – Global Change”, 7-10 czerwca 2018, Poznań

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Spis treści

Przedmowa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Streszczenia referatów

Robert Bialik

Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station: open door to... and for science . . . . . . . . . .

Agata Buchwał, Jeffrey M. Welker Dendroecological signal derived from Betula nana growth ring chronology in Northern Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Agnieszka Burakowska et al. Concentration of cosmogenic and anthropogenic radionuclides in the ground layer of the atmosphere in the polar and mid-latitudes regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maciej Chełchowski et al.

Interannual variability of macrofauna biodiversity in the Antarctic intertidal zone. . . . .

Anna Cwanek et al.

Evaluation of radioactive contamination in lichens and mosses from coastal zone of Western Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wojciech Dobiński, Michał Glazer

Probable two – layered permafrost formation, as a result of climatic evolution in mountainous environ-ment of Storglaciären forefield, Tarfala, Northern Scandinavia. .

Piotr Dolnicki, Mariusz Grabiec

Thickness of talus deposits on Fugleberget hillside (SW Spitsbergen) in the light of the theories of slope development in periglacial areas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Daniel J. Dunkley et al.

A tale of two orogens, as told by microbeam dating, in the Archean Saglek block of the Labrador Coast. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wojciech Działowski

Measuring data transmission system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marek Ewertowski et al.

Rapid mapping and monitoring of geomorphology in polar areas using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV/drone) and Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry. . . . . . . . . . .

Łukasz Franczak

Spatial and temporal variability of water level fluctuations in small lakes in the marginal zone of the Scott Glacier (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Spitsbergen). . . . . . . . . .

Wojciech Gajek, Michał Malinowski

Latest results of seismic monitoring of Hans glacier, Svalbard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Michał Glazer et al.

Distribution and evolution of permafrost in Fuglebekken catchment, Horsund, Svalbard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Jakub Grzesiak et al.

A glimpse into the biodiversity of Arctic and Antarctic polyhydroxyacid producing bacteria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dariusz J. Gwiazdowicz Acarological studies in the Arctic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Magdalena Gwizdała et al. Differentiation of magnetic susceptibility of glacial - marine sediments and environmental conditions in the area of Werenskiold Glacier (SW Spitsbergen, Arctic Ocean). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Krzysztof Jarzyna Hershel Island – one of first weather stations in the western Canadian Arctic. . . . . . . .

Paula Kacprzak et al. Interannual sediment trap variability and population structure of pteropods in two high – Arctic fjords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marek Kejna, Ireneusz Sobota Influence of atmospheric circulation on the meteorological conditions on Kaffiöyra (NW Spitsbergen) in the years 2013-2017. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sebastian Kendzierski et al. The influence of synoptic conditions patterns on air temperature and humidity in Petuniabukta (Svalbard) in summer 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Andrzej Kostrzewski Polar studies of Poznań geographical center – introduction to the conference. . . . . . . .

Magdalena Krajewska et al. Chloropigments and carotenoids in Hornsund (Spitsbergen) sediments as indicators of environmental changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wiesława E. Krawczyk Should we continue with chemical denudation research on Svalbard?. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maciej Kryza et al. Sensitivity of the WRF model to different lateral and boundary conditions for Svalbard area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jacek Lebiedź et al. Pomerania Crisis Management Lab at the service in polar research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marek Lewandowski et al. Polish Polar Station Dobrowolski – past, present and future. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Paulin Lewińska, Piotr Zagórski Usage of various mesh generation techniques for better visualization and documentation of Lægerneset – a historical whale hunting side and coal mine. . . . . . .

Edyta Łokas et al. Sources of radioactive contamination in cryoconites from the Arctic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Wojciech Majewski et al. Molecular population structure of Antarctic shallow-water benthic foraminifera: The window to biogeography and dispersal patterns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jakub Małecki Past, present and future mass balance of an alpine glacier on Svalbard (Svenbreen, central Spitsbergen). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Artur Marciniak et al. Seismic Tomography and MASW analysis of the results of Spitsbergen seismic permafrost study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marianna Michałowska et al. Artistic strategies in visualisation of environmental change in polar regions . . . . . . . . .

Krzysztof Migała et al. The influence of abiotic factors on the plant growth in the High Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marta Molińska Staying at high latitudes as a psychological challenge – positive and negative outcomes of exposure to polar environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tadeusz Niedźwiedź, Ewa Łupikasza Seasonal variability in the influence of atmospheric circulation on air temperature in Spitsbergen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Magdalena Opała-Owczarek et al. A tree-ring perspective on Low Arctic summer temperature changes: a case study of two species (Salix uva-ursi and Picea glauca) from Manitounuk Islands, Nunavut, Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Piotr Owczarek et al. The role of modern aeolian processes in thufur degradation and forming low-scale surface features in northern Iceland – a dendrogeomorphology approach. . . . . . . . . . .

Anna Pouch et al. Distribution of hexachlorobenzene in the Arctic fjord sediments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Krzysztof G. Rymer Aeolian activity in central Spitsbergen (Ebba Valley) in the years 2012-2017. . . . . . . . .

Tymoteusz Sawiński et al. First Polish scientific expedition to Greenland in 1937 - historic photos from the field

Anna Sowa et al. Seasonal variability of epifaunal recruitment on artificial experimental plates in the high Arctic (Isfjorden, Spitsbergen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Alfred Stach, Grzegorz Rachlewicz Modelling of seasonal air temperatures in Svalbard using satellite Land Surface Temperatures (LST) data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Alfred Stach, Patrycja Ulandowska-Monarcha Long-term (1985-2017) changes of High Arctic environment in the Svalbard climate gradient. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Magdalena Stanik New design of the Polish Polar Station at Hornsund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lech Stempniewicz et al. Interseasonal variability of the environmental conditions and seabird foraging community structure in the high-Arctic fjord at a time of fast glacier retreat. . . . . . . . .

Mateusz C. Strzelecki Paraglacial coastal systems of central Spitsbergen – state of art review. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mateusz C. Strzelecki et al.

We will rock you - mechanisms controlling rock coast evolution in deglaciated landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jakub Szczepański The Life of a Glacier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wojciech Szczerbowicz Region–building in the Arctic – arcticness and global aspects of the process. . . . . . . . .

Witold Szczuciński et al. On the origin of carbon in Arctic fjord sediments – insights from Hornsund fjord, Svalbard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wojciech Szymański Quantity and chemistry of water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) in surface horizons of Arctic soils under different types of tundra vegetation from the Fuglebergsletta coastal plain (SW Spitsbergen). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sławek M. Tułaczyk Dark kind of Eden Cold, deep brine and life habitats in Antarctica (and beyond) . . . . . .

Sławek M. Tułaczyk et al. Early Holocene collapse and pre-industrial growth of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet - Constraints from radiocarbon model ages for subglacial sediments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Patrycja Ulandowska-Monarcha et al.

Delimitation of topoclimates in Spitsbergen – the concept of terrestrial and remote sensing data aggregation using GIS techniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Waldemar Walczowski et al. Atlantic Water inflow into the Arctic Ocean and Svalbard fjords – role of the Argo floats measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Katarzyna Walczyńska et al. Seasonality of meroplankton in a high Arctic fjord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Piotr Weckwerth et al. Factors controlling Arctic tundra degradation and outwash development: a case study from Kaffiøyra coastal plain (NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Agata Weydmann et al. Is studying zooplankton from sediment traps as informative as from a graveyard? . . . .

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Anna Wielgopolan Bringing the real-world to the classroom with virtual tools: polar research widens horizons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Krzysztof Zawierucha et al. Ecology and dispersion of tardigrades and rotifers in supraglacial environments . . . . .

Wiesław Ziaja, Anna Cygankiewicz New fjords of the southeastern Spitsbergen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Anna Zmarz et al. Mapping of fauna, flora and landforms in a remote polar location based on UAV images: a case from Penguin Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Streszczenia posterów

Piotr Androsiuk et al. Genetic variation of Deschampsia antarctica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Andrzej Araźny The effects of thermal and humidity conditions on human wellbeing in the Hornsund region (Spitsbergen, the Arctic). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Katarzyna Błachowiak-Samołyk et al. Planktonic ostracods composition and spatial distribution along Drake Passage. . . . . .

Edyta Bredla, Jakub Małecki Multidecadal mass loss acceleration of three glaciers in Dicksonfjorden, Svalbard, revealed by historical aerial photographs and digital elevation models. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Anna Cygankiewicz, Wiesław Ziaja Hambergbukta: forming of the new Spitsbergen fjord, 1900–2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jolanta Czerniawska Present permafrost degradation– settlement risks in central Yakutia, East Siberia. . . . .

Joanna Ćwiąkała et al. Submarine geomorphology at the front of the retreating Hansbreen tidewater glacier, Hornsund fjord, southwest Spitsbergen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aleksander Dominiczak et al. Post Little Ice Age glaciomarine sedimentation in Burgerbugta - insights from 210Pb and 137Cs dating and numerical modeling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Łukasz Franczak Variability of morphometric parameters of catchment-lake systems occurring in the marginal zone of the Scott Glacier (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Spitsbergen) . . . . . . . . .

Tomasz Grajewski, Ireneusz Sobota Dynamics and variability of snow cover melting on the glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Katarzyna Greń et al. Variability of bedload transport in the Waldemar River in summer seasons 2015-2016 (Kaffiøyra, NW Spitsbergen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Piotr Jadwiszczak The only record of an infectious disease in Paleogene penguins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marek W. Jaskólski et al. Heritage in danger - case of UNESCO Candidate, Hershel Island, Canada. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marek W. Jaskólski et al. High Arctic coasts at risk – a case study of coastal zone development and degradation associated with climatic changes and multidirectional human impacts in Longyearbyen (Adventfjorden, Svalbard) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Michał Kamiński et al. AMU students in the Arctic – monitoring glacier change under a warming climate. . . .

Marek Kasprzak et al. Coastal Permafrost on King George Island (Antarctica): does not exist or it is just forming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marek Kasprzak et al. Ice-core and push moraines imaged by ERT & EM: Werenskiold glacier case study (SW Spitsbergen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marek Kasprzak, Michał Łopuch Morphology and evolution of the Elveflya and Nottinghambukta sandurs on the Werenskiold glacier forefield (SW Spitsbergen). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marek Kasprzak et al. Permafrost base in the coastal zone of SW Spitsbergen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Marek Kasprzak, Mateusz C. Strzelecki Skoddebukta seafloor morphology in front of the Austre Torellbreen (SW Spitsbergen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Daniel Kępski et al.

Snow cover development on Spitsbergen coastal tundra environment – present state and predictions for the end of 21st century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Małgorzata Kolicka et al.

Gastrotricha on Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago, Arctic) - seven new species from Hornsund fjord area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Klaudia Kosek et al.

The correlation between selected persistent organic pollutants and trace elements, and bacterial abundance in Revelva catchment (Southwest Spitsbergen, Svalbard). . . .

Lidia Kozak, Przemysław Niedzielski

In-situ analysis of elemental composition of the sediments in Ebba Valley (Petunibukta, Central Spitsbergen) using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). . . . . .

Krzysztof P. Krajewski et al.

Late Oligocene interglacial environments on King George Island, West Antarctic. . . . . .

Marek Kubicki, Anna Odzimek

Ionizing radiations in Global Electric Circuit (GEC). Preliminary analysis of measurements from Polish Polar Station in Hornsund (Spitsbergen). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Sara Lehmann-Konera et al. Rainfall as a factor influencing organic pollutants level in Scott River water in the summer of 2016 (Bellsund Fjord, Spitsbergen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jakub Małecki et al.

The glacial landsystem of a tropical glacier: Charquini Sur, Bolivian Andes . . . . . . . . . . .

Przemysław Niedzielski, Lidia Kozak

The determinations of the elemental profiles after acid leaching of the sediments samples collected in Ebba Valley (Petunibukta, Spitsbergen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aneta Pacyna et al.

Black-legged kittiwake feathers as a valuable biomonitoring tool in Arctic region. . . . .

Filip Pawlak et al.

Chemical composition in freshwater samples collected from Billefjorden (Svalbard). . .

Małgorzata Szopińska et al.

Examination of fresh water chemistry at Lions Rump headland (Maritime Antarctica, King George Island) – preliminary results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Joanna Potapowicz et al.

Selected chemical determinants of human activity in land-surface and shallow aquatic sediments at cold environment (King George Island, South Shetland Island, Antarctica). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Angelika Słomska, Will Goodall-Copestake

Fine-scale population genetic diversity of S. thompsoni in the Southern Ocean . . . . . . .

Łukasz Stachnik et al.

Sediment-bound and dissolved nutrients (Si, Fe) delivery from a glacier in High Arctic (Werenskioldbreen, SW Spitsbergen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monika Stawska

Morphological and lithodynamic characteristic of the alluvial fan of Dymamisk creek; Ebbadalen, Central Spitsbergen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Witold Szczuciński et al. Sediment accumulation rates in fjords of Svalbard over the last century: a review of 210Pb and 137Cs-based estimates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Piotr Szczypkowski et al.

Paleoenviromental recostructions of Revdalen in last 3000 yrs - literature review . . . .

Joanna Sziło, Robert J.Bialik Grain size distribution of bedload transport in Baranowski Glacier catchment (King George Island, W Antarctica). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wojciech Szymański et al. Texture, geochemistry, and mineral composition of surface soil horizons in the town of Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aleksandra Tomczyk, Marek Ewertowski

Application of UAV surveys to quantify geomorphic changes related to glacial lake outburst flood, Zackenberg Valley, West Greenland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Paulina Wasilewska et al.

Structural characteristic of prokaryotes post-glacial reservoirs of the Bellsund area (West Spitsbergen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Justyna Wawrzynek et al.

The euphasiids component of Pygoscelis penguin diets on King George Island (South Shetland Islands) during the austral summer 2012/2013. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Agata Zaborska et al.

History of heavy metal accumulation in the Svalbard area: distribution, origin and transport pathways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Piotr Zagórski et al.

Morphodynamics of the Recherchefjorden coast (Spitsbergen). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Anna Zmarz et al.

Orthophotomap of the Western Shore of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South Shetland Islands) developed on the basis of UAV obtained images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Anna Znój et al.

Highly specialized bacterial communities associated with the native Antarctic grass Deschampsia antarctica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adrian Zwolicki et al.

Niche overlap in the Arctic vegetation communities under the disturbance of colonial seabirds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lista uczestników. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

139

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11

Przedmowa

Polskie badania polarne mają długą historię, stanowią ważną część światowej polarystyki,

potwierdzoną pracami zesłańców syberyjskich, organizacją ekspedycji w regiony polarne,

a przede wszystkim organizacją stacji polarnych. Wyniki polskich badań polarnych, szeroko

upowszechnione w literaturze krajowej, zamieszczane są także w renomowanych

czasopismach o zasięgu europejskim i światowym.

Miarą rangi polskich badań w stacjach polarnych Arktyki i Antarktyki, jest nasza obecność

w programach międzynarodowych, obejmujących obszary morskie i lądowe. Pozycję Polski

w nauce światowej wzmacniają badania interdyscyplinarne realizowane na narodowych

stacjach polarnych w Arktyce i Antarktyce oraz na uniwersyteckich stacjach polarnych na

Spitsbergenie. Sprawą pierwszorzędnej wagi jest standaryzacja monitoringu elementów

biotycznych i abiotycznych i uzyskanie wieloletnich serii obserwacyjnych, co ułatwi

prowadzenie studiów porównawczych w skali globalnej i regionalnej. Organizacja

standaryzowanego monitoringu polarnego, w oparciu o właściwe założenia

metodologiczno-metodyczne, stanowi ważne zadanie do realizacji. Jedynie dobrze

zorganizowany monitoring polarnego środowiska przyrodniczego stanowi podstawę

włączenia naszych badań do różnych sieci europejskich i światowych. Przykładowo, wyniki

realizowanego monitoringu polarnego środowiska przyrodniczego Spitsbergenu stanowią

tło, do którego winniśmy odnosić skalę współczesnych przemian środowiska przyrodniczego

Polski. Należy jednoznacznie stwierdzić, że aktualnie realizowane badania polarne w Arktyce

i Antarktyce to nie tylko kwestia naukowego poznania, ale to także ważny problem

rozpoznania zasobów przyrodniczych obszarów polarnych i związane z tym kwestie

ekonomiczne, polityczne i społeczne. Badania polarne zaliczane są do priorytetów

badawczych nauki światowej. Z inicjatywy Komitetu Badań Polarnych PAN, co dwa lata

organizowane są ogólnopolskie sympozja polarne, z udziałem gości zagranicznych. Kolejne

XXXVII Sympozjum Polarne odbywa się pod patronatem honorowym JM Rektora prof. dr

hab. Andrzeja Lesickiego, na Wydziale Nauk Geograficznych i Geologicznych Uniwersytetu

im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu.

Proponowany przez organizatorów problem konferencji ujęty został w temacie – Polar

change – Global change, w celu podkreślenia znaczenia badań polarnych, w rozpoznaniu

przyczyn i mechanizmów współczesnych zmian klimatu i związanych z nimi przemian

środowiska przyrodniczego w ujęciu strefowym i globalnym. Prezentowana problematyka

w ramach sympozjum, obejmuje szeroki zakres tematyczny i dotyczy wyników badań

w zakresie przyrody ożywianej i nieożywionej, z uwzględnieniem funkcji i roli człowieka

w strefie polarnej. Wyrażamy przekonanie, że organizowanie Sympozjum będzie okazją do

dyskusji podstawowych zagadnień dotyczących mechanizmu współczesnego rozwoju

obszarów polarnych i ich wpływu na kształtowanie krajobrazów świata, jak również roli

człowieka w środowisku polarnym.

Andrzej Kostrzewski

Jakub Małecki

Krzysztof Rymer

Streszczenia referatów


14

Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station: open door to ... and for science Robert J. Bialik Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

On 26th February 1977, the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station officially began its

activity and has been real support for the polish and international scientists until now. The

scopes of scientific interests being conducted at the station include ecology, microbiology,

oceanography, geology, geomorphology, glaciology, hydrology, meteorology and

seismology. Infrastructure of the station includes also two refuges called Demay and Lions

Rump and field camp on the Turret Point. The station was operated by the Department of

Antarctic Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS) which has been incorporated into

the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics PAS in 2012. Recently, the station has received

significant support in the form of scientific equipment, which allows for the implementation

of modern research in the fields of hydro-glaciology and physical oceanography. In

particular, the equipment for remote sensing research and measurements of physical-

chemical properties of seawater will be purchased. The project that employed this

equipment has already been started i.e. Quantitative assessment of sediment transport

from glaciers of South Shetland Islands on the basis of selected remote sensing methods.

However, its availability is not limited and open new avenues for application of research

grants that could be carried out at the Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station. During the talk,

history of the station will be briefly discussed and rules of the station use will be introduced.

Moreover, possibilities for young researchers who would like to start their scientific carriers

in Antarctica will be presented.


15

Dendroecological signal derived from Betula nana growth ring chronology in Northern Alaska Agata Buchwał Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Jeffrey M. Welker University of Alaska Anchorage University of Oulu UArctic

Arctic tundra systems are showing responses to changes in climate that include a greening

of the Arctic in conjunction with warmer summer temperatures and shifts in winter

precipitation. However, the mechanism of specific plant species growth responses have

been only marginally investigated without detailed assessments of dendrochrological in

combination with wood anatomy properties. Combining growth ring analyses with wood

anatomical studies may provide a fundamental understanding how these systems will

behave in the future and a means by which to predict how tundra ecosystem function and

structure will be different in the future.

Shrub annual growth ring properties and wood anatomy of Betula nana shrubs were

quantified as a means of assessing how long-term (21 years) simulated changes in climate

(deep snow and warmer summer temperatures) will affect the fundamental traits of a key

tundra plant species. Dendrochronological methods were applied to shrubs growing in a

control, deep snow area (snow fence) and warmed (ITEX open-top chamber) plots in

Northern Alaska at the Toolik Field Station (68⁰N, 149⁰W). Growth rings area and xylem

anatomical traits, such as vessels size in Betula nana were quantified in annual scale.

Both treatments, i.e., passive warming and additional snow enhanced Betula nana annual

growth. Mean growth ring area has increased to 2.05 mm2 (sd=1.01) in snow fence plots

and to 1.55 mm2 (sd=0.61) in warming plots in comparison to the control site (1.31 mm

2;

sd=0.41). Both mean and maximum vessels sizes were found for snow fence treatment.

Additionally, both treatments revealed an increased climate sensitivity of dwarf birch and

confirmed the strongest growth response of this species to June temperature.

Acknowledgements:

The study was supported by Polish-American Fulbright Commission and Ministry of Science

and Higher Education program Mobilność Plus (project no. 1072/MOB/2013/0) and

supported by the National Science Foundation, an Arctic Observing Network project funded

to JMW.


16

Concentration of cosmogenic and anthropogenic radionuclides in the

ground layer of the atmosphere in the polar and mid-latitudes regions

Agnieszka Burakowska National Centre for Nuclear Research

Marek Kubicki Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Science

Halina Trzaskowska National Centre for Nuclear Research

Michał Piotrowski National Centre for Nuclear Research

Bogumiła Mysłek-Laurikainen National Centre for Nuclear Research

The most important source of atmospheric radioactivity are radionuclides generated as a

result of impact of primary and secondary cosmic radiation, with the nuclei of nitrogen

oxygen and carbon in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. This creates about

thirty radioisotopes of more than twenty elements. For organisms the four are most

important: 3H, 7Be, 22Na, 14C. The natural radionuclides, which are present in Earth crust,

also settle on dust and particles of water vapor. By this means, the derivatives of uranium

and thorium, and long-life 40K, get into the air. 137Cs is the most widespread isotope, that

is implemented by humans into environment.

To determine the concentration of radionuclides in the atmosphere high volume air

samplers are used, where aerosol collection takes place on a special filter fabric (Petrianov

filter tissue FPP-15-1.5). In 2002 the high volume air sampler AZA-1000 was installed at the

Polish Polar Observatory of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Hornsund, Spitsbergen

(77°00’N, 15°33’E), designed to operate in all-weather conditions of the cold polar region.

Since 1991 (with short breaks) the ASS-500 air sampler has been working, which is located

in Świder at the Kalinowski Geophysical Observatory of Geophysics Institute of the Polish

Academy of Sciences (52°07’N, 21°15’E). The following results of radionuclides

concentrations are obtained from both stations: 7Be, 137Cs, 134Cs, 210Pb, 40K. These data

are compared with each other. The preliminary results give evidence that radioactivity

measured in aerosols is not proportional to the amount of dust for both studied regions.

Furthermore, the results indicate annual variability (seasonal fluctuations) as well as

decrease in average activity of 7Be with increasing latitude. The content of 7Be in surface

air also indicates the relationship with solar activity cycles.


17

Interannual variability of macrofauna biodiversity in the Antarctic

intertidal zone

Maciej Chełchowski Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences Piotr Kukliński Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences Piotr Bałazy Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences Łukasz Grzelak Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences Monika Kędra Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences Joanna Legeżyńska Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

The Antarctic Peninsula is currently undergoing rapid change. The most conspicuous signs of

global warming are: an increase of winter air temperatures, decrease of sea ice extent and

thickness, sea ice cover persistence, retreat of glaciers and changes of physical and chemical

parameters of oceanic waters. Consequently, changes in physicochemical parameters

directly affect the Antarctic ecosystem and its functioning. Particularly vulnerable to

ongoing changes is fauna inhabiting intertidal zone where it is subjected to high variations

of environmental settings.

This study aimed to assess intertidal macrofaunal biodiversity, community structure

patterns and response to variability of environmental parameters of the intertidal zone on

the King George Island during the Antarctic summer. Samples were taken in January 2011

and January 2017 in the vicinity of the Polish Antarctic Station at two transects. At each

transect samples were collected at low, medium and high tide levels using a 50 x 50 cm

frame with 3 replicates per tide level. Water temperature loggers were installed on each of

the sampling locations, recording temperature every 5 minutes during three summer

months. Average temperatures in the intertidal zone varied between 1.89 and 3.26 ° C in

the 2011 and 2.07 and 3.53 ° C in 2017 with the highest variability occurring at the high tide

level. Samples taken at low tide were the most diverse, with up to 20 species per sample.

Gastropods, high in biomass, dominated numerically at all sites. Other taxa noted belonged

to: Bivalvia, Amphipoda, Isopoda, Bryozoa, Nemertini, Polychaeta and Pantopoda (noted

only in 2011). The highest biomass was found at low tide where Nacella concinna

dominated. At middle tide level up to 10 species were noted with gastropod Laevilitorina

caliginosa as a dominant. At high tide zone, no organisms were found. Communities

characteristics were closely related to physical conditions defined by tide zone and

temperature.

Our research documented high biodiversity, abundance and biomass of littoral fauna.

Taking into consideration further changes predicted for the coastal waters of the Antarctic

Peninsula abrupt changes of intertidal macrofauna can be foreseen in the future.


18

Evaluation of radioactive contamination in lichens and mosses from

coastal zone of Western Arctic

Anna Cwanek Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Jerzy Mietelski Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Edyta Łokas Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Maria Olech Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University

This work presents the results of research on anthropogenic radioactive contamination of

lichens and mosses collected mainly from coastal zone of Western Arctic. The study are

focused on following isotopes: 134,137

Cs, 90

Sr, 238,239+240

Pu and 241

Am. There were investigated

about 100 samples of different species of lichens and mosses, which were collected during

scientific expedition in 2012 and 2013 from 14 locations of Western Greenland, Northern

Canada (along the NW Passage) and Alaska, USA. Different methods of nuclear

spectrometry, mass spectrometry and sequential radiochemical procedure were used for

this study. First, each sample was measured at high resolution, low-background gamma-ray

spectrometers. Next, using appropriate radiochemical methods, alpha and beta emitters

were separated followed by measurements on alpha radiation spectrometers and liquid

scintillation counter. As a result the activity concentracion and activity ratios for considered

isotopes were calculated. The last step was measurements on ICP mass spectrometer in

order to determine of 240

Pu/239

Pu mass ratio. Obtained results allowed to recognize both

the level and the most likely sources of radioactive contamination of investigated material

and area. There are several sources of anthropogenic radionuclides in the Arctic: global

fallout as a result of nuclear weapon tests, satellite Kosmos 954 crash over the Great Slave

Lake in Northern Canada (1978), the Chernobyl fallout (1986) and nuclear power plant

disaster in Fukushima, Japan (2011). In conclusion, observed radioactive pollution is

relatively low and the global fallout seems to be the dominant source of radioactive

contamination in whole region with clearly trace of Fukushima fallout in Alaska, USA only.

Acknowledgement:

This work is supported by National Science Centre, Poland. The research project No.

2015/17/N/ST10/03121.


19

Probable two – layered permafrost formation, as a result of climatic

evolution in mountainous environment of Storglaciären forefield, Tarfala,

Northern Scandinavia

Wojciech Dobiński Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

Michał Glazer Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

Permafrost is a geological phenomenon that arises through the impact of a cold climate on

the surface of the lithosphere. Penetration of frost causes the formation of a layer of frozen

ground, the thickness of which is the result of the length of the impact of negative

temperature, the intensity of freezing climate and the susceptibility of the substrate to

freezing.

Along with climate change, the spatial variability (shape) of permafrost also changes, which

reacts with a certain delay. With incoming warming temperature of permafrost rises first

and then it disappears. In the Arctic environment of the northern hemisphere, the evolution

of permafrost is horizontal, as well as the variability of the climate that causes it. The cold

comes from the north and warming from the south. In the mountainous environment this

variability is vertical. Permafrost evokes in its climate evolution its shape to the occurring on

the earth-surface climate change and adapting it to the climate. Permafrost changes its

volume, and spatial characteristics subsequently from continuous, discontinuous to

sporadic.

In the foreground of the Storglaciären glacier, located in Kebnekaise Massif, northern

Sweden, profound geophysica surveys were performed, the results show the spatial

variability in the occurrence of permafrost. By means of electroresistivity imaging, a high-

resistive layer located beneath the active layer was detected, which was interpreted as a

contemporary permafrost associated with the climate prevailing in this area. Because on

the forefield of the Storglaciären mean annual temperature is equal ca. -5°C, it allows the

formation of permafrost in the forefield from which the glacier retreated. It is relatively

thin, reaching a thickness of up to couple of meters, and its nature is discontinuous, which

can also be the effect of the influence of glacial drainage water. Below is an unfrozen talik,

followed by another high-resistive layer, which thickness can be significantly greater. It is

interpreted as paleopermafrost, ie. a frozen ground that is inactive, because it has no

relation to the contemporary climate.

The Holocene climate evolution in the Kebnekaise area, has never completely degraded the

Pleistocene permafrost because its thickness in wells near the site can reach actually 350 m.

This means that climate fluctuations in the Holocene led only to a significant decline in the

upper part of Pleistocene permafrost in the areas located lower in the Tarfala valley, but

not caused its complete degradation. The cooling following the warming caused the return

of favorable conditions for the permafrost development and the overlap with new

permafrost layer. Depending on the height and depth of degradation of the Pleistocene


20

layer, modern permafrost may overlap with the old one, or produce a layer separated by

talik.

The example of permafrost occurring in research area, shows for the first time an analogy

which could be expected for a long time: there exists a similarity between the two-layered

permafrost occurring in Western Siberia and the mountain permafrost in the Scandinavian

mountains. A similar two-layer shape of western-siberian permafrost is the effect of

analogous climate evolution in this area.


21

Thickness of talus deposits on Fugleberget hillside (SW Spitsbergen) in the

light of the theories of slope development in periglacial areas

Piotr Dolnicki Institute of Geography, Pedagogical University of Cracow

Mariusz Grabiec Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

Periglacial areas are very sensitive to contemporary climate change. Rate of morphogenetic

processes depends on numerous factors, including the most important: warming of air and

ground, increase of precipitation (extreme rainfalls in particular) and shortening of snow

cover duration. The dynamics of above mentioned processes may effectively modify

conventional slope development models. The paper shows structure of selected talus

slopes on Fugleberget hillside based on field observations and radar (GPR) sounding. Then

the results have been compared to the classical slope models. The radar survey in April and

May 2014 used RAMAC CU II Malå GeoScience system equipped with 30 MHz RTA antenna

(Rough Terrain Antenna). Six GPR profiles of various length have been collected along the

talus axes and transversally on Fugleberget hillside and partly on Hansbreen lateral

moraine. According to the radar sounding maximum thickness of the debris deposits is 25-

30 m. Weathered material is getting thicker towards terminal part of the screes and debris

deposits overlap marine sediments. The morphometry of the talus slopes shows that their

current forms differ from conventional slope models, what can result from significant

acceleration of geomorphic processes due to climate change.


22

A tale of two orogens, as told by microbeam dating, in the Archean Saglek

block of the Labrador Coast

Daniel J. Dunkley Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences

Department of Geology, Curtin University

Monika A. Kusiak Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences

Martin J. Whitehouse Swedish Museum of Natural History

Simon A. Wilde Department Geology, Curtin University Anna Sałacińska Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences

Ross Kielman Swedish Museum of Natural History

Aleksandra Gawęda Department Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

The Nain Complex of coastal Labrador comprises Neoarchean amphibolite to granulite-

facies gneisses that include among the protoliths some of the oldest tonalite-trondjemite-

granodiorite (TTG) crust preserved on Earth. Samples of orthogneiss and pelitic paragneiss

on a 70 km north-south coastal traverse, from Ramah Bay, Saglek Bay and Hebron Fjord

were collected and zircon and monazite were dated by Secondary Ion Microprobe. Tonalitic

and granodioritic orthogneisses have petrographic evidence of partial melting at granulite-

grade conditions, in two distinct stages each associated with ductile deformation, and

subsequent greenschist-facies metamorphism associated with the Paleoproterozoic Torngat

Orogen. Magmatic protolith ages for gneisses across the area were derived from zircon

cores with characteristic igneous growth textures, which yielded ages of ca. 3.7Ga,

consistent with previous estimates for the protoliths of Uivak I gneiss [1]. Metapelite near

the newly investigated Ramah Bay, which contains small amounts of leucosome and garnet-

spinel-sillimanite assemblages indicative of granulite-facies metamorphism, contain

abundant detrital zircon with distinctive oscillatory growth zoning and ages of ca. 3.23Ga.

This age matches those of magmatic protoliths of Uivak II and Lister Gniess [1], and is

consistent with the timing of deposition of the Upernavik supercrustal sequence [2]. The

new data extends the known outcrop of Uivak I and Upernavik gneisses from known

localites between Hebron Fjord and Saglek Bay, to new localities around Ramah Bay, and

indicates probable continuation in the Nain Complex further north. Metamorphic ages of

ca. 2.75-2.70Ga were derived from zircon rims and neoblastic grains in felsic and mafic

orthogneisses, consistent with previous estimates for high-grade metamorphism in the Nain

Complex [3] However, monazite reveals additional metamorphism at ca. 2.5Ga [4], which

in-situ dating of inclusions in peritectic garnet associates with partial melting under

granulite-facies conditions. This is confirmed by zircon growth in mafic orthogneiss and syn-


23

tectonic granite, demonstrating the activation of two separate orogenic events at ca. 2.7Ga

and 2.5Ga, on the margin of the North Atlantic Craton.

Field work was carried out with support of Parks Canada and the Nunatsiavut Government.

This work was supported by NCN POLONEZ grant UMO-2016/23/P/ST10/01214 to D.J.

Dunkley, NCN grant UMO-2014/15/B/ST10/04245 to M.A. Kusiak, grants from the Knut and

Alice Wallenberg Foundation (2012.0097) and the Swedish Research Council (2012-4370) to

M.J. Whitehouse, and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust

Fluid Systems to S.A. Wilde.

References:

[1] Schiøtte et al. (1989) Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 26: 2636-2644

[2] Bridgwater et al. (1975) Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 75-1A: 287-296

[3] Krough and Kamo (2006) Geological Society of America Special Paper 406: 94-103

[4] Kusiak et al. (2018) Chemical Geology 484: 210-223


24

Measuring data transmission system

Wojciech Działowski Poznań University of Technology

This article describes the concept and implementation of a distributed system for

transmitting measuring data consisting of a lot of single stations. Each station includes a

transmission module Digi XBee SX 868, which forms a common network DigiMesh and

measuring sensors like BME280, BH1750, SDS018 and YL-83 used for measuring

temperature, pressure, humidity, light intensity, rainfall and dust/air quality. The

measurement is performed periodically and the interval can be customize. After the

measurements are taken, the data is transmitted to the destination station. The network is

working on 863 to 870 MHz band frequency and uses 28 transmitting channels. System flow

is approximately up to 80 Kbps, which is far enough to transmit data messages. DigiMesh is

a Ad-Hoc network based on peer-to-peer topology, which mean that stations form a

network on they own, without the need of any main station or access points and all the

host have the same permission. When two stations need to communicate each other, but

do not have enough range to self communication, then data is transmitted using other

stations according to the routing algorithm based on AODV (Ad hoc On-Demand Distance

Vector). The network has a self-healing feature, which mean that it is possible to add or

remove any station without causing the network to fail. It implies that the network has a

high reliability, because any station damage do not interrupt system work. System topology

can be easily changed to the point-to-point or point-to-multipoint configuration. The central

unit of any stations is a microcontroller ATmega16A, which externally shares his own I/O

Ports and serial interfaces like USART, SPI and I2C, which can be used to communicate with

other devices (e.g. Raspberry PI) or get the data from other sensors. The whole station

device includes a voltage converter LM2596 step-down which allows adjust input voltage

scope from 3.2 to 40 V to the output voltage scope from 3.2 to 35 V. All station components

are supplied with 3.3 V which allows for a wide range of input voltage to the device and

affords to supply device using differents sources of voltage like photovoltaic cells, batteries

or DC power supplies.


25

Rapid mapping and monitoring of geomorphology in polar areas using

unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV/drone) and Structure-from-Motion

photogrammetry

Marek Ewertowski Faculty of Geographical and Geological Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Aleksandra Tomczyk Faculty of Geographical and Geological Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

David Evans Department of Geography, Durham University

David Roberts Department of Geography, Durham University

Wojciech Ewertowski Faculty of Geographical and Geological Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

This study presents the operational framework for rapid very-high resolution mapping and

monitoring of geomorphology in polar regions with the use of budget Unmanned Aerial

Vehicles and structure-from-motion approach. Proposed workflow consists of five stages:

(1) preliminary research, preparation and transport; (2) pre-flights checks; (3) conducting of

mission; (4) ground control points collection (optional); (5) data processing and quality

assessment; (6) mapping and change detection.

The framework was tested in Svalbard, Iceland and Greenland focusing on dynamic

proglacial areas. Several different, consumer-grade UAVs were used over wide range of case

studies representing different environmental settings. Images were processed using

Structure-from-motion approach. Resultant orthophotos and digital elevation models were

used to demonstrate applicability of proposed framework to capture changes in rapidly

changing proglacial environment. Landscape changes in annual temporal-scale was assessed

for the proglacial areas of Ayerbreen, Hørbyebreen, Rieperbreen (Svalbard); Fjallsjökull; and

Kviárjökull (Iceland) in the period 2014-2017. Geomorphology was mapped, and landform

development was quantified in detailed spatial scale to provide an insight into

geomorphological processes which occurred shortly after the retreat of the ice margin.

UAV-born images were processed using structure-from-motion approach to produce

orthomosaics (~3 cm cell size) and digital elevation models (DEMs) with 5-10 cm cell size.

Subtracting DEMs from subsequent time periods created DEMs of Differences - which

enabled us to calculate the amount of material loss or deposition. Accuracy of the

orthophotos and DEMs was improved using ground control points measured with dGPS.

Over the 2014-2017 period repetitive UAV-based surveys revealed and quantify changes in

landscape including: (1) glacier thinning; (2) ice-cored moraines degradation; (3)

development of terminoglacial and supraglacial lakes; (4) debris flow activity. Short-time

dynamics of different components showed very high variability over time and space

illustrating relative importance of ice backwasting and downwasting as well as glacifluvial

processes for studied forelands. The research was founded by Polish National Science

Centre (project granted by decision number DEC-2011/01/D/ST10/06494).


26

Spatial and temporal variability of water level fluctuations in small lakes in

the marginal zone of the Scott Glacier (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land,

Spitsbergen)

Łukasz Franczak Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Marie Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

In South Bellsund (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land) in marginal zones of glaciers, an extensive network of water bodies developed. The majority of them are small lakes with a surface area not exceeding 1.0 ha and depth below 3 m.

In summer seasons 2013 and 2014, detailed research involving the analysis of water level fluctuations covered six lakes in the marginal zone of the Scott Glacier, characterised by variable environmental conditions of occurrence and functioning.

The study showed different courses of water levels for different lakes, both in the seasonal and daily cycle. The lowest amplitude of water levels was recorded in flow-through lakes (at a level of several centimetres), and the highest in closed-drainage lakes (at a level of several tens of centimetres). All the lakes were characterised by decreasing trends of water levels in the seasonal cycle.

The study results show that the dynamics of water levels is closely correlated with the character of drainage of the analysed objects, and determined by the course of meteorological factors, i.e. air temperature and atmospheric precipitation.


27

Latest results of seismic monitoring of Hans glacier, Svalbard

Wojciech Gajek Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Michał Malinowski Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Glaciers’ seismic activity investigations focus on more and more detailed analysis in order to

link seismic response to physical mechanisms. Therefore, local seismic networks located in

the vicinity of a glacier body became a must in order to provide enough details. Those

networks are predominantly deployed temporarily for short time and in summer seasons

only, because of challenging environment and remoteness of studied areas. We have

deployed a pilot 3- season long-term seismic network to monitor the dynamic activity of

Hans glacier in Hornsund, Svalbard.

The network was aimed to continuously gather seismic data from September 2017 to May

2018, hence from the late summer throughout whole winter until the spring season. It

consisted of 11 recorders commonly used in controlled-source seismology (DATA CUBES)

equipped with 4.5 Hz three-component geophones and powered by battery packages. The

stations were placed either directly on ice or rocky basement in the close vicinity of Hans

glacier terminus, with some of them only a couple hundreds of meters from it. Moreover,

we took an advantage of the permanent HSPB broad-band seismological station located

nearby, treating it as a 12th station within the network, knowing that it already proved to

be useful in Hans glacier seismic monitoring.

Our experiment was intended to test the possibility of installing and maintaining a local

seismic network for a period much longer than usual and especially during the winter

conditions. For the network upkeep a minimum of one maintenance visit to each station

was necessary to keep it running. Despite the loss of some of the stations mainly due to the

power shortages the acquired data coverage is still satisfactory.

Recorded data reveal a reach and complex wavefield consisting of events of different

characteristics. We can observe short-lasting events present in a broad range of high

frequencies (above 20 Hz), short-lasting spiky events, and monochromatic low-frequency

events. Most of them is strong enough to be registered on all stations. We are able to locate

registered events and study the correlation between their location and character. We

analyse this very unique dataset in order to understand the differences between glacier

system seismic behaviour in summer and winter seasons. Also we test if maintenance of the

network for such a long time is feasible in order to supplement broad range of research

taking place on Hans glacier with detailed and continuous seismic monitoring.

The research was funded by the Institute of Geophysics PAS Young Scientist grant no. 500-

10-36. We thank employees of the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund for their help in

network upkeep. The HSPB seismological station is operated by the Institute of Geophysics

PAS in cooperation with NORSAR research foundation and is part of Polish Seismological

Network. We also thank to Mariusz Majdański for support from Grant UMO-


28

2016/21/B/ST10/02509 funded by National ScienceCentre, Poland (NCN). The publication

has been partially financed from the funds of the Leading National Research Centre (KNOW)

received by the Centre for Polar Studies for the period 2014-2018.


29

Distribution and evolution of permafrost in Fuglebekken catchment,

Horsund, Svalbard

Michał Glazer Centre for Polar Studies KNOW (Leading National Research Centre), Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in

Katowice

Wojciech Dobiński Centre for Polar Studies KNOW (Leading National Research Centre), Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in

Katowice

Artur Marciniak Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Mariusz Majdański Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Małgorzata Błaszczyk Centre for Polar Studies KNOW (Leading National Research Centre), Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in

Katowice

Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) method is commonly used to study features that concerns

permafrost occurrence and its spatial relations with other components of periglacial

environment. During summer 2015 over 30 ERI surveys has been carried out in Fuglebekken

catchment (Spitsbergen, Svalbard). The aim of the study was identification of permafrost

extent and properties as well as its interaction with salt water which percolates from fjord

inland. In the same season Digital Elevation Model (DEM) which covers the research area

has been made based on the laser scanning measurements. On gathered materials

variations of resistivity structures identified as ice-rich permafrost have been observed.

They have tendencies to lose their specific properties in the sea shore direction.

Unfortunately no unambiguous information could be obtained on thickness of sedimentary

cover over bedrock. This leads to uncertain interpretation of resistivity models.

Subsequent seismic survey have been carried out along 700 m long profile of ERI studies.

Although their main purpose was to reach deeper prospection of geological medium,

acquired data allowed to utilize Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) method to

mark the notably large thickness of sediment cover over bedrock. This analysis allowed for

detailed reinterpretation of resistivity models. Performed analysis shows that in research

area occurs zonal formation of resistivity structures which is related to properties of

sedimentary cover. The formation of bedrock and its depth do not affect the resistivity

anomalies in considerable way.

Authors focus on possible correlation of detected phenomenon with Holocene changes of

the sea level range. Based on detailed DEM and analysis of published papers and maps

considering quaternary deposits, in particular marine terraces, it was possible to compile

the map of approximate temporal emergence of land in Fuglebekken area. Consecutive

zones of transgression and regressions of the sea seem to quantize the resistivity

anomalies. Furthermore, younger terrace (4.5-6 m a.s.l.) does not have resistivity structures

that could be qualified as ice-rich permafrost which allows to consider permafrost


30

development in terms of time (about 1000-700 dating BP of upper part of this terrace) and

influence from fjord.

Acknowledgments:

The project has been financed from the funds of the Leading National Research Centre

(KNOW) received by the Centre for Polar Studies for the period 2014-2018


31

A glimpse into the biodiversity of Arctic and Antarctic polyhydroxyacid

producing bacteria

Jakub Grzesiak Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Marek K. Zdanowski Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Jan Gawor Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Robert Gromadka Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Microorganisms inhabit almost all available environments on Earth. They owe their

successful colonizing skills partially to the ability of energy and nutrient providing substance

storage. One such substance are macromolecular polymers called polyhydroxyacids (PHAs),

that help survive periodic carbon deficits but also enable to cope with several types of

environmental stresses. Those polymers have recently gained much attention as an

environmentally friendly (biodegradable) alternative for oil-based plastics. Bacterial strains

from the Arctic and Antarctic Psychrophile (“cold-lovers”) Collection (part of the Central

Collection of Strains of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of

Sciences) were screened for PHA production. This collection holds almost 3000 isolates

derived from various materials gathered during six expeditions to Arctic and Antarctica.

Strains were examined for PHA granule storage and presence of key PHA synthesis enzyme

encoding genes. Among the so far evaluated strains, members of the fallowing genera have

proven potent in PHA synthesis: Pseudomonas and Psychrobacter (Gammaproteobacteria),

Acidovorax and Variovorax (Betaproteobacteria) and Arthrobacter (Actinobacteria) – all

previously reported to possess this ability. Several genera, previously unrecognized as PHA

producers, were also discovered: Paenisporosarcina (Firmicutes), Rhodanobacter

(Gammaproteobacteria) and Tomitella (Actinobacteria).


32

Acarological studies in the Arctic

Dariusz J. Gwiazdowicz Poznań University of Life Sciences

In the polar areas there are many species of mites from various systematic groups, which

most often inhabit the topsoil. They include very rare species, and sometimes also new

ones for science. Therefore, in recent years, as part of the taxonomic research conducted in

the Arctic, two yet unknown species, that is Halolaelaps coulsoni and Neoseiulus

grumantensis, have been described, as well as unknown developmental stages of species

such as Arctoseius haarlovi, Antennoseius oudemansi, Neoseiulus magnanalis, N.

ellesmerei, Proctolaelaps parvanalis and Zercon solenites have become a basis for further

reviews and redescriptions. Unfortunately, the occurrence of some species recorded and

described in this area about 100 years ago (e.g. Arctoseius laterincisus) has not been

confirmed.

As part of zoogeographic research aimed at determining the range of mites, many species

of these invertebrates previously not found in the Arctic have been recorded, such as

Paragamasus insertus, Vulgarogamasus immanis, V. remberti, Zercon andrei, Zerconopsis

muestairi. It has been found that most of the mite species shown in the polar regions are

not found beyond of the Arctic Circle.

A separate research thread was the ecological analysis of microhabitat selectivity, as well as

the identification of factors affecting the nature of the mite grouping. Both abiotic factors

(e.g. weather conditions), biotic (e.g. vegetation) and anthropogenic (e.g. housing estates)

were analyzed. It was found that in areas under strong human impact, e.g. in Barentsburg

or the Pyramida, there are quite different communities of invertebrates than in the tundra,

in which man did not interfere. The results of these studies formed the basis for selecting

some species of mites as bioindicators of environmental changes.

Methods of mites dispersal with the use of other animals as a specific means of transport

(phoresy) were also investigated. It has been shown that the mites can move both on the fly

Protophormia terraenovae as well as on some bird species.

On the other hand, parasitological studies have examined parasitic mites found in the nests

of bird species such as the common eider, barnacle goose, black-legged kittiwake, and

glaucous gull and snow bunting. The most dangerous parasitic mite found in the polar areas

is Dermanyssus hirundinis.


33

Differentiation of magnetic susceptibility of glacial - marine sediments and

environmental conditions in the area of Werenskiold Glacier (SW

Spitsbergen, Arctic Ocean)

Magdalena Gwizdała Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Leszek Łęczyński Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk

Maria Jeleńska Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

The presented study discusses the application of magnetic susceptibility of sediments to

monitoring the environmental changes. All rock-forming minerals reacts to the magnetic field in

specific ways. Minerals containing iron are sensitive to processes taking place in the

environment, which means that magnetic techniques are proved to be highly useful in detecting

signals related to natural mechanisms. In environmental magnetism, magnetic methods are used

to study the formation, transport, deposition, and post-depositional modification of magnetic

minerals, resulting from a wide range of natural processes.

Material from the Werenskiold Glacier exaration is transported and deposited in Nottingham

Bay. The diversification of the mineralogical composition in the bay is a consequence of

bedrock’s mineralogy. The Werenskiold Glacier is located in the SW part of the Wedel Jarlsberg

Land in Spitsbergen (Svalbard, Arctic Norway). Geologically, is located in the contact zone of

three tectonic blocks (Eimfjellet, Deilegga, Sofiebogen) of the Hecla Hoek Succession. It is

characterized by amphibolite, quartzite, schist, phyllites and marbles. Ore minerals, including

ferromagnetic minerals (pyrrhotite, magnetite, hematite) also occur in the proglacial area.

Surface sediment samples were taken along the two main proglacial streams, located in the

north and in the south from the Werenskiold Glacier. The streams are separated by a medial

moraine and transport what is likely to be different material from the opposite sides of

Werenskiold Glacier. Marine sediment from the seafloor of Nottinghambukta collection was

performed from a pontoon equipped with the Van Veen grab sampler, from a depth of about 1–

3 m. Studied material was characterized by means of grain-size determination. The analysis of

grain size distribution was performed in the Laboratory of Applied Geology of the Institute of

Oceanography, University of Gdańsk.

Measurements of low-field mass magnetic susceptibility (χLF) were conducted using the MFK1-

FA multi-function kappabridge instrument (Agico, Czech Republic). Anhysteretic mass

susceptibility (χARM) was measured by means of 2G SQUID cryogenic magnetometer. The χLF

indicates the concentration of magnetic minerals in investigated samples. Its value may be

increased by the presence of anthropogenic contamination. The χARM, in contrast to χLF,

determines the concentration of ferromagnetic minerals only, with no information provided on

the content of paramagnetic minerals. Magnetic analyses were performed in the Paleomagnetic

Laboratory of the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, in Warsaw.

This study shows a novel approach – the application of magnetic method to analyse the glacier

environment. Presented results allow to draw the following conclusions, concerning the

mineralogy and the magnetic properties of glacial and marine sediments.


34

Hershel Island – one of first weather stations in the western Canadian

Arctic

Krzysztof Jarzyna Institute of Geography, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce

Herschel Island (69°35’09’’N, 139°04’35’’W) is a small patch of a land located 5 km off the

coast of the Yukon Territory in Canada. Curently, the Island has no permanent population. It

is used seasonally by Inuvialuit hunters and fishermen.

However, in the late 19th-early 20th century the island hosted up to 1,500 residents. The

majority of them were whalers who hunted Western Arctic bowhead whales (Balaena

mysticetus) for baleen and whale oil. A multi-ethnic whaling and trading colony existed

there from 1889 to the 1930s. Most of residents lived on whaling ships then, although

several frame buildings were constructed at Pauline Cove too for dirrerent purposes.

A few years after the creation of the colony posts of the Royal North-West Mounted Police

and the Hudson’s Bay Company were established there, as well as the mission of the

Canadian Anglican church created by Isaac Stringer.

It was he who started weather observations on the island in December 1896. The

observations were carried to March 1906 and after some hiatus in the period from

December 1915 to March 1918 too. Only air temperature and precipitation were measured

then. A dataset which contains results of these weather observations was obtained from

the Environment Canada website (http://climate.weather.gc.ca/...) as well as the data from

currently operating automatic weather station. Only the data of minimum and maximum

daily air temperature in the 1899-1905 period were utilised in this study as they are the

most complete. Both mean monthly and extreme values of minimum and maximum air

temperature were determined. Contemporary weather records from 2008-2014 period

(period with the most complete data) were used for a comparison with former weather

conditions.

The lowest air temperature recorded in Herschel Island was -46.7°C in the 1899-2005 period

and 42.8°C in the 2008-2014 period. The highest air temperature recorded in Herschel

Island was 20.6°C in the 1899-2005 period and 28.1°C in the 2008-2014 period.

The coldest month of a year is January. Mean minimum air temperature in Herschel Island

in January was -31.7°C in the 1899-1905 period and -27.2°C in the period 2008-2014. Mean

maximum air temperature in January was -24.8°C in the 1899-1905 period and -20.7°C in

the period 2008-2014.

The warmest month of a year is July. Mean minimum air temperature in Herschel Island in

July was 3.1°C in the 1899-1905 period and 6.9°C in the period 2008-2014. Mean maximum

air temperature in July was 10.6°C in the 1899-1905 period and 14.3°C in the period 2008-

2014.


35

Interannual sediment trap variability and population structure of

pteropods in two high – Arctic fjords

Paula Kacprzak University of Gdańsk

Jørgen Berge The Arctic University of Norway

Finlo Cottier Scottish Association for Marine Science

Sanna Majaneva The Arctic University of Norway

Agata Weydmann University of Gdańsk

Pteropoda – pelagic snails - play a key role in the trophic relations of the Arctic food web,

with domination of three species: two thecosomes - Limacina helicina and Limacina

retroversa and one gymnosome - Clione limacina. Usually, these animals occur in a

significant abundance in this region during the whole year.

The aim of this study is to update the existing data about current state of population

structure of pteropods to better understand relationship between their spatial-time

distribution and environmental changes, especially advection events, in the high Arctic

fjords fjords.

Sediment traps may provide a useful tool to study Arctic zooplankton during the whole

year, irrespective of environmental conditions or sea ice. Year-round sediment traps were

moored in 2014/2015, 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 in high Arctic fjords on Svalbard –

Kongsfjorden and Rijpfjorden, to monitor seasonal and inter-annual variability of

zooplankton. These fjords require enhanced monitoring, because of the progressive

alteration of extent and dynamics of the relatively warm West Spitsbergen Current. Thus,

fjords differ strongly in the amount of flowing Atlantic Water, which influences the

composition and distribution of pteropod species. Our study demonstrated the relationship

between distinct water masses and pteropods variability. Still little is known about their

biogeography and relationship with advected water masses in Svalbard fjords, where the

water exchange is intermittent. Considering the distribution of two thecosome species

Limacina helicina and Limacina retroversa especially in season 2014/2015, there were

visible changes in their occurrence ranges. A considerable number of L. retroversa was

present in autumn and winter samples in relatively high numbers especially in Rijpfjorden.

Population of pteropods was represented mainly by juvenile stages, whereas older

individuals appeared occasionally. Analysis of the relationship between environmental

factors and pteropods population structure, based on the redundancy analysis, revealed

that temperature was the most important factor which was driving variability of pteropods

in the study area.


36

Influence of atmospheric circulation on the meteorological conditions on

Kaffiöyra (NW Spitsbergen) in the years 2013-2017

Marek Kejna Faculty of Earth Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Ireneusz Sobota Faculty of Earth Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

The main aim of the research was to determine the influence of the atmospheric circulation

on meteorological conditions on Kaffiöyra (NW Spitsbergen). Air temperature, air humidity

and wind was recorded using an automatic weather station located on the beach in the

period 2013-2017. The meteorological conditions are caused by the polar location of

Spitsbergen. The amount of solar energy was affected by the polar day and night. The

average sum of global solar energy amounted to 2237.8 MJ.m

-2, with the maximum in June

(529.3 MJ.m

-2). The mean air temperature was -2.0°C. In the analyzed period, the

temperature ranged from 15.2°C to -23.8°C. The highest average temperature occurred in

July (6.5oC), and the lowest in March (-7.8

oC).

Table 1. Mean values of global solar radiation, air temperature, relative air humidity and

wind velocity at Kaffioyra in the period 2013-2017

Year J F M A M J J A S O N D Year

Global solar radiation (MJ.m-2)

2013

92,7 13,5 . .

2014 . 2,4 75,5 289,2 485,2 559,6 342,5 348,2 85,9 8,8 . . 2197,4

2015 . 2,0 64,7 299,9 538,8 592,1 549,2 263,0 88,4 11,9 . . 2409,9

2016 . 2,5 89,6 299,1 421,8 412,0 478,5 283,1 86,4 6,5 . . 2079,5

2017 . 3,4 72,5 312,0 540,5 553,4 406,8 269,5

2013-2017 . 2,6 75,6 300,1 496,6 529,3 444,3 291,0 88,3 10,2 0,0 0,0 2237,8

Air temperature (oC)

2013

4,1 -4,5 -8,0 -7,5

2014 -3,9 -2,1 -7,8 -9,0 -2,8 2,0 5,9 5,3 1,2 -1,1 -6,1 -7,7 -2,2

2015 -5,9 -12,7 -5,6 -5,2 -2,4 3,9 6,9 6,3 2,4 -1,1 -3,5 -6,4 -1,9

2016 -4,2 -6,1 -6,8 -6,1 1,3 3,8 7,7 4,9 3,8 2,4 -0,7 -5,6 -0,5

2017 -10,6 -6,9 -10,8 -7,1 -3,9 3,5 5,9 4,9

2013-2017 -6,1 -7,0 -7,8 -6,8 -1,9 3,3 6,6 5,3 2,9 -1,1 -4,6 -6,8 -2,0

Relative air humidity (%)

2013

87,0 77,4 75,6 70,1

2014 84,1 78,5 75,7 78,8 83,0 88,0 93,9 89,1 86,3 79,7 81,3 72,9 82,6

2015 77,2 78,6 82,0 76,2 85,1 85,2 85,2 90,4 92,0 87,7 77,7 79,0 83,0

2016 80,8 78,0 82,3 81,5 85,5 91,0 88,5 89,7 92,3 91,8 81,9 80,7 85,3

2017 74,7 79,2 82,9 76,4 82,5 91,9 90,0 89,9

2013-2017 79,2 78,6 80,7 78,2 84,0 89,0 89,4 89,8 89,4 84,1 79,1 75,7 83,1

Wind velocity (m.s-1)


37

2013

2,5 2,6 4,8 3,3

2014 3,2 2,3 4,1 3,6 3,5 3,6 3,8 3,7 4,5 3,0 3,9 3,4 3,5

2015 2,7 4,5 3,9 3,0 2,2 3,3 2,9 2,8 4,1 3,9 4,2 4,4 3,5

2016 3,5 2,7 3,1 2,8 2,8 4,8 3,0 4,7 3,7 4,4 3,8 3,6 3,6

2017 4,7 4,0 4,2 2,3 4,1 3,6 3,7 3,7

2013-2017 3,5 3,4 3,8 2,9 3,2 3,8 3,4 3,7 3,7 3,5 4,2 3,7 3,6

The average of air relative humidity was very high (83%). The wind dominated from the

southern and northern directions, consistent with the course of the Forland Strait and local

orography. The average wind speed was 3.6 m.s

-1. The high variability of weather conditions

was mainly caused by atmospheric circulation. The highest temperature was resulted from

the inflow of air from the south. Humidity of the air was affected by the type of the

incoming air masses and phoen phenomenon.


38

The influence of synoptic conditions patterns on air temperature and

humidity in Petuniabukta (Svalbard) in summer 2016

Sebastian Kendzierski Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Leszek Kolendowicz Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Marek Półrolniczak Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

The aim of the presentation is to introduce the results of studies of the meteorological and

synoptic conditions for the area of western part of the Petuniabukta bay (Svalbard) in July

and August 2016. The report is based on observational data, which were carried out near

the Adam Mickiewicz Polar Station in Petuniabukta bay (Svalbard). The data contain air

temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, cloudiness and type of clouds.

Measurements and observations were performed every 3 hours at 5 measuring points. They

were located in horizontal profile from the west coast of the Petuniabukta Bay to the

Pyramiden hill (height difference between successive measurement points is about 200 m).

In the measurements of air temperature and relative humidity HOBO Prov2 recorders were

used. Regarding the impact of synoptic conditions on the values of the individual

meteorological elements, the classification of types of weather was based on the typology

by Niedźwiedź (2003).

At the beginning of the study weather types (1 - sunny and calm and 2 - windy and cloudy),

distinguished on the basis of re-analysis of data (NCEP/NCAR), allowed for the creation of

composite maps of the synoptic situation (SLP and geopotential height of 500 hPa

distribution) and its anomalies. In the study area, the air temperature range in windy and

cloudy weather conditions was larger (-10°C to 15°C) than that in sunny and calm weather

(0°C to 15°C), which contrasts the range of humidity values. The diurnal cycle of

meteorological elements in both sunny and calm days is strongly related to the Sun

elevation angle. In the above-mentioned weather types, the air temperature was higher by

several degrees (median 5°C-8°C) than on windy and cloudy days (median about 0°C-6°C) at

each measurement point. On days with sunny and calm weather, a smaller vertical

temperature gradient of air is observed (for sunny and calm days 0.63°C and for windy

weather 0.8°C).


39

Polar studies of Poznań geographical center – introduction to the conference

Andrzej Kostrzewski Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

In the global landscape structure polar zone have a unique place, both in the Northern and

Southern Hemisphere. In the polar zone the environment is little changed by human activity

so it can act as a reference to current landscape changes ongoing in the lower latitudes.

The above assumptions of cognitive and applicable significance form the basis for the

research of the Poznań center. The on-going studies carried out in the Arctic and Antarctic

zones are subordinated to the identification of the conditions of the course of glaciation

and deglaciation and related to its various manifestations of the energy circulation and the

matter flow in the selected areas. The established regularities in the nature of functioning

of contemporary polar regions form the basis for the palaeogeographic reconstructions of

Quaternary glaciations and their effects in the Northern and Central Poland.

Polar studies carried out by the Poznań center covers the following periods: from 1968 – in

the Arctic in surroundings of the Hornsund fjord, on Iceland, Greenland, in the Caucasus

Mountains; especially significant is the activity in the surroundings of Petunia Bay in central

Spitsbergen started in 1984; 1990-1994, 2016-2018 land areas surrounding the Admiralty

Bay on the King George Island in South Shetland Islands.

We were the organizers of the international conference on Spitsbergen "Geodiversity of

polar landforms" on 1-5 August 2007. Conference participants had the opportunity to

familiarize themselves with the research carried out by all Polish polar stations.

Studies carried out on the basis of the Poznań polar station in Petuniabukta on Spitsbergen

includes geomorphological mapping and monitoring of selected elements of the natural

environment on permanent research plots. Particular attention was paid to the processes

and forms of glaciation and deglaciation, observation of functioning and the effects of

morphological and sedimentation processes of weathering, slope, fluvial, aeolian and

coastal processes. Specialist studies of mechanical and chemical denudation, glaciological

and dendrochronological studies were also conducted. The obtained results enhance the

state of knowledge about the functioning of the polar morphoclimatic zone, they are part of

the Polish polar research.


40

Chloropigments and carotenoids in Hornsund (Spitsbergen) sediments as

indicators of environmental changes

Magdalena Krajewska Institite of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Małgorzata Szymczak-Żyła Institite of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Grażyna Kowalewska Institite of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Presently, the highest temperature increase in the world is observed in Arctic, which causes

faster glacier and snow cover melting. The freshwater has a direct impact on the ecosystem.

The taxonomic composition of phytoplankton in these basins depends i.a. on the ratio of

seawater inflow from open ocean to freshwater input from glacier melting. The aim of this

work was to find out whether pigments in Hornsund sediments could be used as indicators

for the environment relating to productivity, phytoplankton composition, sources of organic

matter and environmental changes, despite conditions unfavorable for pigment

preservation. Recent sediments were taken at four Hornsund stations with the core sampler

during cruise of r.v. ’Oceania’ in July 2016. The cores were sliced to 0-1, 1-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-

20 cm thick layers, and frozen (-20°C) on board, immediately after collection. Pigments have

been analysed in the sediment extracts using high pressure liquid chromatography with

diode-array detector and fluorescence detector (HPLC-DAD/FL). Results indicate that

diatoms and haptophytes constitute the majority of plant biomass in Hornsund fiord.

Primary production increases from the inner to the outer part of the fjord. Pheophorbides-a

and pyropheophorbides-a made up the highest percentage in the sum of chloropigments-a,

supplying evidence for zooplankton and/or zoobenthos grazing, which is the main factor

causing organic matter decomposition in the fjord. The percentage of undecomposed

chlorophyll-a in sum of chloropigments-a is very low (0.5-17.5%). The ratio of chlorophylls-c

to chlorophyll-b is different at each of the four stations and increases from inner towards

outer part of the fjord. This value is proportional to the marine matter share in the total

organic matter content.


41

Should we continue with chemical denudation research on Svalbard?

Wiesława Ewa Krawczyk University of Silesia in Katowice

Sixty years have passed since the first results of chemical denudation rates on Svalbard

were published by Jean Corbel. The basin chosen for his research was Austre Lovenbreen in

Kongsfjorden. The next two basins with a few seasons of research were Bayelva and

Werenskioldbreen. During the past half century research has involved a total of five ice-free

catchments and fifteen glacier-covered basins. Comparison of the data and drawing

conclusions about long term changes in chemical denudation rates, however, is complicated

because different models have been used for estimation. French, Norwegian and Polish

teams used the Corbel - Pulina model, based on measurements of electric conductivity in

water samples collected daily. There were also some attempts to use water chemical

analyses. A new model proposed by Sharp et al. (1995) enables the partition of the total

dissolved load transported out of a given basin into crustal, marine and atmospheric

components: water chemical concentrations obtained with modern analytical techniques

are used, and the calculated crustal solute load is divided by the basin area to obtain the

chemical denudation rate. Hodson et al. (2000) have re-worked earlier English and German

data with the Sharp model. Scottbreen (2002) is the only Polish basin to which this model

has been applied, the others being done only partially. Additional information obtained

with the Sharp model includes the amount of carbon dioxide sequestered from the

atmosphere during the chemical weathering of carbonate and silicate minerals. This is very

important for completing a budget for the global carbon cycle. Recently Martin (2017) used

some Svalbard data in his review of the role of carbonate weathering in the global carbon

cycle. There are long data series over a time span of more than forty years in the Polish

basins, located on a variety of different bedrocks. Analysing these series with a common

model and finding the relationship between the old and new is important for the inclusion

of our results in the global data base on chemical denudation rates on Svalbard. In future

research, attention should be given to covering the complete period of outflow from a basin

(e.g. by modelling) and to better estimates of weathering of silicate minerals.

References:

Hodson A., Tranter M., Vatne G. 2000. Contemporary rates of chemical denudation and

atmospheric CO2 sequestration in glacier basins: an Arctic perspective. Earth Surface

Processes and Landforms 25, 1447-1471.

Sharp M., Tranter M., Brown G., Skidmore M. 1995. Rates of chemical denudation and CO2

drawdown in a glacier-covered alpine catchment. Geology 23, 61-64.

Martin J.B. 2017. Carbonate minerals in the global carbon cycle. Chemical Geology 449, 58-

72.


42

Sensitivity of the WRF model to different lateral and boundary conditions

for Svalbard area

Maciej Kryza University of Wrocław

Natalia Pilguj University of Wrocław

Bartosz Czernecki Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Krzysztof Migała University of Wrocław

Leszek Kolendowicz Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

In this work we present the results of high-resolution dynamical downscaling prepared

within the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF 3.9) for the Svalbard area. Three

simulations for January 2010 were prepared using different reanalysis (GFS FNL, ERA-

Interim and ERA5) as initial and boundary conditions. For each simulation, results from the

innermost domain (with grid size 4 km x 4 km) were compared with measurements from 5

stations located in different parts of archipelago. Two meteorological elements were

analyzed: air temperature on 2 meters and wind speed on 10 meters.

For air temperature, the best results, in terms of model error, were obtained using the high

resolution and newly developed ERA5 database. The largest errors were calculated if the

simulation was started with GFS FNL data, and the error was larger c.a. 0.7°C. These findings

were true for all the stations except of Hornsund, for which model run with ERA-Interim

data gave the smallest errors for air temperature. All three model runs show

underestimation of the observed air temperature, with mean error close to -2.5°C for all the

model runs.

The results for wind speed are not such clear as for air temperature. All three model runs

overestimate the observed wind speed, and the differences between the model runs are

small.


43

Pomerania Crisis Management Lab at the service in polar research

Jacek Lebiedź Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology

Katarzyna Jankowska Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology

Aneta Łuczkiewicz Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology

Pomerania Crisis Management Lab (pol. Pomorskie Laboratorium Zarządzania Kryzysowego)

is designed to verify procedures for management of resources and responsibilities for

dealing with all humanitarian and financial aspects of emergencies (preparedness,

response, and recovery). Its main aim is to limit the harmful effects of all hazards, including

disasters. An additional goal is to prepare the participants of the crisis situation for the most

responsible behavior. The laboratory will contain 120 efficient virtual reality stations

cooperating with each other and a few highly immersive simulators (e.g. pontoon boat

simulator based on the Stewart platform 6DOF). The paper describes the laboratory and

proposes the use of the laboratory for verification of architectural designs of new polar

stations in the aspect of emergency management (e.g. fight with a fire, evacuation

scenario).


44

Polish Polar Station Dobrowolski – past, present and future

Marek Lewandowski Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Adam Nawrot Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Piotr Łepkowski Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Przemek Kapuściński Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Prof. Antoni Bolesław Dobrowolski (1872-1954) was renowned Polish geophysicist and

cryologist. The polar station named after him is located in the one of the most remarkable

region on the Earth, called “Bunger Hills” or “Bunger Oasis” (66°16'34.4"S 100°45'00.7"E).

The oasis is an archipelago of rocky terrain and lakes, covering ca. 900 km2 of the Antarctic

continent. It is a part of the coastal range on the Knox Coast in Wilkes Land (East

Antarctica).

During the First Polish Antarctic Expedition to the Bunger Oasis, the “Oazis” station,

originally built in 1956 by USSR, was handed over to Poland on 23 January 1959, and

officially renamed A. B. Dobrowolski Station.

Amazingly, although the Bunger Hills are surrounded by glaciers, being separated from the

Southern Ocean by the Shackleton Ice Shelf, the area remains free of ice throughout the

year. The oasis includes moderately low, rugged hills, while the more flat terrain is covered

by morainic drift. Along with numerous melt ponds, as well as with the salt and freshwater

lakes it may be considered an early Mars landscape analogue. The largest and the deepest

Lake Figurnoye (Algae Lake) is up to 137 m deep and 25 km long.

Two official Polish Antarctic Expeditions to the Dobrowolski Station (1959 and 1979, see

Birkenmajer 2017) conducted research in the field of the Earth sciences. Polish scientists

calculated, for the first time, the acceleration of gravity for this part of the Earth. The pillar

made of concrete has been erected by the First Polish Antarctic Expedition at the

Dobrowolski Station in January 1959 for gravity measurements. The pillar is recognized

amongst the Antarctic Historic Sites.

The station consists of two wooden huts, capable to host 10 people in relatively

comfortable conditions. Interestingly, and probably due to a low humidity, the

infrastructure of the Dobrowolski Station survived decades in a quite well shape,

notwithstanding hurricanes sporadically reaching almost 300 km/h.

Nowadays, the Dobrowolski Station remains in hibernation. Costs of expeditions and logistic

issues prevented Polish researchers from scientific exploration of the oasis over the last

decades. Now, when Poland is experiencing the economic boom, the time has come to

return. IGF PAS, which is the Dobrowolski Station manager from the year of 2001, has

prepared plan of research activity for the next 8 years. This plan, leading to the establishing

of an autonomic, geophysical observatory and revitalization of the Dobrowolski as a


45

seasonal (summer) station, has been accepted by the Ministry of Science and Higher

Education and initial funds were allocated to the IGF PAS for a good beginning. Seasonal

studies on glaciology, hydrology, geomorphology and biology would also be carrying out.

Since the most serious issues are focusing on logistics, different scenarios of the expedition

are currently debated, including our participation in the Russian or Australian Antarctic

expeditions, not excluding, however, organization of the Polish national expedition to the

Bunger Hills after 40 years of absence.

References:

Birkenmajer, Krzysztof Ludwik 2017: Polskie badania polarne (zarys). Studia Historiae

Scientiarum 16, ss. 123–153. https://doi.org/10.4467/2543702XSHS.17.007.7708.


46

Usage of various mesh generation techniques for better visualization and

documentation of Lægerneset – a historical whale hunting side and coal

mine

Paulina Lewińska Faculty of Mine Surveying and Environmental Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology

Piotr Zagórski Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Marie Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

Recent years brought enormous improvements in meshing techniques employing more

effective and less time consuming algorithms. In case of data, point clouds, obtained from

terrestrial laser scanners, two rival approaches have emerged. First involves creating mesh

strictly from points within a point cloud. The other approach utilizes scanner's position

during the measurement and basing on that produces a mesh as a projection from scan

station. It uses distance from the object, angle and changes in points dispersion further

from the laser beam source in order to create a better mesh with more effective

interpolation techniques. This approach has so far proven to be more accurate with filling

holes in the mesh occurring due lack of data. Projection mesh from various scan stations

gives more information to the software on the reasons why the hole occurs and how to

mitigate with this problem. This is of great importance in case of historical sites that can be

found in Svalbard. Many of them consist of ruins, leftover bones and animal skulls or mining

equipment in various states of decay. Such elements can be very hard to scan with enough

point cloud density and from all directions without disturbing their integrity. It is also

almost impossible to create a standard vector model of those objects. This is why those

elements need to be presented as 3D mesh in order to better visualize and analyze their

purpose. In case of Lægerneset – a historical whale hunting side and mine a laser scanning

survey season was performed. Obtained data allowed for creating a 3D map of the side and

detail 3D mesh models of smaller, heritage objects. This article describes how various mesh

techniques can be utilize in order to create more accurate models of large scale objects (a

3D map of the side) and smaller, detailed elements (foundations, graves, animal skulls etc.).


47

Sources of radioactive contamination in cryoconites from the Arctic

Edyta Łokas Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Piotr Zagórski Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Marie Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

Ireneusz Sobota Faculty of Earth Sciences, Polar Research Center, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Krzysztof Zawierucha Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Łukasz Pawłowski Institute of Geography and Regional Development, Wroclaw University

Shiv Mohan Singh Earth System Science Organisation, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research

Wiesław Ziaja Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University

Paweł Gaca Ocean&Earth Science, University of Southampton Although polar regions have not been industrialised, numerous contaminants originating

from human activity are detectable in the Arctic environment. A survey of artificial (137Cs,

238Pu, 239+240Pu) and natural (210Pb, 230,232Th, 234,238U) radioactive isotopes in

cryoconites from Arctic glaciers have revealed high spatial variability of activity

concentrations of the airborne radionuclides.

Cryoconites are aggregates of mineral and organic matter on surfaces of glaciers which are

able to retain and accumulate airborne pollutants by binding them to extracellular

polymeric substances secreted by microorganisms or accumulated in micro animals.

Cryoconites are common in the ablation zones of glaciers, particularly those located at high

latitudes and high altitudes. They accumulate dust eluted from the atmosphere by dry and

wet precipitation. The research was carried out in five areas of Spitsbergen (Kongsfiord,

Kaffiøyra, Bellsund, Hornsund, Sørkappland). Cryoconites were collected from Austre

Brøgger, Vestre Brøgger, Waldemar, Blomli, Recherche, Tjørndals, Renard, Scott, Hans and

Stor Glaciers in the western Spitsbergen coast, as well as from Sykorabreen, Coryellbreen

and Kanebreen in the southeastern Spitsbergen coast. The cryoconites collected from the

Werenskiöld and Waldemar Glaciers reveal the highest activity concentrations of the

anthropogenic (137Cs, 238,239,240Pu) and natural (210Pb) airborne radionuclides. Activity

concentrations of fallout radionuclides were 4500 Bq/kg, 14 Bq/kg, 179 Bq/kg for 137Cs,

238Pu and 239+240Pu, respectively. Activity ratios of 238Pu/239+240Pu, 239+240Pu/137Cs

are commonly used to identify and distinguish between global and regional sources of these

radionuclides. The average activity ratios for 238Pu/239+240Pu were 0.056 suggesting

contributions from other than the global fallout sources of plutonium. Global fallout of

radionuclides from the atmospheric nuclear weapons testing has the 238Pu/239+240Pu

activity ratio signature of 0.025 (for year 1973). The 239+240Pu/137Cs activity ratios of

0.023 found in this study are much lower than the decay-corrected value of ~0.05 expected


48

for the year 2015, which points to additional sources of 137Cs in these area. This study

reports also the results of 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios analysis in these cryoconites. The

240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios in the cryoconites change within wide range between 0.1171

and 0.2287 with the mean value of 0.1441 and indicating inputs of non-global fallout Pu.

Activity concentrations of airborne radionuclides (137Cs, Pu isotopes, 210Pb) in cryoconite

samples from Spitsbergen were higher than in the soils and lakes of Spitsbergen. The main

sources of anthropogenic radionuclides in the Arctic areas are global fallout from

atmospheric nuclear weapon tests and local fallout from tests conducted at Novaya Zemlya.

210Pb in cryoconites is derived mainly from the atmospheric deposition and its activity

concentrations reach high values up to 13000 Bq/kg. The lithogenic radionuclides (Th and U

isotopes) show less variability than the airborne radionuclides because their activity

concentrations are controlled only by admixtures of material derived from the weathering

of local parent rocks.

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Science Center grant no. NCN

2016/21/B/ST10/02327. Samples from SE Spitsbergen were taken during the Jagiellonian

University Expedition, 2016, co-financed by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.


49

Molecular population structure of Antarctic shallow-water benthic

foraminifera: The window to biogeography and dispersal patterns

Wojciech Majewski Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Aneta Majda Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Tomasz Mamos Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lódź

Michał Grabowski Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lódź

Samuel Bowser New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center

Jan Pawłowski Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva

Benthic foraminifera are a major component of the Antarctic biota. They are widely

distributed in Antarctic waters. The question is whether their morphotypes are genetically

identical or represent a cohort of cryptic species. We analysed molecular population

structure of ten Antarctic benthic foraminiferal morphospecies from Admiralty Bay (South

Shetlands), Rothera (Marguerite Bay), and the western Ross Sea (McMurdo Sound, Terra

Nova Bay); locations spread over a distance of ~4500 km. Our study, based on SSU and ITS

rDNA sequence data, shows that despite the presence of considerable intra-individual

genetic variability, many morphospecies of benthic foraminifera share identical genotypes

in distant areas, confirming their circum-Antarctic distribution. By adding data from

southern Patagonia, it was possible to analyze the combined dataset in a geographically

broader perspective. The data suggest recent gene flow across the Drake Passage for four

species/MOTUs but not for the remaining majority of taxa. The molecular population

structures of different taxa shown by haplotype networks is highly variable, indicating very

different dispersal histories. The time-calibrated Bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction

suggests that the isolation between Antarctic and Patagonian species/MOTUs post-dates

the Eocene/Oligocene boundary. Large differences in divergence times between the

examined foraminifera support the hypothesis that separation of ecosystems on the

opposite sides of the Drake Passage was a gradual process that started more than 30 Ma.


50

Past, present and future mass balance of an alpine glacier on Svalbard

(Svenbreen, central Spitsbergen)

Jakub Małecki Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Small alpine glaciers on Svalbard are known to melt rapidly in response to strong climate

warming over the region, contrasting the behaviour of many larger ice caps and icefields.

The mass balance data from these glaciers is, however, occasional and even less is known

about their surface melt processes. This study presents new data on modern surface mass

and energy balance measured directly on Svenbreen, a small glacier in central Spitsbergen.

With use of this data and digital elevation models of its surface and bed from earlier

studies, a simplified model of its future evolution is also presented to demonstrate the

vulnerability of alpine glaciers on Svalbard to climate warming.

The geodetic mass balance of Svenbreen was previously reported to decrease from -0.32 m

w. eq. yr-1 (1960s-1990) to -0.58 m w. eq. yr-1 (1990-2009), based on measurements of its

surface elevation changes. Direct glaciological monitoring confirms its fast glacier-wide

mass loss at the mean rate of ca. -0.7 m w. eq. yr-1 over the recent years (2010/11-

2016/17). Future melt intensity is assessed for a single site by an energy balance model.

This early version of the model assumes the weather elements measured over the period

September 2011-September 2017 (winter snow accumulation, air temperature, relative

humidity, wind speed and incoming shortwave radiation) repeat iteratively over the 21st

century, with air temperature gradually increasing by roughly 5˚C by 2100. This input data is

subsequently used to approximate the remaining mass and energy balance components

(snow melt, albedo, outgoing shortwave radiation, incoming and outgoing longwave

radiation, sensible and latent heat fluxes), thus enabling calculation of the overall melt

energy availability under a range of air temperature regimes.

Results of this site-specific study were extrapolated to the whole glacier area adopting a

similar mass-balance sensitivity at every location. The overall outcomes suggest every 1˚C

increment in summer air temperature (JJA) will result in ~0.7 m w. eq. increase in melting at

the measuring site. The study concludes the glacier will experience severe reduction of area

and volume in the coming decades.


51

Seismic Tomography and MASW analysis of the results of Spitsbergen

seismic permafrost study

Artur Marciniak Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Bartosz Owoc Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Michał Glazer University of Silesia in Katowice

Wojciech Dobiński University of Silesia in Katowice

Mariusz Majdański Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

In recent years, shallow seismic methods seems to be one of the primary tools in polar

studies. Especially reflection methods, such as seismic imaging are very useful in researches

focused on permafrost studies. Conducted by IGF PAS in 2017 and 2018 researches was

oriented to obtain high resolution seismic data-set of terrain in the front of retreating Hans

Glacier in Spitsbergen. In cooperation with University of Silesia in Katowice, authors

received complete set of data supplemented with information from ERT and GPR methods.

Modern processing techniques such as seismic reflection imaging, in combination with

methods like Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves and First Arrival Seismic Tomography

was used. As a result, detailed model of permafrost structures near Polish Polar station was

obtained. Moreover, authors compared data from different seasons of the year, to develop

an optimal combination of geophysical methods to study permafrost characteristics in such

a difficult conditions. In the future, forward modeling methods are planned to be used. That

approach will allow to estimate reliability of the results.


52

Artistic strategies in visualisation of environmental change in polar regions

Marianna Michałowska Institute of Cultural Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań


Aneta Łuczkiewicz Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology

A paper is dedicated to research developed in the interdisciplinary project titled “To see –

to recognize – to understand. Visualisation as a method of dissemination of knowledge”,

which bridges perspectives on visual methods employed in humanistic, technical and

environmental sciences.

In the paper we state that a popularization of knowledge on climatic change, which is the

most visible in polar regions is one of main challenges in contemporary visual

communication. A good tool of making society aware of those changes are activities on the

thresholds of science and art. The aim of the paper is to present three visual strategies

employed by contemporary artists to disseminate scientific knowledge on climate change.

Each of strategies will be illustrated with particular case study.

A project by Tyrone Martinsson Arctic Views. Passages in Time (2015) is an example of the

first approach. A Norwegian researcher uses re-photography to tell a history of polar

research in Svalbard region and at the same time – to visualise melting of the ice cover.

The second strategy is represented by photographers of nature who work among others for

“National Geographic” (i.e. Paul Nicklan or Bartosz Stróżyński). Their tremendous polar

landscapes and breathtaking portraits of marine fauna and flora enlighten the audience on

uniqueness and fragility of environment that is in large extent under the antropogenic

pressure.

The third approach is founded on metaphorisation of scholar’s and traveler’s experience (an

example might be here books by Anna Sielska and Ilona Wiśniewska). The aim of that

strategy is not only a dissemination of knowledge about science itself and showing the

everyday life in research stations like Polish Polar Research Station Hornsund, but rathes an

arise an interest for science as an inimitable adventure.

Problems discussed in the paper belong to group of methods that founded the basis of

visual literacy theories and which evolved in polar research the form of ocean literacy.


53

The influence of abiotic factors on the plant growth in the High Arctic


Magdalena Opała-Owczarek University of Silesia in Katowice

Ewa Pirożnikow Białystok University of Technology

Piotr Owczarek University of Wrocław

Wojciech Szymański Jagiellonian University

Bartłomiej Luks Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Daniel Kępski Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Mariusz Szymanowski University of Wrocław

Bronisław Wojtuń University of Wrocław

The aim of the study was to comprehensively evaluate the abiotic factors that influence changes

in the annual growth rates of selected species of tundra plants (Saxifraga oppositifolia L. and

Salix polaris Wahlenb.). The study was conducted in the area of the Fuglebergsletta coastal plain,

in the vicinity of the Polish Polar Station (Wedel Jarlsberg Land, SW Spitsbergen). Relationships

between the studied phenomenon and basic environmental factors and climate indicators were

evaluated. The spatial variation of land surface temperatures (LST) was determined, as were the

effects of the physical and chemical properties of soils and the spring melting of snow cover on

growth rates.

It has been argued that the spatial and seasonal variability of annual growth is determined by

the rate at which snow cover disappears and by soil moisture, which determines plants' access

to water. Soil moisture depends on soil particle size distribution and weather; it is regulated by

the supply of snowmelt water and rainfall as well as by the depth of the top layer of permafrost

(thaw depth), which determines the level of groundwater during the growing season. The spatial

characteristics of the process of the disappearance of seasonal snow cover are co-determined by

the morphology of the substrate and the physical properties of the soil.

An important but destructive role is played by thawing episodes, which are increasingly frequent

in the winter season, 'rain-on-snow' events, and glaze ice. The values of correlation coefficients

indicate a positive role for precipitation and negative influence of temperature. The higher the

temperature (along with low precipitation), the lesser the extent of plant growth. The observed

trend towards warming in polar areas does not inevitably lead to an increase in biomass

production. An increase in temperature during the growing season does not necessarily promote

plant growth, but rather indicates drought stress caused by the lowering of groundwater levels

related to the increase in thaw depth.


54

Staying at high latitudes as a psychological challenge – positive and

negative outcomes of exposure to polar environment

Marta Molińska Faculty of Social Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Exposure to isolated and confined extreme (ICE) polar environment undoubtedly involves

facing numerous stressors. Individuals who stay in adverse physical conditions are forced to

deal with many difficulties from geographical and social isolation, severe weather, low

temperature to relatively low humidity. This results in alterations in human’s psychological

functioning and affects daily behavior. Except for aforementioned physical factors, the

psychological ones: longterm social isolation, lack of privacy, interpersonal tension and

conflicts may lead to affective disorders, addictions or even suicidal thoughts. The most

explored psychological syndroms associated to staying at polar environment are: (1) the

winter-over syndrome, (2) the polar T3 syndrome, (3) subsyndromal seasonal affective

disorder.

Chronic exposure to stressors may increase the risk of developing autoimmune disease,

coronary heart disease, peptic ulcer disease or diabetes. However, relatively little attention

has been paid to positive results. The development of salutogenic approach in psychology

inspired researchers to hunt for positive effects of staying at high latitudes. Surprisingly,

some studies have revealed that apart from chronic fatigue, sleep disruption, cognitive

impairment or even interpersonal conflicts and depression, individuals may also experience

some beneficial effects. This suggest that individuals may manifest some specific

characteristics which work as a „buffer”: help them to adapt to unfavorable conditions as

well as protect against the loss of well-being.

The elementary aim is to present the review of research on both detrimental and

advantageous psychological consequences for human’s functioning during and after

exposure to extreme polar conditions. What is more, the intermediary factors that may help

to understand the relation between individual’s functioning and stressful severe conditions

will be discussed.


55

Seasonal variability in the influence of atmospheric circulation on air

temperature in Spitsbergen

Tadeusz Niedźwiedź University of Silesia in Katowice

Ewa Łupikasza University of Silesia in Katowice

Atmospheric circulation is an important factor causing the variability in air temperature in

the Arctic regions. Its influence on temperature varies seasonally. We analysed the

correlation between the circulation types frequency and mean monthly air temperature

during last 67 years (1951-2017). We applied the catalogue of circulation types (Niedźwiedź

2013) created for Spitsbergen and surroundings (75-80°N, 0-30°E). Temperature records

representative for this region were taken from Svalbard-Lufthavn synoptic station (WMO no

01008, Φ = 78°15’ N, = 15°28’ E, altitude = 2 m). We used the newest homogenized series

(1898-2012) created by Nordli et al. (2014) and updated from CLIMA TE reports to 2017

(Valor 2018).

Significant correlation (α <0.001) between air temperature and the frequency of circulation

types (Table1) was observed during the cold part of a year, from September to April. During

this season positive correlation (warming) was observed mainly during cyclonic situations

with advection of air masses from southern sector (types Sc, SWc and SEc). The correlation

with anticyclonic types (Sa, SWa and SEa) is weakest, significant at α <0.01. However the 6

types mentioned, which occurred on 41% of days, contributed in about 80% to the recent

warming in Spitsbergen (Isaksen et al. 2016). Significant negative correlation (cooling) was

connected with anticyclonic situation Na and NEa.

During warm period (May-August) the influence of circulation on air temperature is not

significant. Temperature depends mainly on solar factors. Cooling significant only in July

was related to NWa, SWc and Wc types with advection of humid and cool air from

Greenland Sea. Anticyclonic ridge (Ka) connected with low cloudiness in this month,

generated warm conditions (r = +0.37).

Table 1. Correlation coefficients between mean monthly and annual air temperature in Svalbard-

Lufthavn and the frequency of particular circulation types (1951-2017)

Month Anticyclonic circulation types - a Total a Na NEa Ea SEa Sa SWa Wa NWa Ca Ka

Jan. -0.56 -0.48 -0.17 0.12 0.39 0.28 0.07 -0.10 -0.03 -0.36 -0.39

Feb. -0.36 -0.48 -0.03 0.14 0.22 0.37 0.08 -0.21 -0.21 -0.24 -0.29

Mar. -0.27 -0.44 -0.22 0.02 0.18 0.15 0.11 -0.24 -0.17 -0.20 -0.42

Apr. -0.30 -0.28 -0.22 0.07 0.23 0.19 -0.07 -0.23 -0.22 -0.20 -0.41

May. -0.12 -0.16 -0.05 0.28 0.14 0.16 0.02 -0.21 0.05 -0.12 -0.08

Jun. 0.11 0.00 -0.07 0.00 0.13 0.04 -0.21 0.03 0.01 0.07 0.03

Jul. 0.07 0.24 0.22 0.28 0.14 -0.08 -0.03 -0.34 0.07 0.37 0.39

Aug. 0.08 -0.02 0.01 0.23 0.03 0.05 -0.24 -0.23 0.14 0.15 0.12


56

Sep. -0.27 -0.31 -0.02 0.38 0.44 0.33 0.14 -0.03 0.03 -0.09 0.12

Oct. -0.44 -0.42 -0.24 0.22 0.32 0.32 0.04 -0.19 -0.08 -0.19 -0.32

Nov. -0.37 -0.50 0.00 0.25 0.37 0.14 0.06 0.00 -0.13 -0.15 -0.21

Dec. -0.38 -0.49 -0.28 0.26 0.26 0.38 0.12 -0.07 0.19 -0.20 -0.30

Jan-Dec -0.22 -0.46 -0.39 -0.02 0.21 0.21 -0.10 -0.21 0.06 -0.27 -0.44

Month

Cyclonic circulation types - c Total c Nc NEc Ec SEc Sc SWc Wc NWc Cc Bc

Jan. -0.20 -0.30 -0.08 0.32 0.50 0.46 0.19 0.12 0.11 0.18 0.36

Feb. -0.04 -0.06 -0.10 0.38 0.47 0.18 -0.11 0.01 0.00 0.17 0.30

Mar. 0.09 -0.23 -0.05 0.32 0.50 0.51 0.25 0.02 -0.02 0.29 0.43

Apr. -0.08 -0.19 0.06 0.64 0.44 0.27 0.08 -0.03 0.03 0.11 0.43

May. -0.05 -0.12 0.07 0.23 0.23 -0.03 0.01 -0.03 0.03 0.05 0.10

Jun. 0.00 -0.10 -0.18 0.09 -0.03 0.13 0.08 0.05 -0.12 -0.03 -0.04

Jul. -0.11 -0.11 0.24 0.21 -0.17 -0.36 -0.34 -0.10 -0.09 -0.19 -0.37

Aug. -0.16 -0.11 -0.07 0.32 0.14 -0.03 -0.12 -0.23 0.01 -0.13 -0.11

Sep. -0.39 -0.22 -0.28 0.28 0.49 0.56 -0.11 -0.15 -0.16 -0.03 -0.10

Oct. -0.12 -0.31 0.14 0.35 0.43 0.38 0.05 0.02 0.15 -0.02 0.32

Nov. -0.29 -0.46 -0.10 0.47 0.48 0.40 0.12 0.07 0.16 0.21 0.22

Dec. -0.07 -0.38 -0.03 0.39 0.46 0.16 0.17 0.00 0.18 0.43 0.31

Jan-Dec 0.31 -0.11 -0.22 0.57 0.43 0.27 -0.14 0.28 0.08 0.27 0.42

Correlation coefficients significant at the level α<0,01 are in bold, grey means α <0,001

References:

Isaksen K., Nordli Ø., Førland E.J., Łupikasza E., Eastwood S., Niedźwiedź T., 2016, Recent

warming on Spitsbergen—Influence of atmospheric circulation and sea ice cover.

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 121, p. 11913-11931,

doi:10.1002/2016JD025606.

Niedźwiedź T., 2013, Influence of atmospheric circulation on the air temperature at

Hornsund, chapter 9.5.2 [in:] Marsz A.A., Styszyńska A. (eds), Climate and Climate

Change at Hornsund, Svalbard. Gdynia Maritime University, Gdynia, p. 172-177.

Nordli Ø., Przybylak R., Ogilvie A. E.J., Isaksen K., 2014, Long-term temperature trends and

variability on Spitsbergen: the extended Svalbard Airport temperature series, 1898-

2012. Polar Research 33(1): article 21349, 22 pp.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v33.21349

Valor G.B. (2018) OGIMET-professional information about meteorological conditions in the

world. SYNOP messages available online. http://www.ogimet.com.


57

A tree-ring perspective on Low Arctic summer temperature changes: a case

study of two species (Salix uva-ursi and Picea glauca) from Manitounuk

Islands, Nunavut, Canada

Magdalena Opała-Owczarek Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

Piotr Owczarek Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wroclaw

Ewa Łupikasza Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

Krzysztof Migała Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wroclaw

Maxime Saunier Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik Research Station, Laval University

Recent changes in temperature in the Arctic and its potential effects on vegetation have

been gaining increased scientific attention. Shrub expansion is increasingly observed in

Arctic and Subarctic environments. On the other hand, a few tree-ring studies indicate

recent growth declines at northern latitudes, which precise causes are not well understood.

Here, we present results of dendroclimatic studies conducted in eastern Canadian Subarctic

region. The Manitounuk Islands are located in the south-eastern part of the Hudson Bay.

The archipelago is composed of four large and several smaller elongated islands. The east

coasts of islands are cliff-shaped and reach 60 - 80 m height. The uppermost parts of islands

are bare and covered by short-stature woody plants; spruce trees are found only in

tectonically and erosion-conditioned depressions. The samples were collected from two

islands, the southernmost the Bill of Portland and the largest one – the Merry Island.

Climate data were obtained from Kuujjuarapik meteorological station (1925-2017).

We test growth and climate relationships of two contrasting species: dwarf shrub bearberry

willow (Salix uva-ursi Pursh) and coniferous tree white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss).

Growth-ring widths chronologies were developed from 60 samples of spruce and 45

samples of willow. A white spruce ring-width chronology reaches back to 1352 A.D., while a

bearberry willow ring-width chronology cover the last 105 years.

We found that annual growth variability of both species at this site is strongly driven by

summer temperatures. However, different dendroclimatic response of these Low Arctic

species to summer temperature changes is observed. Dwarf shrub Salix uva-ursi chronology

is correlated mainly with June temperature. Additionally, the negative influence of August

temperature can be noticed in some time periods, suggesting drought stress. The Picea

glauca chronology is sensitive to July temperature, but in the last decades the

dendroclimatic response is wider and covers the whole warm season (April-August).

Extreme years analyses show that very narrow rings and frost rings, occurring in both

species, are associated with unfavorable climatic conditions, especially very cold winters.


58

In general, no evidence of the reduction in sensitivity to climatic variability has been found

in spruce chronology, therefore the last 667-years dendroclimatic reconstruction of July

temperature can be calculated and compared with recent temperature trends based on

instrumental data.

Acknowledgements:

The research leading to these results has received funding from INTERACT (grant agreement

no. 730938), under the EU Horizon 2020 grant.


59

The role of modern aeolian processes in thufur degradation and forming

low-scale surface features in northern Iceland – a dendrogeomorphology

approach

Piotr Owczarek Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wroclaw

Magdalena Opała-Owczarek Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

Krzysztof Migała Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

Jónína Sigríður Þorláksdóttir Northeast Iceland Nature Research Centre, Raufarhöfn

Recent observations show the increasing role of aeolian processes as one of the most important

geomorphic agent in non-glaciated polar regions. These phenomena are not only responsible for

the creation of new typical aeolian forms, like sand shadows and dunes, but also for the

destruction of forms created by other geomorphic processes. The climate changes determine the

transformation of hydrological and vegetation conditions within the different geomorphic forms

and therefore they can be subjected to an increased influence of wind action, such as deflation

and abrasion. The purpose of the presented study are (1) to analyze the role of modern wind

deflation on thufur landscape degradation and (2) to examine potential of dwarf shrubs in

analysis of aeolian processes activity. The research were conducted in northeastern Iceland on

Melrakkaslétta area. This flat area with numerous lakes and swamps in its central and northern

part, from the south is surrounded by volcanic plateaus and rocky ridges. Lichen rich heathland,

dominated by short-stature woody plants, like Calluna vulgaris, Salix herbacea and Betula nana,

is common for this area. The large area is occupied by earth thufurs (hummock) which form 0.4 –

0.6 m high mounds, separated by a network troughs. In most cases these patterned grounds are

related to the volcanic ashes. On Melrakkaslétta they can be found in both the coastal zone and

in the depressions within the volcanic plateaus. Thufurs, especially located on higher elevation,

are subjected to erosion and degradation. The northern parts of the mounds are undercuted by

wind action. The thufurs, degraded by wind, have an asymmetrical shape and often form

irregular ridges (0.3 - 0.4 m), with steep northern slopes. The southern slopes are gentle and

enriched by loose, fine-grained mineral particles. Dendrogeomorphological methods were used

for analysis of modern thufur changes. 30 Salix herbacea samples were collected from different

parts of the degraded thufurs. The dwarf shrubs measurements followed the standard

dendrochronological procedures. On the basis of age and wood anatomy changes erosional rate

of northern parts of thufurs were recognized. In these bare interhummock areas a mineral

material were eroded and only the root systems of S. herbacea remain, often with a horizontal

length of up to 0.6 m. Based on growth rings variability and wood anatomy changes before and

after exposure from mineral cover the periods of increased deflation and accumulation

processes in the last 70 years have been determined.

Acknowledgements:

The research leading to these results has received funding from INTERACT (grant agreement no.

730938), under the EU Horizon 2020 grant.


60

Distribution of hexachlorobenzene in the Arctic fjord sediments

Anna Pouch Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Agata Zaborska Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Ksenia Pazdro Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

The main objective of the study is to present results of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) concentration

distribution in the Arctic fjord sediments.

HCB is considered as one of the 12 most persistent organic pollutants and was included in the

Stockholm Convention as a pollutant requiring an action plan. Although production and use of

HCB has ceased in most countries, it is still emitted to the environment as a by-product of the

production of several pesticides which contain chlorine, the manufacture of chlorinated solvents,

the production of certain industrial chemicals and the combustion of waste and materials

containing chlorine.

HCB is a volatile contaminant and can be transported even to remote locations. It can then be

removed from the air by wet and dry atmospheric deposition to water and land surfaces. From

marine waters some HCB may be re-transferred into the atmosphere by volatilization, while

some may be adsorbed onto organic matter and very fine mineral particles and sink to the sea

bed.

The study presents the results of HCB concentration in sediments collected from Kongsfjorden,

Hornsund and Adventfjorden (Svalbard). These fjords are influenced by different water masses,

different rate of glaciers ablation and the level of primary and secondary production. In addition,

the knowledge on HCB concentration in the Adventfjorden near Longyearbyen harbour. The

concentration of HCB have been measured at selected depth intervals of sediment cores. GC-

ECD techniques were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of HCB. Sediment cores were

dated using 210Pb method, therefore the history of HCB accumulation has also been studied.

The concentration of HCB in sediments were up to 143.99 pg/g d.w. The highest concentrations

were measured in sediment cores collected in Hornsund near the melting glacier. The lowest

concentrations of HCB were measured in Adventfjorden, suggesting that local source of HCB is

not significant and global transport processes are the major transport pathways. HCB

concentration were generally low thus a negative effect on benthic organisms is not expected.

The calculated environmental half-lives of HCB in three fjord sediments ranged from 17 to 31

years indicating that remote regions respond more slowly to contaminant emission reduction, as

they receive contaminants both from direct influx from the atmosphere (primary source)

combined with an influx of recycled contaminants previously deposited elsewhere (secondary

source).

Acknowledgement:

The project has been partially financed from the funds of the Leading National Research Centre

(KNOW) received by the Centre for Polar Studies for the period 2014-2018 and funded by the

Polish National Science Centre, Poland (grant no.2016/23/N/ST10/01358).


61

Aeolian activity in central Spitsbergen (Ebba Valley) in the years 2012-2017

Krzysztof Rymer Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Aeolian processes are among most common on the Earth, but at the same time they are

relatively difficult to measure in real time, mostly due to their turbulent nature. That is why

the long-term geomorphological effects of wind activity are examined more often than

modern phenomena, particularly in polar regions, where continuous monitoring is possible

only based on the research stations. On Svalbard majority of the scientific activity

(especially Polish) is focused on the west coast of Spitsbergen island. Results presented here

concern Ebba Valley, located in central part of Spitsbergen, characterized by dry polar

climate variation.

Occurrence of aeolian processes is closely related to the air and soil humidity, terrain

morphology and vegetation cover. Therefore the measurements in Ebba Valley are

conducted on test sites representing different conditions of polar geoecosystem: the

surface of old raised marine terraces with rich tundra vegetation, the sandur area,

solifluction slopes and alluvial cones with poor tundra coverage, as well as frontal moraine

of the glacier almost without any flora. Aeolian accumulation is measured using plastic trays

(0.035 m2) filled with glass marbles and local gravel material during summer seasons (July-

September). Continuous meteorological measurements, as well as field observations and

GIS modelling are also carried out.

During summer periods 2012-2016 measured values of aeolian accumulation in Ebba Valley

varied from 3 to 4413 g.m

-2. Differences, even at the same test sites, between closely

located trays amounted up to 800 g.m

-2. Furthermore, accumulation rates for the same site

in subsequent years exceeded 4000 g.m

-2. This confirms the theory of high turbulence in the

wind transportation of sediments and high randomness of the material hitting the aeolian

traps.

General conclusions can be drawn based on the calculations of the average long-term

series. The lowest accumulation rates per summer season (3-5 g.m

-2) are observed for

tundra covered parts of the valley. On glacier moraines and leeward slopes with low

vegetation cover this values amount 75-83 g.m

-2. On highest old marine terraces and sandur

areas surface sediment cover consist of more coarse fractions. Lack of the material which

can be easily moved by the wind makes that observed values of the aeolian accumulation

range around 129-177 g.m

-2. On the other hand on windward slopes and in the central part

of the valley, where there is much more of fine sediments, these values are definitely higher

(415-469 g.m

-2). The highest average rates (1 395 g

.m

-2) of aeolian accumulation in Ebba

Valley occur on 0.4 m thick sandy surfaces formed since the Little Ice Age period.

The study was realised at Adam Mickiewicz University Polar Station “Petuniabukta” and

funded by Polish National Science Centre grant 2014/15/N/ST10/00825.


62

First Polish scientific expedition to Greenland in 1937 - historic photos

from the field

Tymoteusz Sawiński University of Wrocław

Magdalena Korzystka-Muskała University of Wrocław


Piotr Muskała University of Wrocław

Jacek Piasecki University of Wrocław

Piotr Ropuszyński University of Wrocław

The study presents a selection of unique historical photographs, documenting the course

and works of the first Polish scientific expedition to Greenland in 1937, as well as the

meeting with the fascinating culture of the Greenlanders that took place during the

expedition. These pictures, largely presented for the first time, were rescued from the fires

of the Second World War by A. Kosiba, and with him, after the war, they went to the

University of Wroclaw and were stored in the archives of the Institute of Geography and

Regional Development. Part of the collection was also stored in the private archive of prof.

Kosiba, whose custodian, after the professor's death, became Dr. Jacek Piasecki. Today -

taken from the depths of the archives - the photographs remind us of one of the most

fascinating chapter of Polish polar research as well as scientific history of our country. The

collection of these historical materials is currently subject to substantive development and

digitalization, as part of the Leopoldina Online project, carried out at the University of

Wrocław, whose purpose is to provide analog university resources in electronic form.


63

Seasonal variability of epifaunal recruitment on artificial experimental

plates in the high Arctic (Isfjorden, Spitsbergen)

Anna Sowa University of Gdańsk

Piotr Kukliński Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Piotr Bałazy Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Agata Weydmann University of Gdańsk

Marta Ronowicz Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Survival and development of epifauna populations rely strongly on the process of recruitment.

First, pioneering inhabitants can strongly affect the shape of the epifaunal assemblages on the

colonized substrata. Many species may co-occur while growth of others will be limited. Presence

of larvae in the development of sessile hard-bottom epifauna is crucial to its survival and

dispersal. And so it is our need to further understand factors influencing the process of their

recruitment, which to date received little attention.

The main aim of the study was to investigate seasonal and spatial variability of epifauna

recruitment in the high Arctic fjord – Isfjorden (West Spitsbergen, 78°20′N 15°00′E). Samples

were collected by divers throughout all seasons (every third month from July 2016 till July 2017).

Settlement plates were a part of experimental constructions submerged at two depths near

Bohemanneset (northwest part of Isfjorden). Two sets of panels at each depth were deployed:

one covered by a ‘cage’ - to eliminate a predation impact, and one uncovered. In addition, the

influence of environmental (temperature, salinity, suspension concentration, sedimentation flux,

light penetration) and biological (predation and competition) factors on colonization were

studied.

The study showed significant seasonal variability in species composition and abundance, with its

peak in the summer months, mostly due to high occurrence of Balanus balanus representatives.

The epifauna was represented by total of 19 taxa (including 4 species and 15 higher taxa). The

most species-rich phylum was Bryozoa with 6 identified species. Typically more individuals were

present on the plates facing downwards. Those panels had also a higher biodiversity (on average

7 vs. 4 taxa on the undersurface). Contrary to first assumptions, in summer months plates

covered with cage showed lower abundance than the uncovered ones (on average 86 vs 1220

individuals on the uncovered plates). This might be caused by lush algal development directly on

cages that hindered the recruitment, and development of epifauna on covered panels. Grazing

taxa (those included e. g. Polyplacophora) as well as their foraging marks were noted on the

panels.

This study is one of the very few examples of an year-round in situ experiment conducted in the

high Arctic fjord with focus on seasonality. The results are unique as they reveal a new

knowledge on the benthic community development in different times of the year in the polar

region.


64

Modelling of seasonal air temperatures in Svalbard using satellite Land

Surface Temperatures (LST) data

Alfred Stach Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Grzegorz Rachlewicz Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Svalbard Archipelago is an international research training ground of High Arctic natural

environment state and changes tendencies, encompassing cryosphere, landforms, Earth

surface processes and ecosystems. The knowledge of climate conditions in various spatial

and temporal scales is a base of such investigations. However, the dimensions and

diversification of the archipelago is causing large variety of climate characteristics.

Contemporaneously, available climate parameters data series are in majority short and

restricted to about a dozen points on the archipelago area, located mainly in coastal zones.

On the other hand, a series of Terrain Surface Temperature (LST) measurements recorded

from the satellite level are available. The length of these series, reaching even 20 years,

their spatial resolution and frequency of measurements make them an attractive

alternative to air temperature data or the source to fill their losses. This study attempts to

answer the following question: can the LST values based on satellite data be used to model

spatial distribution and seasonal variability of Svalbard air temperature?

In this work the LST MODIS for day and night contained in MOD11A1 (Terra satellite) and

MYD11A1 (Aqua satellite) collection 6 products was used. The time span covered 18 years

period - from March 1, 2000 to February 28, 2018. By July 4, 2002, these were only data

from the MODIS sensor placed on the Terra satellite (two measurements per day), then also

with Aqua (4 measurements per day). The LST MODIS spatial resolution is approximately

926.63 meters (one pixel area of ~0.859 km2). The images are recorded at approximately

10:30 and 22:30 (Terra) and 01:30 and 13:30 (Aqua) local time. The analysis covered an area

of approximately ~59,317 km2 (69,083 pixels with LST data) without Hopen Island and Bear

Island. Data from LST measurements have been aggregated for months and years. No

adjustments were made to LST for cloudless periods only. For the analysis of the

relationship between LST and Air Temperature (AT), the monthly average data obtained for

the 38 measurement stations existing in Svalbard in the years 2000-2018 was used

(approximately 3600 station/months). Eight of them were located on glaciers, and the

height of their location ranged from 2 to 760 m above sea level.

LST may be used with success to model spatial distribution of air temperature (AT) over

Svalbard. Simple regression AT-LST model is unbiased and the estimation standard error is

about 2.0°C. The use of additional explanatory variables and more sophisticated modelling

techniques i.e. Boosted Trees Regression, made it possible to reduce the standard

estimation error to 1.6°C. The additional variables, ordered according to their significance,

include the month (qualitative variable), type of LST spatial distribution (qualitative

variable), Y coordinate of the position, height above sea level, LST standard deviation,

distance from water and sea and the X coordinate of the position.


65

Long-term (1985-2017) changes of High Arctic environment in the Svalbard

climate gradient

Alfred Stach Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Patrycja Ulandowska-Monarcha Faculty of Earth Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

The increase of air temperature in the Arctic in the last century was twice as large as on a global

scale. Climate changes in the Arctic strongly affect the individual components of ecosystems (sea

ice, glaciers, permafrost, flora and plant communities, fauna). Knowledge of these trends,

however, is very diverse due to the type of the environment component and geographically. We

know a lot about the changes in the range of sea ice and glaciers on the lands. Less is known

about changes in permafrost and vegetation, especially on the islands of the High Arctic. The aim

of the present study was to use the Brightness, Greenness and Wetness (Tasseled Cap

transformation) and NDVI indexes to assess long-term changes in tundra environment conditions

(surface albedo, moisture status of soils and vegetation) and biomass for the three sites in the

Svalbard archipelago located in a climatic gradient from marine to semi-continental cases.

The three areas included in the analysis are located on a similar latitude (about 78°30'N) on a W-

E transect with a length of about 130 km. The first one covers the marine terraces on the west

coast of the island of Prins Karl Forland between Geddesflya and Peachflya (36.9 km2), the

second - coastal plain of Kaffiøyra (38.8 km2) over the Forland strait and the third - bottom of the

Ebba valley (7.5 km2) near the former Pyramiden settlement. The second and third area are

located on the West Spitsbergen island. The climatic gradient between sites is marked primarily

in rainfall totals (from more than 400 mm annually in the west to less than 200 mm in the east)

but also in average annual air temperatures (difference of 2-3°C) and in the temperature

amplitude between seasons.

For each of the areas included in the analysis, it was possible to collect about 25 good-quality

images made in 1985-2017 by sensors installed on the Landsat series satellites (5, 7 and 8). Only

images taken during the growing season were selected. Vegetative season at the sea level, in the

analysed areas last from beginning of July to first week of September. The number and temporal

distribution of satellite images allowed not only for comparisons between areas and

identification of long-term trends, but also for the assessment of variability during the growing

season and from year to year. The total biomass of tundra vegetation was also calculated. For

this purpose, the results of research from Svalbard on the relation between NDVI and biomass

tundra (Johansen, Tømmervik 2014) were used. As a complementary source of data, 16-day

NDVI registrations with a spatial resolution of 250 m from 2000-2018 were also used. They came

from a MODIS sensor installed on Terra and Aqua satellites (MOD13Q1 and MYD13Q1 products).

Preliminary results indicate that within 33 years tundra biomass increased in the studied areas

by more than 50%.

References:

Johansen, Tømmervik, 2014: The relationship between phytomass, NDVI and vegetation

communities on Svalbard. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and

Geoinformation, 27(Part A): 20-30.


66

New design of the Polish Polar Station at Hornsund

Magdalena Stanik Silesian University of Technology

The design of Stanisław Siedlecki Polish Polar Station has been prepared as the master

thesis in architecture at Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. The basic assumption

was designing architecture that responds both to research needs and living standards in one

of the most extreme climates on the Earth. The major challenge was creating the space that

is safe physically and guarantee hospitable environment for researchers. Architecture

should respond to resident needs. This is why it is so relevant for that type of building to

provide research infrastructure and what is more, to improve living standards in the station

to meet demands of 21st century.

The purpose was creating a building adjusted and customized to harsh climate of the

Hornsund fjord. Shape of the building has been created in order to avoid heat loss and

prevailing wind directions have been taken into account. Thanks to modern technologies

station may use sustainable energy sources.

Interpretation of architectural needs have been based on comparison of existing stations,

survey polled with participants of XXXVIII Polar Expedition of Polish Academy of Sciences,

literature research and the analysis of existing condition of the Polish Polar Station at

Hornsund, based on both functional and architectural aspects.

For the purpose of upgrading habitation and advancement of research in Polish Polar

Station foregoing functional program has been enlarged. Station has been enriched with

additional research space including research offices, laboratories and common rooms.

Residential space has been expanded and filled with more recreational spots such as

multifunctional gym, sauna and common room. One of the most significant introduced

functions are hydroponics, which are aimed to provide fresh fruits and vegetables,

represent another form of activity and improve psychological issues during polar nights.

Exploratory architecture ought to be a trademark of its function. There is a strong functional

and ideological connection between architecture and station mission. Owing to important

tasks led by the establishment, architecture needs to become not only efficient mechanism

but also sort of stimulator for further research and educational purposes. The architecture

of the Station should serve exploration needs and function as presentable building. What is

more architecture that promotes climate research has to fit in the latest ecological

solutions.

Architecture of the station is a testimony of place that is being led by mission of promoting

both knowledge about polar areas and climate changes.


67

Interseasonal variability of the environmental conditions and seabird

foraging community structure in the high-Arctic fjord at a time of fast

glacier retreat

Lech Stempniewicz Department of Vertebrate Ecology & Zoology, University of Gdansk

Michał Goc Department of Vertebrate Ecology & Zoology, University of Gdansk

Dorota Kidawa Department of Vertebrate Ecology & Zoology, University of Gdansk

Adrian Zwolicki Department of Vertebrate Ecology & Zoology, University of Gdansk

Marta Głuchowska Department of Vertebrate Ecology & Zoology, University of Gdansk

Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Jan Marcin Węsławski Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Waldemar Walczowski Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Though long-term trends in environmental characteristics of the warming Arctic (increasing

air and sea-surface temperatures, shrinking ice cover) and their ecological consequences

are unequivocal, inter-seasonal variability of weather conditions and water regime can

sharply impact this trend by changing abundance and structure of local animal communities

thus affecting functioning of the whole ecosystem. Here we present numbers, distribution

and habitat use by seabirds in the Arctic fiord (Hornsund, SW Spitsbergen) during three

summer seasons differing markedly as to meteo and hydrological conditions. Seabird

foraging community was predominated by pelagic pursuit-diving little auk (49,5%) and

Brunnich’s guillemot (13,8%), and by surface-feeding fulmar (15,6%) and kittiwake (9,7%).

Most attractive foraging hotspots were found in the sea-terminating glacier bays, that are,

however, highly variable in time and space and host the lowest species diversity. Foraging

habitat capacity for seabirds in Hornsund, estimated to c. 34000 individuals, fluctuates

markedly season by season, mainly due to variable numbers of little auks, Brunnich’s

guillemots and kittiwakes foraging alternatively in the open sea and in the fiord.

Predomination of cold Arctic (Sørkapp Current) or warm Atlantic (West Spitsbergen Current)

water masses in the Hornsund forefield determines hydrological conditions in the fjord.

These two water masses carrying different zooplankton and small fish communities

influence foraging conditions for seabirds feeding in the fiord and subsequently, their

number and community structure. Stormy weather in the open sea forces seabirds to

exploit more sheltered fiord waters. Rapid glacier retreat results in increasing proportion of

pelagic zone and non-glaciated coastline in the fiord thus favoring increasing proportion of

pelagic seabirds and total species diversity of the fjord seabird community. Overall direction

of the Arctic fjord ecosystem change expected is shifting towards pelagic type of the trophic

web.


68

Paraglacial coastal systems of central Spitsbergen – state of art review

Mateusz C. Strzelecki University of Wrocław

Due to its location at the boundary between North Atlantic and Arctic oceanic and

atmospheric fronts, the Svalbard Archipelago is well placed to study the response of the

High Arctic to climate change (D'Andrea et al., 2012). During the last century, the

landscapes of Svalbard have experienced a major change from a glacial towards a

paraglacial domain as a consequence of widespread glacier retreat and the extensive

reworking of glacigenic sediments by nonglacial geomorphological processes. To date,

relatively little information exists regarding the impact of such a profound glacial landscape

degradation on the evolution of coastal environment. This paper addresses this deficiency

by detailing the post‐LIA sediment fluxes to the coastal zone in Billefjorden, central

Spitsbergen (Svalbard). We analysed the response of the gravel‐dominated barrier coast to

the decay of Ferdinandbreen, one of the fastest retreating glaciers in the region. Glacier

retreat resulted in the development of paraglacial sediment cascade where eroded and

reworked glacigenic sediments progressed through alluvial fans to the coast, thus feeding

gravel‐dominated spit systems in Petuniabukta (Strzelecki et al. 2018). We demonstrated

that the coastal systems in central Spitsbergen responded abruptly to post‐LIA climatic

changes (Strzelecki et al. 2017, Strzelecki et al. 2018). The acceleration of coastal erosion

and associated spit development was coincident with rapid climate warming that dates

from the 1980s and has been associated with longer ice‐free periods and activation of

multiple sediment supply sources from the deglaciated landscape. In colder phases of

post‐LIA period, coastal zone development was subdued and strongly dependent on the

efficiency of sediment transport via in a longshore drift. Finally, we discuss the differences

in the post‐LIA coastal responses between central Spitsbergen and western Spitsbergen

(e.g. Mercier & Laffly, 2005; Ziaja et al. 2009; Zagórski 2011, Zagórski et al., 2015 Bourriquen

et al., 2016) highlighting the efficiency of paraglacial sediment delivery from land to the

coast controlled by the state of glacial systems, bedrock topography, and development of

river channels.

References:

Mercier, D., & Laffly, D. (2005). Actual paraglacial progradation of the coastal zone in the

Kongsfjorden area, western Spitsbergen (Svalbard). ()Special Publication 242 (pp. 111–

117). London: Geological Society.

Strzelecki, M. C., Long, A. J., & Lloyd, J. M. (2017). Post‐Little Ice Age development of a High

Arctic paraglacial beach complex. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 28, 4–17.

Strzelecki MC, Long AJ, Lloyd JM, et al. The role of rapid glacier retreat and landscape

transformation in controlling the post‐Little Ice Age evolution of paraglacial coasts in

central Spitsbergen (Billefjorden, Svalbard). Land Degrad Dev. 2018;1‐17.

https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2923

Ziaja, W., Maciejowski, P., & Ostafin, K. (2009). Coastal landscape dynamics in NE Sørkapp

Land (SE Spitsbergen), 1900–2005. Ambio, 38, 201–208.


69

Zagórski, P. (2011). Shoreline dynamics of Calypsostranda (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land,

Svalbard) during the last century. Polish Polar Research, 32, 67–99.

Zagórski, P., Rodzik, J., Moskalik, M., Strzelecki, M. C., Lim, M., Błaszczyk, M., … Malczewski,

A. (2015). Multidecadal (1960–2011) shoreline changes in Isbjørnhamna (Hornsund,

Svalbard). Polish Polar Research, 36, 369–390.


70

We will rock you - mechanisms controlling rock coast evolution in

deglaciated landscapes

Mateusz C. Strzelecki University of Wroclaw

Michael Lim Northumbria University

Marek Kasprzak University of Wroclaw

Zuzanna Swirad Durham University

Grzegorz Rachlewicz Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Piotr Migoń University of Wroclaw

Łukasz Pawłowski University of Wroclaw

Marek Wojciech Jaskólski University of Wroclaw

This paper presents the review of our investigations into the processes controlling development

of paraglacial rock coast systems in Hornsund, Svalbard, Admiralty Bay, South Shetland Islands

and Gotland Island, Scandinavia. A suite of nested geomorphological and geophysical methods

have been applied to characterize the functioning of rock cliffs, shore platforms and stacks

influenced by lithological control and geomorphic processes driven by paraglacial coast

environments - both in glaciated and deglaciated study sites. Rock hardness, quantified by

Schmidt hammer rebound tests, demonstrate strong spatial control on the degree of rock

weathering (rock strength) along studied rock coasts. Elevation controlled geomorphic zones are

identified and linked to distinct processes and mechanisms, transitioning from peak hardness

values at the icefoot/sea-ice through the wave and storm dominated scour zones to the lowest

values on the cliff tops, where the effects of periglacial weathering dominate. Observations of

rock surface change using a traversing micro-erosion meter (TMEM) indicate that significant

changes in erosion rates occur at the junction between shore platform and the cliff toe, where

rock erosion is facilitated by frequent wetting and drying and operation of nivation and sea ice

processes (formation and melting of snow patches and icefoot complexes). Electrical resistivity

tomography (ERT) surveys have been used to investigate frozen ground control on rock coast

dynamics and reveal the strong interaction with marine processes in polar coastal settings. In

Gotland, Scandinavia the morphology of rocky coastal landforms (rauks) bear traces of numerous

environmental changes that occurred in Baltic region over the Holocene including salinity,

temperature, ice-cover/storminess and relative sea-level. The results are synthesised to propose

a new conceptual model of paraglacial rock coast systems, with the aim of contributing towards

a unifying concept of cold region landscape evolution and providing direction for future research

regarding the state of rock coasts in deglaciated regions. This is a contribution to National

Science Centre projects: RAUK (2016/21/D/ST10/01976) and POROCO (UMO-

2013/11/B/ST10/00283).


71

The Life of a Glacier

Jakub Szczepański Poznań University of Technology

The main aim of the project is showing the life of a glacier in some period of time. This

phenomenon proceed very slowly. You can’t see it. To show the phenomenon we use time-

lapse movie. Time-lapse photography is a technique that can show this phenomenon in a

few second.

In our project we use computer Raspberry Pi 2 model B V1.2. It has 1GB Ram. This computer

has operating system called Raspbian. Raspbian is a operating system from Linux family. We

connect 5 Megapixel camera to our computer. We screw our computer and camera to

special platform to be stabile. Our program is written in Python language. It is infinite loop

that make photo every minute. It starts everytime after starting Raspberry. Photos are

saved on memory card. We can make the time-lapse movie from thousands of photos our

machine made on Svalbard.


72

Region–building in the Arctic – arcticness and global aspects of the process

Wojciech Szczerbowicz University of Wrocław

The basic aim of this presentation is to determine a correlation between the arcticness and

the global aspects of the region–building process in the Arctic. Region–building is a concept

adopted by Norwegian political scientist Iver Neumann to study the process of

regionalization and the idea of regionalism. Therefore, region–building is simultaneously

comprehend as a research method and also as an object of its analysis. Regarding the

region–building process as an exceptional phenomenon with its own level of arcticness,

author will also analyse the global aspects that affect it. Moreover, it will be helpful to show

that the processes of regionalization and globalization are perceived as the two sides of the

same coin. In order to understand the region–building process in the Arctic, selected

methods will be adopted.

A theoretical framework of this presentation is based on a social constructivism, one of the

leading theory of international relations. Particularly, it will be essential to provide the high

level of reflectivity during the analysis. The main method is the region–building, in its first

meaning mentioned above. Secondly, the discourse analysis will be used. These two

methods are closely related, because one of the region–building assertion is that ‘regions

are defined in terms of speech acts’, in other words, discursively constructed. It is crucial to

understand the process. Moreover, the use of discourse analysis will be necessary to study

the Arctic strategies and literature. The analysis of the Arctic strategies of the Arctic States

is essential in two ways. Firstly, because the Arctic States are the regional frontrunners, the

main agents that constructing the region. Secondly, in the Arctic strategies they are

formulating their conception of the region–building process. In that case, Arctic strategies

are aforementioned ‘speech acts’.

Region–building process in the Arctic will be examined in accordance with its characteristics

outlined by the adopted methodology. For example, perceiving the direction of this process

as an inside-out will underline some discursively popular terms such as arcticness, Arctic

exceptionalism and circumpolar Arctic. On the other hand, outside-in oriented analysis will

stress terms such as globalization, global change and global Arctic. This presentation is

providing some initial findings from the author’s prospective PhD dissertation. Hence,

described analysis is an exploratory one with the potential of defining more questions and

hypothesis for further research of the region–building process in the Arctic.


73

On the origin of carbon in Arctic fjord sediments – insights from Hornsund

fjord, Svalbard

Witold Szczuciński Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Karina Apolinarska Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Aleksander Dominiczak Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Matthias Forwick UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø

Tomasz Goslar Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Mateusz Moskalik Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Michał Woszczyk Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Fjords are considered as globally important carbon sinks. Carbon sequestration and subsequent

burial in marine sediments are important parts of carbon cycle. However, to assess the role of

carbon storage in modern fjords it is important to assess the origin of carbon – does it come

from primary production in marine environment or is it delivered from land. In the second case it

is important to assess if it comes from modern plants or is eroded from older geological strata.

Most of the estimates so far were made for temperate fjords. Here we attempted to approach

the problem for Hornsund - an Arctic fjord with catchment covered covered by glaciers, and thus

with limited supply of modern terrigenous organic carbon. The present study is based on analysis

of organic carbon in suspension, in terrigenous sediments (end members) and fjord sediments

(surface sediments, as well as high resolution analyses of sediment cores). The major methods

included analyses total organic carbon content, analyses of carbon stable isotopes, as well as of

radiocarbon 14C. Sedimentary organic carbon age analyses (14C) was used for calculation of

modern carbon fraction. The obtained dataset for over 200 samples was supplemented by

independent dating of sediment cores with 210Pb and 137Cs, grain size analyses, bulk

geochemical analyses and XRF scanning. The analyses of stable isotopes of carbon, commonly

used as proxy for determination marine vs terrestrial origin of organic matter revealed large

variations and seasonality, when analysed in suspended sediments. However, they were much

more uniform, when analysed in the sediment cores. The application of simple two end-

members model appeared to be difficult, nevertheless a significant contribution of the

terrigenous origin carbon was revealed. The analyses of 14C in organic carbon (in total organic

carbon fraction as well as in residual organic carbon fraction) revealed that the contribution of

the modern carbon is secondary in comparison with the old carbon (exceeding in age the limit of

radiocarbon method, so being over 50,000 years old). This leads to conclusion that most of the

organic carbon buried in Hornsund fjord comes from erosion of sedimentary rocks in the

glaciated catchment. It is likely that similar pattern may be in other fjords with glaciated

catchments. The study was funded by Polish National Science Centre grant No.

2013/10/E/ST10/00166.


74

Quantity and chemistry of water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) in

surface horizons of Arctic soils under different types of tundra vegetation

from the Fuglebergsletta coastal plain (SW Spitsbergen)

Wojciech Szymański Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University

Water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) is the most labile, dynamic, and bioavailable

fraction of soil organic matter (SOM). WEOM is a very important component of soil because

it is responsible for the mobilization and translocation of many elements and pollutants in

the soil environment and plays a crucial role in the biogeochemistry of carbon (C) and

nitrogen (N), mineral weathering as well as pedogenesis. The main objectives of this study

were: 1) to determine the quantity and chemistry of WEOM in the surface horizons of High

Arctic soils under different types of tundra vegetation in the eastern part of the

Fuglebergsletta coastal plain in the Hornsund area of southwestern Spitsbergen; 2) to

determine relationships between quantity of WEOM and physical and chemical soil

properties; and 3) to verify the hypothesis that soil surface horizons covered with different

types of tundra vegetation and showing different physical and chemical properties exhibit

different quantity and quality of WEOM. Soil samples (uppermost 10 cm) in six replicates

from surface horizons were randomly collected at sites differing in terms of tundra

vegetation type (wet moss, ornithocoprophilous, lichen-heath, polygonal). The obtained

results indicate that the highest concentration of water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC)

and water-extractable total nitrogen (WETN) occurs in surface horizons of soils covered

with wet moss and ornithocoprophilous tundra vegetation. Soils covered with lichen-heath

and polygonal tundra vegetation exhibit a markedly and significantly lower concentration of

WEOC and WETN. On average, WEOC constitutes maximally up to 8.0% of total soil organic

carbon (SOC) and WETN constitutes maximally up to 1.5% of total nitrogen (TN) content in

the studied soil surface horizons. The lowest proportion of WEOC to total SOC and WETN to

TN occurs in soils containing the highest content of SOM. On the other hand, the highest

proportion of WEOC to total SOC and WETN to TN is present in soils characterized by the

lowest content of SOM. Concentration of WEOC and WETN is highly positively and

significantly correlated to the content of SOC, TN, total phosphorus (TP), and the C/N ratio

as well as negatively and significantly correlated to pH and ash content. Fourier-transform

infrared attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectra indicate clear differences in the

chemistry of WEOM between the studied soils. The WEOM in the surface horizons of soils

under wet moss and ornithocoprophilous tundra vegetation is characterized by a

prevalence of aromatic compounds over aliphatic compounds. On the other hand, WEOM in

surface horizons of soils covered with polygonal tundra vegetation exhibits a prevalence of

aliphatic compounds over aromatic compounds. WEOM in surface horizons of soils under

lichen-heath tundra vegetation contains an almost equal concentration of aromatic

compounds and aliphatic compounds.


75

Dark kind of Eden Cold, deep brine and life habitats in Antarctica (and

beyond)

Sławek M. Tułaczyk Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz

The Universe is a very cold place. Almost all of its water exists as a solid rather than liquid.

Yet, liquid water is essential to the existence of life on Earth. Luckily, our planet is at the

right temperature to have a global surface liquid ocean and a vigorous hydrological cycle.

Other oceans of liquid water have been discovered in our Solar System (e.g., Europa,

Enceladus) and deep water may persist beneath permafrost layers of Mars. However, to

date, all potential extraterrestrial water reservoirs are predicted to be located in the

subsurface. This means that life there cannot have access to both of the critical factors, light

and liquid water, which power the high biomass production we see on Earth’s surface.

Antarctica provides an analogous environment with cold surface temperatures keeping

near-surface water in solid state either in glaciers or in permafrost. I will review and discuss

three subsurface aquatic environments that were explored in Antarctica over the last

several years, Subglacial Lake Whillans, grounding zone of Whillans Ice Stream, and the

subglacial brine system feeding Blood Falls. I will argue that of these three, the last one may

represent the best analog to an extraterrestrial ‘dark Eden.’ Direct sampling and geophysical

data document hyperconcentrated subsurface brines in McMurdo Dry Valleys that stay

liquid at temperatures perhaps as cold as -15 degrees Celsius. These brines greatly expand

the extent of the Antarctic ‘habitable zone’ which may support microbial ecosystems coping

successfully with hypersaline conditions, absence of sunlight, limited access to oxygen, and

isolation from external sources of organic matter input. Future exploration of this

subsurface habitable zone will hold important insights into what humans may find when

they explore our Solar System for alien life, which is most likely to be found in briny

subsurface water reservoirs.


76

Early Holocene collapse and pre-industrial growth of the West Antarctic Ice

Sheet - Constraints from radiocarbon model ages for subglacial sediments

Sławek M. Tułaczyk Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz

Nathan Stansell Geology and Environmental Geosciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb

Reed P. Scherer Geology and Environmental Geosciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb

Ross D. Powell Geology and Environmental Geosciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb

It is commonly assumed that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is at the present time as

small as it has been since at least the last interglacial period about 125,000 years ago. Yet,

our recent analyses of subglacial sediments recovered from beneath the ice sheet indicate

regionally widespread presence of radiocarbon. This unstable isotope with half life of 5,730

years should decay to nil if the analyzed subglacial sediment samples have been isolated

beneath the ice sheet from the atmosphere and the ocean for 125,000 years (over 20 half

lives). However, the apparent radiocarbon ages for these samples are in the range of about

20,000-30,000 years BP, based on radiocarbon Fraction Modern (FM) of a few to several

percent. The apparent sediment ages cannot be taken at face value because: (1) they

overlap with the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) when WAIS is known to have extended over

1,000 km past the sediment sampling locations, and (2) Antarctic glacigenic sediments

commonly contain significant admixture of old, radiocarbon-dead organic matter. The latter

biases apparent radiocarbon ages because it violates the assumption that the initial

radiocarbon fraction in a sample was equal to FM. To mitigate the problem with apparent

ages, we assume that initial radiocarbon fraction in subglacial sediments was equal to that

determined by us independently in J-9 sediments from beneath the Ross Ice Shelf (RIS) and

calculate radiocarbon 'model ages' between 1,000 and 6,000 years BP. This period of time

overlaps with a regional climatic optimum and with late phases of post-LGM glacioisostatic

adjustment in the region (e.g., Kingslake et al., 2018). We propose that the grounding line of

WAIS, at least on the RIS side, retreated in mid/late Holocene more than 300 km beyond its

current position and then re-advanced to reach its modern geometry. This implies that the

main body of WAIS was significantly smaller than today in mid/late Holocene and that the

ice sheet is capable of large fluctuations on timescales much shorter than previously

expected.


77

Delimitation of topoclimates in Spitsbergen – the concept of terrestrial and

remote sensing data aggregation using GIS techniques

Patrycja Ulandowska-Monarcha Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Rajmund Przybylak Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Alfred Stach Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

One of the main objectives of climatic research is the willingness to estimate of topoclimatic

variability. Analysis of local climate based on global and regional climatic models is almost

impossible because of their low spatial and temporal resolution. Most often, topoclimates

are developed by combined approaches – fixed point meteorological measurements data

series with theoretical approach based on the estimation of heat balance of active surface.

On Spitsbergen high terrain variability and relatively short series of observations on small

number of measurements sites does not give an opportunity to verify theoretical

assumptions completely. In this study, we would like to present a new, comprehensive

approach to creating of topoclimatic maps by combining theoretical approach with

empirical data from point meteorological measurements and thermal satellite images.

Two areas have been taken into consideration during analysis. First one is Kaffiøyra plain

which is located on the west coast of the Oscar II Land. The second area covers the middle

part of Prins Karls Forland – small, narrow island on the west of Svalbard archipelago. In

each of these areas in 2010-2015 there was an irregular net of temperature and humidity

measured points. Kaffiøyra region spans an area of 129.7 km2 and it covers extensive

coastal plain and six alpine-type glaciers filling mountain valleys. Ice cover in this area

covers 45% of total area and maximum altitude reaches 936 m a.s.l. In Prins Karls Forland

region spans an area of 135.4 km2 and ice cover encompasses only 13% of the area with

maximum altitude of 702 m a.s.l. In the middle part of this area runs a mountain chain cut

by a valley connecting two sides of the island.

The main purpose of our work was to develop a flow chart for the construction of

topoclimatic maps using GIS methods by aggregating spatial databases and data from

terrestrial and satellite measurements. The source data was Digital Elevation Model of

Forlandsundet region with 5 m resolution, vector map of the coastline, glaciers range,

frontal moraines, etc., digitalized geological map, land cover and vegetation raster maps

and interpretation of modern Santinel-2A satellite images with 10/20 m resolution. The first

approximation of the topoclimatic division was obtained by generalization of unique

combination of terrain slope and aspect, windward/leeward location, substrate types and

humidity, land cover and classes of direct and diffuse radiation sums.

The basis for empirical verification of the obtained topoclimate delimitation were primarily

measurements made with infrared thermal sensors from the Landsat series (5, 7 and 8)

satellites and the Terra satellite (Aster sensor). For each of the studied areas, about 70

thermal satellite images from 1985 - 2017 were collected covering the period from the


78

beginning of March to the beginning of October (polar day). The last source of data was

calendar of circulation types to evaluate temporal representativeness of remote sensing

data.

LST data have been standardized. In the next step, the PCA method was used to distinguish

types of LST spatial distributions in the studied areas. Finally, a comparative analysis of LST

spatial distributions with the "theoretical" topoclimatic units was carried out.


79

Atlantic Water inflow into the Arctic Ocean and Svalbard fjords – role of

the Argo floats measurements

Waldemar Walczowski Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Ilona Goszczko Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Małgorzata Merchel Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Agnieszka Beszczynska-Moeller Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Piotr Wieczorek Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

The Nordic Seas are the gateway to the Arctic Ocean. Advection of warm Atlantic origin

water is very important for the Arctic climatic system, especially for cryosphere: sea ice and

tidewater glaciers. Unfortunately oceanographic measurements in the Nordic Seas and

Arctic Ocean are still not sufficient, data cover mostly the summer season. The Argo floats

may provide valuable data from all seasons. Additionally, floats are a good tool for the

pathways of sea currents investigation.

Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences (IOPAN) conduct investigations of the

Atlantic Water properties and dynamics in the Barents, Norwegian, Greenland Seas and

Arctic Ocean. Influence of Atlantic origin water on the Svalbard fiords is investigated as well.

IOPAN is also Polish representatives in the European Research Infrastructure Consortium

Euro-Argo ERIC and leads ArgoPoland project. Every year 2-3 Argo floats has been deployed

in the Arctic from the board of ‘Oceania’. Data obtained from the Argo floats are an useful

supplement for the synoptic surveys data.

Data from the IOPAN long term project AREX and Argo floats will be presented and

compared. The needs for the future Argo floats operation in the Arctic will be discussed.


80

Seasonality of meroplankton in a high Arctic fjord

Katarzyna Walczyńska Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk

Marta Ronowicz Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Piotr Bałazy Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences



Agata Weydmann Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk

Pelagic larvae of benthic invertebrates are important component of marine ecosystems. They

constitute a food source for larger zooplankton, fish or birds, and more importantly, they shape

the structure of benthic communities, as dispersal and recruitment processes are crucial for their

survivorship. According to “Thorsons’ rule”, a paradigm established in 20th century,

development via pelagic larvae is not common at high latitudes. The small sizes of meroplankton

cause difficulties in their investigation, only supported this theory. Nonetheless, recent findings

have shown that meroplankton contribution to zooplankton community might be larger than it

was previously assumed. In the present study we: (1) investigated the seasonality of

meroplankton occurrence in a high Arctic fjord, and (2) validated the usefulness of different nets

for meroplankton research. Samples have been collected in Isfjorden (west Spitsbergen) since

summer 2016, till summer 2017, every three months with a standard zooplankton WP2 net

(from the entire water column) and horizontally diver towed net as near the seabed as possible.

Both nets had mesh size of 56 µm. Twelve larval Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU) were found.

Meroplankton occurrence was highly seasonal, reaching high abundances in spring and summer,

and lower numbers of larvae during autumn, and only several individuals of different OTUs

during winter. Throughout the whole summer season larval numbers equaled to holoplankton.

The most abundant were bivalves, followed by cirripeds and echinoderms. Except Cirripedia

cypris and juvenile Echinodermata meroplankton were more numerous in WP2 than in the diver-

towed net. This , may indicate that both larval stages were ready to settle down, thus aappeared

closer to the bottom in the water column. Our study, is one of the first year-round meroplankton

studies in the high Arctic. Specially designed innovatory sampling tools helped us to better

understand the ecology of this important planktonic group, that was rather neglected in the

previous studies. Still, there is a lot to learn, as similarity of the larvae does not allow to identify

them to a species level, which is crucial especially in the time of global climate change, as

warming may open a gate to the Arctic for introduction of new species possessing larval

development,. Simultaneous morphological and molecular identification of meroplankton

species in the future studies is suggested.


81

Factors controlling Arctic tundra degradation and outwash development: a

case study from Kaffiøyra coastal plain (NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard)

Piotr Weckwerth Faculty of Earth Sciences, Polar Research Center, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Katarzyna Greń Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw


Directions of evolutionary changes of Arctic tundra depend on many factors controlling

processes of landforms development and degradation. Analysis of landforms evolution is

the one of the most important problem especially in the case of contemporary glaciated

areas in which the glacial retreats and advances are the sensitive indicator of environmental

changes. The increased rate of glacier ablation affects increasing of meltwater activity in

Arctic proglacial areas where the outwashes are incised into the tundra surface and cause

its erosion. Recently observed lateral expansion of these outwashes results in the Arctic

tundra degradation as a consequence of thermal and mechanical erosion of meltwaters.

Thus the recognition of direction of evolutionary changes of outwashes are crucial for

determination of the Arctic landscapes transformations. The dynamic of these processes

depends on variable drag due to changes in morphology of proglacial river channels and

meltwater flow energy which is reflected in particles spatial distribution.

The analyzed Waldemar River fluvial system is located on the Kaffiøyra coastal plain of the

strandflat type on the western part of Oscar II Land (northwestern Spitsbergen, Svalbard).

This fluvial system represents typical for Svalbard and small, partially glacierised, High-Arctic

basins which consists of three main segments. The lower segment consists of outwash plain

with braided-distributary channels which are active during the summer seasons. The

meltwater discharge and flow velocity are highly variable in relation to the ablation rate of

the Waldemar Glacier. The Waldemar River braidplain has a changeable width what

indicate existence of factors controlling the braidplain expansion and tundra degradation

assuming its homogenous geological structure and thus constant susceptibility to fluvial

lateral erosion.

Our study use selected statistical techniques for the analysis of these controlling factors

which depend on the complex relationships between braidplain width and slope, river

channels morphology and lithology of outwash surficial sediments. Statistical methods

applied to simulation these relationships enable to analysis and comprehension of outwash

development in permafrost areas, based on the morphological and lithological data sets.


82

Is studying zooplankton from sediment traps as informative as from a

graveyard?

Agata Weydmann Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk

Paula Kacprzak Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdansk

Finlo Cottier Scottish Association for Marine Science

Sanna Majaneva The Arctic University of Norway

Jørgen Berge The Arctic University of Norway

Sediment traps have not been designed to sample zooplankton community, but they can

provide useful information about zooplankton in regions, where it is difficult to use

standard sampling methods such as plankton nets, or from the seasons, which are difficult

to sample, e.g.: ice covered areas or during polar night. Zooplankton, transferring energy

from the primary producers to higher trophic levels, is probably the most important group

for the functioning of the Arctic marine ecosystems. In spite of its importance, information

on the seasonal zooplankton development in the high Arctic is still scarce. Inter-annual

observations of zooplankton provide better understanding of ecological processes in pelagic

waters of the Arctic, which are still not well known, especially in ice covered regions and in

the winter season.

This study is based on seven years data series from Rijpfjorden, which is a high Arctic fjord

situated on Nordaustlandet (Svalbard Archipelago). This north-facing fjord is open towards

the Arctic Ocean, and rarely influenced by the advected warm Atlantic waters, thus its

zooplankton community is regarded a true Arctic one. Sediment traps were moored from

October 2009 to August 2017 (season 2011/12 is missing from the data series) in the fjord’s

main basin to monitor seasonal variability of zooplankton community, so called

“swimmers”. To study the dynamics of water masses, the mooring was additionally

equipped with temperature and salinity loggers.

The presented time series of captured zooplankton swimmers has demonstrated the

relationship between water masses and hydrological shifts with zooplankton community

structure, which are especially seen between the contrasting warm and cold years. The

increasing abundances of Boreal species are closely linked to the advection of Atlantic

Water taking place in the fjord. Based on the results of this study, we hypothesise that if the

climate change in the European Arctic continues as predicted, significant changes in marine

ecosystems, such as zooplankton community shifts, will be observed even in the fjords that

are regarded truly Arctic.


83

Bringing the real-world to the classroom with virtual tools: polar research

widens horizons

Anna Wielgopolan Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Internet has bad reputation in education: constant access to it is considered distracting and

negatively impacting learning. It is accused of causing lessened ability to multitask,

conducting to lack of creativity, contributing to physical inactivity and health related issues.

However, in EDU-ARCTIC project, we’re using internet and mobile app as tools to bring real

world to the classroom, and even inspire to create outside the classroom activity.

Modern society needs an innovative science education enabling citizens to be stakeholders

in Research and Innovation process., make informed choices and to engage in a democratic,

knowledge-based civil society. It improves career opportunities and cultural awareness.

It’s an EU-funded project focused on using Arctic research as a vehicle to encourage

students to pursue education in STEM, setting them on a path to scientific career. We bring

in polar researchers who work in the field as speakers, thanks to online webinars. We’re

presenting real world research and latest results, and exploit it in educational process, using

primary source documents. We encourage positive competition and publish results of

students’ work for larger community and promote nature observation. Unlimited

accessibility to project tools contributes to overcoming exclusion and marginalization in

education. On the other hand, it’s a unique opportunity for scientists to develop sine

communication skills. Other than pure satisfaction of sharing knowledge, dissemination of

the research/project results, the opportunity to practice presentation skills should not be

underestimated.


84

Ecology and dispersion of tardigrades and rotifers in supraglacial

environments

Krzysztof Zawierucha Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Jakub Buda Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Adam Nawrot Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Edyta Łokas Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences

Mirosława Pietryka Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Dorota Richter Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Michał Bogdziewicz Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Nicoletta Makowska Department of Microbiology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Nozomu Takeuchi Department of Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University

Glaciers cover ~10% of the terrestrial surface and constitute the coldest biome on our

planet. The conditions of supraglacial environments, even during summer are among the

most challenging for life on Earth. Despite such harsh survival conditions, microfaunal

assemblages have adapted to life in these ecosystems. The largest biodiversity hot-spots on

glaciers are found in cryoconite holes, which are round water-filled hollows in the glacier’s

surface.

Two widespread and abundant faunal groups in Arctic cryoconite holes are tardigrades and

rotifers. Both tardigrades and rotifers play the role of top consumers on glaciers.

Tardigrades are the herbivorous (genus Hypsibius) or the grazers (genus Pilatobius) and

rotifers are mostly filter-feeders. Cyanobacteria, which produce EPS and form cryoconite

granules and micro animals (top consumers), may cumulate pollutants from the

atmosphere. Along with presence of granules and animals in cryoconite holes, we found a

high concentration of radionuclides in sediments which indicate role of biota in

bioaccumulation of pollutants on glaciers.

In terms to identify variability of cryoconite holes benthic invertebrate communities, we

investigated how microfauna are distributed within the sediments in the holes. The density

of both tardigrades and rotifers varied considerably among the subsamples taken within the

holes. The biggest difference in rotifers and tardigrades densities between two subsamples

taken within the same hole equaled to 374 and 150 individuals, respectively. Our results

indicate a heterogeneous distribution of Tardigrada as well as Rotifera within cryoconite

holes on High Arctic valley glacier.


85

To fill the knowledge gap on the ecology of animals on the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet

(GrIS), we tested the links between the densities of microfauna in cryoconite material and

selected biotic (algae, cyanobacteria, bacterial abundances) and abiotic (water depth, pH,

ion content, radionuclides) factors. We also tested what kind of cryoconite material the

animals inhabit (mud vs granules). We showed no relationship between the densities of

fauna and biotic and abiotic factors. The densities of animals were significantly higher in

granules than in mud. Additionally, we observed higher radionuclides concentrations in

samples with animals and cryoconite granules. The difference in the densities of animals

between granules and mud reflects a simple mechanistic removal of invertebrates from the

sediment during its erosion by flushing which leads to mud formation.

During two weeks field measurements and observation of fourteen cryoconite holes on

Svalbard, we found some differences in microfaunal densities between sampling until

normal weather patterns were interrupted. Zero individuals were detected in each hole

after windy and rainy storms. Our field observation of freezing and melting away of holes,

as well as the removal of microfauna by rain, suggests that cryoconite holes on valley

glaciers on Svalbard are dynamic, and not stable habitats, depending on weather

conditions.

Although unique microfauna inhabiting supraglacial zone, flushing and wind may influence

their random distribution without clear ecological interactions with biotic and abiotic

variables on small valley glaciers and at the edge of the GrIS.


86

New fjords of the southeastern Spitsbergen


Anna Cygankiewicz Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University

The southeastern Spitsbergen coast, south of Agardhbukta, spreading out in the SSW–NNE

direction between 76.5°N and 78°N, was poorly developed (similar to a straight line) from

the discovery of the Svalbard archipelago in 1596 to the 19th century (Isachsen 1920). In

the 1860s, this coast did not contain almost any bays, including fjords, which are present

there nowadays. Apart from Kvalvågen, all today’s bays of the Barents Sea were land at that

time. It was because of the fact that glaciers had been filling depressions in bedrock at

whole length of this coast. That is visible on the map at scale 1:600000. Its part covering the

coast was made basing on topographical measurements of the Swedish expeditions in 1861

and 1864 (Duner and Nördenskiold 1865). During the series of the Russian and Swedish

expeditions between 1899 and 1902, just at the end of the Little Ice Age, aimed at

measuring a meridian arc, Vasiliev made a more accurate map of the discussed

southeastern Spitsbergen coast at scale 1:200000 with a modern hypsometric design

(Wassiliew 1925). This map presents similar view as the previous one but the extent of

tidewater glaciers is even wider, i.e. maximum in the Holocene, and the former Kvalvågen

bay is completely filled with ice on the map. Comparing Vasiliev’s map with more modern

topographic maps at scale 1:100000, it is easy to conclude that the outline of the coastline

was inverse to the modern one because the glacier tongues protruded to the east into the

Barents Sea in 1900. That time, the glaciers have been up to 20 km longer than today what

resulted from their thickness (more than 100 m higher at their firn fields). The altitude of

the glaciers’ surface in places of today’s bays significantly exceeded 100 m a.s.l., whereas

the altitude of the glaciers’ calving fronts was most often from 20 to 40 m a.s.l. (Wassiliew,

1925). Since the beginning of the 20th century, the great transformation of landscape and

seascape of the Spitsbergen southeastern coast has begun due to the glacial recession

caused by climate warming after Little Ice Age. A huge development (lengthening and

differentiation) of the coastline has occurred. About ten new great bays, including fjords up

to 15 km long, have appeared. New coastal plains were formed in the internal part of the

new fjords and some old coastal plains were eroded by the sea south of the new fjords’

outlets. That has determined significant changes in ecosystems and biodiversity in the

whole coast. This coastal transformation will be continued, especially in the new fjords’

heads, at the nearest future.


87

Mapping of fauna, flora and landforms in a remote polar location based on

UAV images: a case from Penguin Island, South Shetland Islands,

Antarctica

Anna Zmarz Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw

Mirosław Rodzewicz Faculty of Power and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology

Maciej Dąbski Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw

Izabela Karsznia Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw

Małgorzata Korczak-Abshire Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Katarzyna J. Chwedorzewska Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

The aim of study was to collect data on spatial distribution of fauna, flora and landforms on a

remote Penguin Island (South Shetland Islands, Western Antarctic) based on high-resolution

aerial images. In December 2016 a photogrammetric flight was performed over the island as the

Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operation. Images were taken by the PW-ZOOM fixed-

winged unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) designed by Warsaw University of Technology. The

aircraft took-off and landed near the Polish Antarctic Station H. Arctowski (King George Island,

South Shetland Islands), and the flight covered a total distance of 231,58 km at an altitude 550 m

a.s.l. Obtained images allowed to create an orthophotomap with a ground sample distance of

less than 0.07 m and a digital elevation model (DEM) of 0.25 m resolution using the Structure

from Motion algorithm. We located and identified eight breeding groups (in total 4,109 occupied

nets) of Pygoscelid penguins (P. antarcticus) and (P. adeliae) in two colonies situated in the NE

and SW parts of the island. Additionally, 6 pinniped individuals (3 of Mirounga leonina and 3 of

Leptonychotes weddellii) were identified on the NE coast, close to one of the penguin breeding

colonies. Three types of tundra communities were mapped: Deschampsia antarctica with

Colobanthus quitensis, Prasolia crispa with Deschampsia antarctica, and moss dominated

community. The flora communities predominantly occupied the lowland NE part of the island

and only a little patch above the SW coastal cliff. Landforms detected on the orthophotomap

and DEM belong to 5 major groups: volcanic (e.g. flanks of the Deacon Peak volcanic cone,

crater, maar, volcanic bombs) found mostly in the S and E parts of the island, mass movement

landforms which modify the Deacon Peak volcanic cone (e.g. landslide scarp, scoria flow,

solifluction terraces), fluvial (e.g. erosional furrows, braided channels, dry valleys) best

developed in the N part of the island, coastal (e.g. beaches, coastal cliffs) and aeolian (a small

dune field) found at the S foothills of the volcanic cone. Our UAV BVLOS photogrammetric

operation proved to be very robust in gathering valuable qualitative and quantitative data. We

argue that this technique allows for continuous monitoring of distant and isolated polar

environments.

The research was part of the MONICA project funded by the Polish-Norwegian Research

Programme operated by the National Centre for Research and Development under the

Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Project Contract No 197810.

Streszczenia posterów


90

Genetic variation of Deschampsia antarctica

Piotr Androsiuk Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

Justyna Koc Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

Katarzyna Chwedorzewska Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Irena Giełwanowska Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

Genus Deschampsia is widely dispersed around the globe and spread from polar circle to equator. Due to high tolerance some representatives of that group colonized areas which are uninhabited by other plants. One of them is Antarctic hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica), one of only two native vascular plants that thrives in harsh conditions of maritime Antarctica. D. antarctica can be found in diverse habitats ranging from mineral to organic soils, from extremely dry to occasionally flooded, and from nutrient-deficient sites to habitats enriched in nutrients by animals. Wide ecotypic variation of D. antarctica is manifested in its morphological and anatomical differentiation.

Severe climatic and habitat conditions of the Antarctic forced the plants found in this region to develop mechanisms which enable them growth and reproduction. Some of them may lead to genetically determined phenotypic variation. One of the mechanisms responsible for the formation of genetic variation in the response to biotic stress or changes in environmental conditions is associated with the presence of the transposable elements (TE). TE have a significant impact on the organization, plasticity and evolution of genomes and therefore a number of marker systems were developed on the basis of their sequences, which allowed to track genetic variability. Recently developed iPBS markers, based on the LTR retrotransposons sequences, proved to be a powerful DNA fingerprinting technology for non-model plant species, such as D. antarctica, for which data resources on the structure of the genome are limited.

The aim of the study was to apply the iPBS markers in order to determine the genetic variation of Deschampsia antarctica from nine populations originated from King George Island (South Shetland Archipelago), the location site of H. Arctowski Station. The plant material represented Antarctic habitats diverse in terms of abundance of nutritions in the soil, exposure to sunlight, exposure to strong winds or the degree of exposure to salty sea water (direct effect of water and through the air spray of sea water).

Applied class of molecular markers revealed the presence of scarce genetic polymorphism between individuals within populations. Low genetic variation of the D. antarctica from King George Island confirm previously published data which reported low genetic diversity of the species.


91

The effects of thermal and humidity conditions on human wellbeing in the

Hornsund region (Spitsbergen, the Arctic)

Andrzej Araźny Faculty of Earth Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

The atmospheric environment interacts with the human body in a constant and complex

manner, and with an intensity that varies over time. It is very important to correctly identify

trends in bioclimatic conditions in terms of human health, and especially with regard to

people living in Spitsbergen and to polar tourism.

The main factors shaping the highly impactful bioclimate in Hornsund, in the south of

Spitsbergen, are astronomical conditions and strong atmospheric and oceanic circulation.

The analyzed area of Hornsund is located slightly to the north of the main cyclone route of

the Icelandic-Karska trough and close to the oceans. Warm and humid air masses, often

from the south, cause the air temperature and humidity in Spitsbergen to be elevated

throughout the year.

The objective of this work is to evaluate and present the variability of thermal and humidity

conditions’ effects on human wellbeing in Hornsund and its surroundings. These bioclimatic

conditions were described on the basis of meteorological data from the meteorological

station in Hornsund. The bioclimatic trend of thermal and humidity conditions in southern

Spitsbergen was determined for 1979-2017. Additionally, the spatial variability of the effect

of thermal and humidity conditions on wellbeing around Hornsund is presented for the

period from 1/07/2014 to 30/06/2015.

The effect of thermal conditions on wellbeing is characterised on the basis of, among

others, day-on-day changes in average air temperature, diurnal amplitudes of air

temperature and the frequency of characteristic days (i.e., freezing days [Tmax <0°C] and

very cold days [Tmax < -10°C]). Meanwhile, for the analysis of air humidity, we adopted the

following scale of relative humidity: ≤55% – dry air; 56-70% – moderately dry air; 71-85% –

moderately moist air; >85% – very moist air.


92

Planktonic ostracods composition and spatial distribution along Drake

Passage

Katarzyna Błachowiak-Samołyk Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences

Luiza Bielecka Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk

Emilia Trudnowska Institute of Oceanology Polish Academy of Sciences

Wioleta Rasmus Institute of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk

The distribution of mesozooplankton is influenced by a range of abiotic factors that vary in

time and space. In the upper ocean, the boundaries of the horizontal distributions of both

individual species and species assemblages are associated with discontinuities at ocean

fronts. Planktonic organisms are highly variable in their sensitivities to hydrographic

changes; some of them have the potential to be used as indicators of even the most subtle

changes in the hydrographic structure within the water column. Planktonic ostracods are

abundant but ubiquitous component of plankton communities especially at subthermocline

depths,but their potential value as indicators of observed recently climate changes remains

unrealised.

The aim of this study was to investigate the composition structure and spatial distribution

of planktonic Ostracoda in the upper 300 m of Drake Passage, which connects the

southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean (Scotia Sea) with the southeastern part of the

Pacific Ocean and extends into the Southern Ocean. The Drake Passage is an important

place to the unimpeded flow of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which carries a huge

volume of water through the Passage and around Antarctica. This current consists of many

hydrographic fronts, which divide the Southern Ocean into several physical and

biogeochemical zones. Twelve pelagic ostracod species were indicated at 21 stations

situated along a transect between King George Island and Argentina. The Antarctic Zone

was evidently distinguished from other two zones in terms of species diversity and

abundance, while the Polar Front and Subantarctic Zones were similar in term of taxonomic

composition. Comprehensive analysis of ostracod distribution allowed us to indicate species

typical for particular zones, namely Alacia hettacra as dominated species in Antarctic Zone,

Discoconchoecia elegans in Polar Front Zone and Pseudoconchoecia serrulata in

Subantarctic Zone. It has been also clearly shown that Conchoecia magna - a mesopelagic

species that is widespread throughout tropical and subtropical seas - was distributed

further south than earlier described in the literature. So far its occurrence in the Southern

Ocean has been restricted to the north of the Subantarctic Front. Our preliminary results

indicated that this subtropical species crossed its southern boundary of distribution range

and hereby confirmed important role of ostracods in monitoring the impact of climate

changes in the pelagic Antarctic ecosystem.


93

Multidecadal mass loss acceleration of three glaciers in Dicksonfjorden,

Svalbard, revealed by historical aerial photographs and digital elevation

models

Edyta Bredla Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań


For the past three decades, rapidly developing technology has been allowing remote

observations of large population of glaciers and their response to ongoing climatic

fluctuations. Unfortunately, due to the prior lack of data on many regions of the Arctic, not

much is known on how glaciers responded to early-20th century climate fluctuations.

However, thanks to historical aerial images with accompaniment of the recent advances in

geographic information systems, it is possible to reconstruct past glacier geometries and

compare them to more recent topographic data in order to collect information about

glaciers' state prior to organized monitoring of glacier change.

The main aim of this study is to characterize the response of three small glaciers in Svalbard

throughout the 20th and 21st centuries based on archive aerial photographs (1936), maps

(1966) and ready-to-use digital elevation models (DEMs) by the Norwegian Polar Institute

(1990 and 2011). The selected glaciers are situated in a seldom investigated north-western

Dickson Land, Dicksonfjorden basin, central Spitsbergen. The methods involved creation of

a DEM and an ortophotomap of the study area from 1936 aerial images using Agisoft

PhotoScan Software and a subsequent inter-comparison of all topographic datasets. This

allowed to determine changes to glacier length, area, surface elevation, volume and, hence,

geodetic balance over three multidecadal periods.

This is one of very few studies from Svalbard investigating glacier mass balance prior to

~1960's. It concludes that the study glaciers have been in a negative mass balance mode

over the whole study period and their mass loss rates are ever increasing, likely linked to

strong air temperature increase over the region. There is also clear evidence that reveals

surge event that occurred on Fyrisbreen. This glacier experienced strong thickening in its

ablation zone due to mass transfer from high-elevations during the active phase of surge,

confirming historical descriptions in literature.


94

Hambergbukta: forming of the new Spitsbergen fjord, 1900–2017

Anna Cygankiewicz Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University


The area of the Hambergbreen glacier and Hambergbukta fjord is distinguishable in the

whole Svalbard archipelago. It is the eastern part of a transition area between the Sørkapp

Land peninsula in the south and the rest of Spitsbergen in the north, as well as between the

Barents Sea in the east and the Greenland Sea in the west. The glacial valley, filled with sea

water of the Hambergbukta fjord nowadays, had been glacially eroded during the

Pleistocene and Holocene cold periods when the glacier had periodically filled it. In 1900,

just at the end of the Little Ice Age, nearly the whole study area was covered by the

Hambergbreen glacier and its tributary glaciers (Wassiliew 1925) at their maximum extent.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, climate warming has occurred, resulting in a

progressive glacial recession and coastal transformation. It caused formation of the bay and

then the Hambergbukta fjord. The glacier had been shrinking until 1960. From 1961 to

1970, it underwent a big surge (Lefauconnier and Hagen 1991) which resulted in renewed

filling of the fjord valley by ice. After 1970, the glacier has undergone another recession. In

2017, the study area was taken mostly by the newly formed Hambergbukta fjord and the

Barents Sea open water at the fjord outlet. The very shrunken Hambergbreen glacier has

been still existed at the fjord head. The new fjord coast, ca. 30 km long, has been formed

between 1900 and 2017. The reconstruction of this landscape transformation has been the

main aim of our research which is presented in the poster. It was carried out with the help

of archival maps, aerial and terrestrial photos, satellite images, as well as analysing the

hitherto scientific literature on the area. Three-dimensional digital elevation models of the

study area in 1936 and 2017 were made in order to visualize its dramatic landscape and

environmental change. Two scientific expeditions of the Jagiellonian University in the

summer seasons 2005 and 2016, working in the same three-men team, made field

investigations of the environmental and landscape elements and changes which could not

be detected by remote sensing. The second of these expeditions was co-financed by the

Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.


95

Present permafrost degradation– settlement risks in central Yakutia, East

Siberia

Jolanta Czerniawska Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Climate research and scenarios for the 21st Century indicate that major settlements in

Alaska, Canada, Siberia are located in regions of moderate- or high-hazard potential of

current permafrost thaw. In Yakutsk, even at a high rate of climate warming (0.08 °С/year)

the average annual temperature of the ground surface becomes positive only after 50

years. Environmental study of a permafrost degradation feedback has been conducted in

the central part of Yakutia. This area is a well-known example of an active continental

thermokarst terrain. The basic geomorphology landforms in the Central Yakutian Lowland

are alas /thermokarst lake) depressions generated by subsidence of thawed cryogenic

grounds.

The study was conducted during the summer expeditions in 2014. The effects of ground

collapses due to permafrost thaw were observed during field trips in the vicinity local rural

settlements. Effects of permafrost thaw were observed near the village Tyungyulyu about

50 km east of Yakutsk. The buildings are evidently at risk of a progressive early summer

permafrost melting. Above the present lake shoreline, there are several former terrace

generations illustrating a gradual process of a thermokarst depression expansion and

ground ice collapsing. These forms are found on the adjacent slopes and illustrate the major

ongoing environmental challenges. The lake levels have decreased over the past years,

presumably due to the territorial climate warming but also anthropogenic activity. The lakes

represent a main source of drinking water for local residents. Poor quality (low

mineralization) water is pumped from the lakes until winter freezing. After, lake ice is cut by

the locals and stored in underground cellars (dugouts) and then melted for daily

consumption.

Systematic observations in the most vulnerable areas of the Sakha Republic is pre-requisite

not just for the urban areas, but principally for the broadly distributed rural settlements

hosting a significant proportion (50%) of the local Yakutian population. A regular monitoring

of permafrost degradation and associated cryo-hydrological conditions is, most essential for

the settlement communities, for infrastructure maintenance, as well as the central

economic planning. Environmental shifts linked to global warming posse major threats to

the natural and occupation habitat of Yakutia.


96

Submarine geomorphology at the front of the retreating Hansbreen

tidewater glacier, Hornsund fjord, southwest Spitsbergen

Joanna Ćwiąkała Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Mateusz Moskalik Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Matthias Forwick Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Kacper Wojtysiak Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Jerzy Giżejewski Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Witold Szczuciński Institute of Geology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Submarine relief of fjords in the Arctic changes in time under the influence of the activity of

tidewater glaciers and marine processes. These glaciers retreat since the end of Little Ice Age,

the last cold episode in Holocene, which culmination was at the turn of 19th and 20th century.

However, in some cases, the retreat of these glaciers has been interrupted by their surges. The

difference between normal glacier advance and glacier surge is that the latter is not related to

climate. At first glance it is hard to distinguish, if it is the advance glacier or surge glacier.

Therefore, the modified geomorphology of seabeds can be used to reconstruct the past

behaviour of the tidewater glaciers.

The study area includes two bays, Isbjørnhamna and Hansbukta, located in the Hornsund Fjord,

southwest Spitsbergen. The seabed of these bays is modified by Hansbreen, tidewater glacier,

which is terminating in Hansbukta. That glacier retreats since the end of LIA. Some of scientists

thought that it is the surge-type glacier, and some of them thought that it is not.

Geomorphological, geophysical and sedimentological data from both bays were used to

reconstruct the retreat history of Hansbreen since the end of LIA until the present by making the

geomorphological map. The relief consists of different landforms, like moraine ridges,

ripplemarks, pockmarks, depressions filled with glaciomarine sediments, iceberg pits and

ploughmarks. The lack of landforms characteristic for glacier surge suggests that Hansbreen was

not in surge during the past c. 120 years. The results of the analysis of submarine

geomorphology at the front of the retreating Hansbreen are presented on a 1:10 000 scale

bathymetric map and 1:20 000 scale backscattering and geomorphological maps of the studied

bays. The maps are the main part of the article (with the same title) published in Journal of Maps

(Ćwiąkała et al., 2018; https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2018.1441757).

Acknowledgement:

The work has been partially supported by National Science Centre (Poland) grants no.

2013/09/B/ST10/04141, 2013/10/E/ST10/00166, Arctic Field Grant no. 256879/E10 funded by

the Research Council of Norway (Svalbard Science Forum), the Leading National Research Centre

(KNOW) received by the Centre for Polar Studies for the period 2014-2018, and within statutory

activities No. 3841/E-41/S/2017 of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland.


97

Post Little Ice Age glaciomarine sedimentation in Burgerbugta - insights

from 210Pb and 137Cs dating and numerical modeling



Matthias Forwick Institute for Geology UiT

Michał Woszczyk Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Karina Apolinarska Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Mateusz Moskalik Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences Fjords are known for being hotspots for sediment accumulation, and in combination with

significant supply of organic carbon (OC) also for carbon burial. Smith et al. (2015) on the

basis of a database of existing mainly from temperate fjords and from distal parts of polar

fjords concluded that the fjords are very important for carbon burial in global scale,

however they missed to address the role of proximal regions of fjords - characterized by

very high sediment accumulation rates. Thus, to examine such a setting we have studied a

well-defined subpolar fjord - Burgerbugta, branching from Hornsund fjord (Svalbard). The

studied bay has single major source of sediment (Paierlbreen), simple seabed morphology,

limited impact of oceanographic factors (sea swell etc.), and thus was suitable, for using it

as a benchmark for modeling studies. The major goal was to assess sediment and carbon

accumulation rates for the last century and construct a simple numerical model of

sedimentation including fluctuating position of sediment source (tidewater glacier position).

The study is based on three gravity cores and one box core were taken in a transect in along

the bay and examined in details for lithology, grain size (Mastersizer) and physical

properties (Geotek) and geochemistry (XRF scanner). High resolution measurements of

210Pb and 137Cs were performed using gamma spectroscopy and served as basis for

sediment accumulation rate assessment. These results served as input to parametrize

sedimentation model proposed by Koppes and Hallet (2002) and modified in the present

study. The modeling was based on code written in Python using Jupyter Labs.

The sediments are composed of laminated glacimarine muds. The dating results allowed to

assess sediment accumulation rate for time-intervals referring to 137Cs peaks: 1963, 1986,

and sediment surface (2014). Values ranged between 1.3 and 4.2 cm/year depending on the

time interval and core. They revealed generally an exponential decrease with distance from

sediment source. The same relationship was assumed in the numerical model. Modeling of

different scenarios showed how different can be sedimentary record of glacial recession in

different location despite simple boundary conditions. Good agreement of the model

results for fluctuating glacier front position with the obtained results from sediment cores


98

provide a chance that the model could be used also for more complex cases with multiple

sediment sources.

The study was funded by Polish National Science Centre grant No. 2013/10/E/ST10/00166.

We kindly acknowledge help of the captain and crew of R/V Helmer Hanssen as well as

onboard scientific party.


99

Variability of morphometric parameters of catchment-lake systems occurring in the marginal zone of the Scott Glacier (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Spitsbergen)

Łukasz Franczak Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Marie Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

In the area of the Recherche Fjord, the highest number of lakes occurs in the marginal zones of glaciers. The distribution of catchment-lake systems within the zones is variable both vertically and horizontally, and determined by local conditions of the natural environment.

The objective of the study, implemented in summer seasons 2012 and 2013, was comparative analysis of morphometric parameters of catchment-lake systems occurring in the marginal zone of the Scott Glacier. Detailed research covered six objects characterised by variable environmental conditions of occurrence and functioning.

The field research involved precise morphometric measurements of selected catchment-lake systems with the application of GPS and TLS techniques.

The research showed that in the marginal zone of the Scott Glacier, similarly as in the case of the majority of marginal zones of the remaining glaciers of the region, particularly small-sized catchment-lake systems occur. The selected study objects are characterised by very high variability in terms of analysed parameters. The majority of direct catchments of the analysed systems show large height differences at a level of several metres (min = 2.5 m), with a maximum of 65 m. Their surface areas vary from 2,639 to 162,860 m

2. The calculated

ratios of the surface areas of lakes to the surface areas of the catchment-lake systems show the occurrence of objects with lakes not much smaller than the entire system (ratio 1:11), and those characterised by a considerably lower ratio of lake surface area to the surface area of the catchment-lake system (1:64).


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Dynamics and variability of snow cover melting on the glaciers of the

Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen

Tomasz Grajewski Polar Research Center, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Ireneusz Sobota Polar Research Center, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń The primary objective of this work was to present the changes in the dynamics and

variability of snow cover melting on the glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region, an area of Svalbard,

located in northwestern Spitsbergen. The Kaffiøyra region, located in north-western

Spitsbergen, together with the adjoining Aavatsmarkbreen (75 km2) and the Dahlbreen (132

km2), comprises an area of about 310 km

2. It is coastal lowland situated on Forlandsundet. It

accounts for a mere 12% of the area of Oscar II Land. Kaffiøyra is only 14 km long and 4 km

wide, and 7 land-terminating glaciers are located in this region: Waldemarbreen,

Irenebreen, Elisebreen, Agnorbreen, Eivindbreen, Andreasbreen and Oliverbreen.

Observations of the snow cover on Kaffiøyra glaciers have been conducted since 1996,

mainly within the framework of a research programme whose objective is to study the mass

balance of selected glaciers in that region. Snow cover is important component of glaciers.

Its distribution and intensity of melting determine the condition of the glacier, and in the

long-term it also changes its volume. The glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region have a large spatial

diversity of snow cover thickness, and distinct changeability with change of altitude.

In order to determine the intensity and changes in the size of the snow cover during

individual melting period in years 2014-2017, a digital satellite image analysis from the

Landsat 8 mission was performed. A supervised classification (Maximum Likelihood

algorithm) was carried out, which allowed to determine the areas of occurrence of

individual surface classes (snow and ice) on glaciers. Shaded areas were also included in the

analysis. In this way, the size variation of the rate of disappearance of the snow cover on

several glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region was found both in spatial and temporal terms. In

addition, the properties of the snow cover in selected snow profiles on glaciers were

characterized. The time of covering the snow cover during the ablation period is very

important in shaping many processes, especially the size of the summer glacier mass

balance. The analysis was made according to meteorological conditions in the particular

years.


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Variability of bedload transport in the Waldemar River in summer seasons

2015-2016 (Kaffiøyra, NW Spitsbergen)

Katarzyna Greń Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw

Piotr Weckwerth Faculty of Earth Sciences, Polar Research Center, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń


Tomasz Grajewski Faculty of Earth Sciences, Polar Research Center, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Marcin Nowak Faculty of Earth Sciences, Polar Research Center, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

The gravel-bed Waldemar River is located on the Kaffiøyra on the western part of Oscar II

Land (NW Spitsbergen). The fluvial system of the Waldemar River consists of braided-

distributary channels which migrate on the fan surface and are active only during the

summer seasons. The meltwater discharge is variable in relation to the ablation rate of the

Waldemar Glacier. The research was carried out in two summer seasons (2015-2016). In the

research period the bedload flux was measured by means of three River Bedload Traps

(RBT) devices aligned across the width of the channel. Variability of the bedload transport

rate resulted in changes in the channel morphology. Discharge and rate of bedload

transport were dependent on the weather and permafrost degradation.


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The only record of an infectious disease in Paleogene penguins

Piotr Jadwiszczak Institute of Biology, University of Białystok

The interest in paleopathology is rapidly growing among vertebrate paleontologists. This is

understandable, for such an angle has the potential to provide new insights into elusive

aspects of biology of extinct animals. The infectious diseases have not been previously

reported for early penguins (Aves, Sphenisciformes), birds with a relatively extensive fossil

record. Here, I report on a proximal pedal phalanx attributable to an Eocene Antarctic

penguin with traces of osteomyelitis, a supposedly bacterial infection, that complicated

healing of a fracture.


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Heritage in danger - case of UNESCO Candidate, Hershel Island, Canada

Marek W. Jaskólski University of Wrocław


Boris Radosavljević Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

Hugues Lantuit Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research

The extreme weather events causing potential hazards for infrastructure and environment

are increasing in the frequency in the Arctic. Herschel Island is a good example of a place

where natural hazards threaten cultural heritage sites. Hershel Island (Qikiqtaruk) is located

in Beaufort Sea, and lies ca. 5 km of the coast of Yukon in Canada. The island is known for

archeological traces of the Thule-culture dating ca. 1000 years back. Over the centuries the

island witnessed activities of Inuvialuits, whalers, explorers, missionaries, and more recently

scientists. Currently the surface of island is spotted with remains of their activities. From

dog kennels, trade houses to storage halls, all the remained infrastructure is protected in

the Herschel Island Territorial Park. The area is a candidates for UNESCO World Heritage

Site. In this paper we present the results of a study on Arctic heritage vulnerability to

extreme processes. We have developed the Heritage Vulnerability Index (HVI) to detect

which infrastructure elements are most vulnerable to coastal floodings that more and more

frequently attack Hershel Island. The better information on the most fragile areas is needed

for the administration of the Herschel Island, to prevent the future damages. We applied

the HVI based on material recorded during the storm of 13 June 2016, where about 80% of

the split (main built-up area) was flooded. We indicated that 10 from all 25 buildings are in

serious danger, which makes this place in context of UNESCO future strongly questionable.

Index formula:

HVI = √𝑎 ∙ 𝑏 ∙ 𝑐 ∙ 𝑑 ∙ 𝑒 ∙ 𝑓

6

Input data:

a = heritage status; b = age of the building; c = state of conservation;

d = % of renovation; e = % flooded; f = human presence


104

High Arctic coasts at risk – a case study of coastal zone development and

degradation associated with climatic changes and multidirectional human

impacts in Longyearbyen (Adventfjorden, Svalbard)

Marek W. Jaskólski University of Wrocław

Łukasz Pawłowski University of Wrocław


Longyearbyen is the administrative, touristic and scientific centre in Svalbard. The number

of population and tourists as well as community infrastructure has significantly expanded

over the recent decade and present-day community faces development thresholds

associated with climate driven changes and disturbance of landscape. Coastal zone is a

significant interface where severe environmental changes impact directly on Longyearbyen

infrastructure.

We applied methods of spatial planning and geomorphology together with modified

environmental assessment methods aimed for the area of Arctic as well as modern

techniques of remote sensing that benefit from geographic information systems. The

combination of environmental assessment methods (Leopold Matrix; Coastal Vulnerability

Index) and GIS analyses (Digital Shoreline Analysis Systems) together with field mapping

allowed us to assess the scale of degradation of coastal zone in Longyearbyen and examine

the impact of coastal hazards on major elements of community infrastructure.

We indicated the key factors impacting the transformation of coastal zone and the state of

Longyearbyen infrastructure which are: coastal and fluvial erosion as well as periglacial

slope processes activated by degradation of permafrost. The new port and surroundings of

Longyearelva delta are already affected by strong coastal erosion and landsliding. Rate of

observed coastal changes, the diversity of natural and man-made hazards mapped along

the coast as well as observed damages in infrastructure suggest a need for coastal change

monitoring in Longyearbyen.


105

AMU students in the Arctic – monitoring glacier change under a warming

climate

Michał Kamiński Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Tomasz Kurczaba Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Marcin Mosiewicz Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Mateusz Obst Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Kacper Polus Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań


During the 22nd polar expedition of the Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) to Svalbard

(July-September 2017), five Earth-science students conducted research in the area of AMU

Polar Station in Petuniabukta, central Spitsbergen. Hydrological monitoring consisted of

daily measurements of water discharge in the proglacial stream of Svenbreen. The purpose

of the research was to determine the variability of water runoff from the glacier basin in the

background of glacier melt intensity and meteorological variables over the period from 19

July to 18 September 2017. The other research project aimed to produce a new digital

elevation model of Svenbreen using unmanned aerial vehicles. Due to exceptionally snow-

free conditions in September, the photographs obtained during the survey document well

the glacier surface and boundaries, but also distribution of the last remaining firn patches in

the uppermost sections of the glacier. Together with earlier research, the outcomes of the

studies will be used to determine the present-day state and direction of changes of

Svenbreen due to climate warming.

Acknowledgements:

The internship of the students was funded by the project „AWANS KOMPETENCYJNY -

innowacyjne kompetencje geografa na współczesnym rynku pracy: wysokiej jakości

program stażowy dla studentów nauk o Ziemi na WNGiG UAM”, implemented by the

Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences AMU (nr POWR.03.01.00-00-S159/15), co-

funded by the European Social Fund.


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Coastal Permafrost on King George Island (Antarctica): does not exist or it

is just forming

Marek Kasprzak Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

Mateusz C. Strzelecki Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

Grzegorz Rachlewicz Department of Environmental Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Piotr Migoń Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

Despite over 40 years of scientific activitiity, the recognition and understanding of ground

thermal conditions in the surroundings of Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station is

rather poor. To date, the only data on ground temperatures were based on seasonal

observations carried out in the weather station (Kejna and Láska 1999, Kruszewski G. 2000,

Zwolska and Rakusa-Suszczewski 2002, Kejna 2008, Araźny et al. 2013).

In this paper we present the results of a pilot geophysical study of ground thermal

conditions conducted in February 2016. We have applied the electrical resistivity

tomography to characterize the ground properties and, indirectly, thermal conditions of the

following areas: uplifted beaches in the vicinity of the station, uplifted marine terraces and

slopes of local mountain ridges ( Skua Ridge, Penguin Ridge) taking into the consideration

various slope aspects. In addition, between February 2016 -2018 we carried out direct

measurements of ground (rock) temperatures at Rakusa Point and monitored water

temperature in a shallow lagoon developed behind storm ridges at Shag Point.

The inversion models based on ERT measurements suggest possible shallow (up to 10 m)

but continuous frozen ground conditions:

• at the base of the local slopes, zone characterized by concentration of the interflow in

slope deposits;

• shadowed sections of slopes;

• inside frontal and lateral moraines (on an example of the Ecology Glacier).

The direct ground temperature observations in a network of 1.5 m deep boreholes at

Rakusa Point showed no permafrost conditions. The coastal lowlands (barriers and

marshes) in the surroundings of the station are also devoid of frozen ground where

according to Pietrzykowski et al. (2017) the level of groundwater table is very shallow. The

temperature of water in lagoons and marshes often reaches over 10 °C.

Notwithstanding visible effects of frost processes operating on ground surface (e.g. frost

sorting, solifluction) the development of discontinuous permafrost in the study area is

hampered by frequent melt-outs (including mid-winter warming events). Ground thermal

conditions across coastal lowland are influenced by inflows of sea-water that precludes

freezing of the ground for longer periods. The young age of the exposure of land from local


107

ice masses is another factor that moderated the potential evolution of the permafrost in

King George Island.

The paper is a contribution to the National Science Centre project: ‘POROCO-Mechanisms

controlling the evolution and geomorphology of rocky coasts in polar climates’ award no.

2013/11/B/ST10/00283.


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Ice-core and push moraines imaged by ERT & EM: Werenskiold glacier case

study (SW Spitsbergen)


Petr Tábořík Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences

Tadeusz Głowacki Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology

Kacper Marciniec Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

Michał Łopuch Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

Krzysztof Senderak Department of Geomorphology, University of Silesia in Katowice

Kacper Jancewicz Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

The Werenskiold glacier on the coast of the Wedel-Jarlsberg Land (SW Spitsbergen) formed

in a Little Ice Age a terminal (end) moraine with a maximum height exceeding 80 m. It is a

ice-core moraine with permanent frozen body. The glacier, retreating from the beginning of

the 20th century (Ciężkowski et al. 2018), deprived the moraine of feeding with debris. The

moraine is degraded, as a result of ablation and slope processes – solifluction and

landslides. The degradation of the moraine is favored by thermoabrasive processes. On its

surface there occur sinkholes associated with suffosion processes.

This work aims to image an interior of the moraine and its immediate subsurface

surroundings using geophysical methods. The main goal of this research is to determine

thermal conditions and development of permafrost within and around moraine. The survey

was made using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). The upper part of the ground up to

a depth of 3.4. m was also detected by electromagnetic method, complementing the lack of

near-surface data resulting from the specificity of ERT measurements. Measurement

profiles were carried out from the shoreline of the Nottinghambukta Bay (Greenland Sea)

on the Elveflya sandur surface, on the slopes and ridge of the frontal moraine, also through

active landslide and in the lateral moraine of the glacier. Profiles through moraines were

carried out next to small moraine lakes existing here.

The obtained results indicate deep frost of a bedrock under the ice-core of the moraine.

Also, push moraines in front of the end moraine are probably partially frozen. The

permafrost is clearly bounded from the sea, which confirms observations about its influence

on ground in the Spitsbergen coastal zone (Kasprzak et al 2017). The permafrost active layer

depth of the moraine is not the same – from the inner (eastern) side moraine is deeper. It

does not exist temporary in landslides niches. In terms of thermal, the moraine interior is

not uniform. There are taliks under the lakes. The thawing zones of the moraine continue

deep into the bedrock and have a depth of up to 40 m.


109

Morphology and evolution of the Elveflya and Nottinghambukta sandurs

on the Werenskiold glacier forefield (SW Spitsbergen)


Michał Łopuch Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

Hydrographic changes that occured on the forefield of the Werenskiold glacier, depended

on ablation of end part of middle moraine and directing the outflow of the Kvisla river

towards the south by the river bed of smaller stream of the Werenskioldelva, what was

happen between years 1960 and 1970 (Kosiba, 1982), it caused extinguishing of the Elveflya

sandur morphological activity and fresh sediment deposition at the bottom of the

Nottinghambukta bay. After fifty years of sedimentation, the Nottinghmbukta delta has

been transforming into typical sandur landform.

This paper presents an analysis of morphometrical features of both sandurs, based on DTM

model build from aerial photos using structure from motion (SfM) method. It is pointed

different generations of Elveflya sandur possible to distinguished, features of sandur river

channels and gorges in end moraine of the Werenskiold glacier. A discussion about age of

the landforms, based on available information about activity of the Werenskiold glacier,

fossil tundra and shells dating (Baranowski 1975, 1977, Traczyk 2008) and morphological

evidences, is carried. Nottinghabukta sediments growth rate was documented on the basis

of ortophotomaps from 1957, 1990 and 2010.

The geomorphological observations were supported by geophysical imaging of near-surface

geological structures of the both sandurs. Surveys in 2–2.5 km long and 6.7 m depth profiles

were made by electromagnetic method using CMD-Explorer device (GF Instruments).

Obtained results were converted in standard geophysical inversion in Res2Dinv software

(Geotomo, Maleysia). Final inversion models helped in distinction of separate generations

of Elveflya sediments. The profiles, supported by previously done electrical resistivity

measurements and ERT inversion models, shows additionally, that permafrost occurs at the

surface of Elveflya sandur only and it is discontinuous. The profile done during spring tide in

the Nottinghambukta shows a structure of sediments filled this bay.

The paper is a contribution to the National Science Centre project: ‘Spatial and temporal

controls on active layer dynamics in an Arctic mountain valley’ award no.

2015/19/D/ST10/02869.


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Permafrost base in the coastal zone of SW Spitsbergen




Andrzej Traczyk Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

Michael Lim School for Built Environment, Northumbria University

Petr Tábořík Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences

The development of coastal permafrost along western coast of Spitsbergen is influenced by

the seawaters of Greenland Sea, particularly the warm West Spitsbergen Current. Over the

years 2012–2017 our research team using geophysical methods investigated the state of

coastal permafrost in several embayments of Wedel Jarlsberg Land: Nottinghambukta,

Hyttevika, Veslebogen and Isbjørnhamna. We have applied the electrical resistivity

tomography (ERT) and electromagnetic measurements (EM) to determine the spatial

distribution of coastal permafrost. The interpretation of measurement data was based on

the assumption, that frozen ground is characterized by lower electrical conductivity. In

order to reduce the risk of misinterpretation, we aimed to carry out our surveys across sites

with uniform geology. The geophysical surveys were supported with direct ground

temperature measurements in the network of 5-m deep boreholes drilled in the

Wilczekodden, Hornsund. In addition, we run seasonal observations of sea temperature in

surface waters of Hyttevika

The results of our study indicated that permafrost along the coast is characterized by

relatively small thickness (few to several or so meters) and forms a seaward thinning frozen

ground wedge (Kasprzak et al. 2017). The thermal state of the ground underneath frozen

layer is controlled by the seawaters. The thickness and shape of the coastal permafrost is

controlled by the coastal morphology. For instance, particularly thin layer of permafrost was

observed in rocky headlands (Strzelecki et al. 2017). In more inland locations, the border

between frozen and unfrozen layers of the ground is very clear and is characterised by the

relatively even course resembling the coastal cliff. Time-lapse ERT surveys showed that

during the Arctic summer season the base of the coastal permafrost transforms similarly to

the active-layer developing on the permafrost table. Based on this discovery we proposed

the model of the formation of bottom active layer of coastal permafrost, controlled by the

thermal state and salinity of the sea (Kasprzak et al. 2017).

Rock temperature monitoring at Wilczekodden (2015-2017) showed that rocks directly

influenced by the operation of waves and tides are not permanently frozen. In the

temperature profiles we detected several heat waves moving from the base towards the

surface, which were particularly well visible during winter season. At this stage of our


111

project, we think that those heat waves are controlled by the state of the sea e.g. sea ice

cover and require further investigations. Sea temperature monitoring in Hyttevika showed

that surface water temperature is relatively high and often exceed +7°C during the summer.

The functioning of coastal permafrost environment in our study area (Svalbard) is contrary

to the well-determined spatial distribution of permafrost in other permafrost areas of the

northern hemisphere e.g. McKenzie Delta (Mackay, J.R., 1972) or coasts of eastern Siberia

(Overduin et al. 2016), where continuous permafrost is present not only in coastal cliffs but

also in the seabed.

The paper is a contribution to the National Science Centre projects: ‘POROCO-Mechanisms

controlling the evolution and geomorphology of rocky coasts in polar climates’ award no.

2013/11/B/ST10/00283 (M. Strzelecki) and ‘Spatial and temporal controls on active layer

dynamics in an Arctic mountain valley’ award no. 2015/19/D/ST10/02869 (M. Kasprzak).


112

Skoddebukta seafloor morphology in front of the Austre Torellbreen (SW

Spitsbergen)



Bathymetric seabed surveys conducted using multibeam echosounder by the Norwegian

Hydrographic Service delivered high quality data that allow construction of raster,

submetric accuracy models of seabed, and, at the same time, visualize and interpret the

seabed geomorphology.

In this paper we present our pilot interpretation of Skoddebukta seafloor geomorphology

that formed in front of the Austre Torellbreen – eastern tongue of the largest glacier of the

Wedel-Jarlsberg Land. The detected seafloor forms are well-preserved and similar to the

forms of nearby Isbjørnhamna and Hansbukta carved by Hansbreen (Tęgowski et al. 2016,

Ćwiąkała et al. 2018). Our analysis is based on a combination of bathymetric data and digital

terrain model of the land area designed by the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI

Terrengmodell Svalbard, 2014). The glacier changes since the termination of the Little Ice

Age (LIA) were determined using collection of uneven-aged maps and aerial imagery taken

over the last century by NPI. Spatial analyses, digital elevation model (DEM) and

visualisations were carried out in the GlobalMapper, SAGA GIS and MicroDEM software.

The analysis of new developed DEM suggests that the maximal extent of LIA morainic

features, so well visible in the land part of the study area, has been almost completely

eroded in the seabed section. During the LIA the glacier terminated in the sea and was

divided into two tongues by middle moraines developed across the Toreljegla Peninsula.

The analysis of the flow direction of Austre Torellbreen, well-recorded in the seabed relief,

led to the delimitation of two separate morphological zones. First zone consists of a deep

seabed ca. 2-3 km wide, with a bottom located at ca. 100-125 m depth. The second zone,

highest morphological level in the analysed section of Skoddebukta, lies ca. 5 km from the

present-day glacier front and is formed by the morainic deposits. Above the culmination of

morainic forms, the sea is very shallow (few meters deep) and slightly deepens closer to the

glacier front. The characteristic feature of the morainic belt are series of recessional

moraines. Around 10 of moraines are larger in size and dominate over the local seafloor

morphology. Rest of the recessional moraines are smaller and most probably correspond

with annual changes of glacier front position. Series of moraines are accompanied by

crevasse-squeeze ridges. Smaller seabed forms, associated with mass-wasting processes

and gas seeping, visible in the model include inter alia submarine landslides, gullies and

pockmarks. Traces of friction of icebergs are also numerous in shallow seabed. However,

the variety of landforms is definitely smaller than in Isbjørnhamna and Hansbukta.

The paper is a contribution to the FNP HOMING PLUS /2013-8/12 project and National

Science Centre project 2013/08/S/ST10/00585.

Depth data were purchased from The Norwegian Hydrographic Service with permit number

14/G736.


113

Snow cover development on Spitsbergen coastal tundra environment –

present state and predictions for the end of 21st century

Daniel Kępski Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Bartłomiej Luks Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Marzena Osuch Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Andreas Dobler The Norwegian Meteorological Institute


Rebecca Mott WSL-Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF

Sebastian Westermann Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo

Tomasz Budzik Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

Tomasz Wawrzyniak Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Nowadays snow cover persist on Svalbard coastal tundra during majority of the year with

typical onset on beginning of October and meltout in late June. With ongoing global

warming, that is especially distinct in high latitudes, observed is also shortening of snow

season. Multiannual data gathered on Polish Polar Station Hornsund indicates trends

showing 2.6 days later snow onset and 4 days earlier snow disappearance per decade.

Decreasing of snow depth during winters with more frequent rain-on-snow events is also

visible. Such changes affect whole Arctic tundra ecosystem as snow cover duration decides

e.g. about length of plant growing season. Additionally snowpack depth and structure has

an effect on ground thermal regime and is important for reindeers as it can hinder access to

the food for them.

We present actual snow cover development on the base of multiannual data from

Hornsund meteorological site and extended monitoring program established in

Fuglebekken catchment in 2014. Additionally records from automatic weather stations

available in Hornsund station neighborhood were used to feed and validate SNOWPACK and

Alpine3D numerical models to check their accuracy in coastal tundra environment. Models

were then used to simulate snow cover development in the end of 21st century basing on

high resolution (0.022° grid - ca. 2.5km) climate projections obtained from COSMO-CLM

nested in the MPI-ESM-LR model that follows the “business as usual” RCP 8.5 emission

scenario. Assumed were change only in precipitation and temperature in models input for

future snow cover simulations. Climate conditions for the end of century were calculated

for years 2089-2100 and validated for Polish Polar Station grid using reprojection for years

1991-2000. Used approach indicate 15% growth of precipitation in Hornsund area and


114

warming of annual temperature by 6°C in the end of 21st in relation to the end of 20th

century. It means transition of the Hornsund climatic conditions to those currently

occurring in southern Iceland (Reykjavík), so from tundra (ET) to subpolar oceanic climate

(Cfc) in Köppen classification. This entails shortening of snow cover season from November

to April that will be intermittent with snow-free periods during winter thaws. We discuss

possible implications of such shortened snow season on the coastal tundra environment.

Acknowledgements:

The study was supported from the funds of the Leading National Research Centre (KNOW)

received by the Centre for Polar Studies for the period 2014-18.


115

Gastrotricha on Spitsbergen (Svalbard Archipelago, Arctic) - seven new

species from Hornsund fjord area

Małgorzata Kolicka Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Lech Kotwicki Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Miroslawa Dabert Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Gastrotricha comprise microscopic acoelomate metazoans ranging in size from 50 μm to

3500 μm that inhabit all types of aquatic as well as semi-aquatic ecosystems throughout the

world. However, Gastrotrichs biodiversity from the Arctic region is virtually unknown. We

provide for the first time, a Gastrotricha investigation from both freshwater and marine

habitats in the Hornsund fjord area (Spitsbergen, Arctic). Our research was conducted on a

transect at various distances from the forehead of the Hans glacier (Spitsbergen, Arctic).

The collected material contained representatives of 15 species belonging to 6 genera, 3

families, and 2 orders. From all of the recorded taxa, 6 freshwater and 1 marine species

proved to be new taxa and other 4 species: C. (C.) sp. 1, Ichthydium sp. 2,

Heterolepidoderma sp. 3 and Lepidodermella sp. 4 are most probably new to science but

could not be described due to insufficient material. Moreover, three subsequent species

described from Isfjorden, another Spitsbergen locality, namely C. (C.) gelidus, C. (C.) jaceki

and C. (C.) svalbardi, were found during our research. Recorded during our survey only taxa

unknown from other regions, may suggest a high specificity of Arctic Gastrotricha fauna.

Furthermore, all of the listed freshwater taxa have some rather rare characteristics, such as:

displacement of the point from which the cephalic cilia emerge towards the ventral side, a

weak cuticular reinforcement in the anterior pharynx dilatation, the intestine anterior

section differing from the remaining part, and the presence of three pairs of dorsal sensory

bristles. In our presentation, we provide both morphological and morphometric data and

we present the phylogenetic position of the newly described and newly found species based

on nuclear 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequence

data.

The study was funded by the Polish MSHE grant DI 2014 013844 titled "Gastrotricha

diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the foreland of the Arctic glaciers – a

consequence of climate changes" for MK.


116

The correlation between selected persistent organic pollutants and trace

elements, and bacterial abundance in Revelva catchment (Southwest

Spitsbergen, Svalbard)

Klaudia Kosek Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology

Katarzyna Jankowska Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology

Stanisław Chmiel Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

Marek Ruman Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice

Żaneta Polkowska Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology

Environmental pollution by organic compounds became extensive as mining and industrial

activities increased. Environmental pollutants originating from diverse anthropogenic

sources have been known to posses values capable of degrading the ecological integrity of

all environmental habitats. The Arctic has undergone dramatic change during the past two

decades. The phenomenon of Arctic pollution (besides local sources) arises from a

combination of long-range transport of pollutants and the Arctic haze phenomenon-locking

contaminated air in the area for months. The most common group of contaminants in the

Arctic are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), characterized by durability and resistance to

degradation. The residence time of those pollutants is long enough for them to be

transported thousands of kilometers by the air and finally to be deposed in the Arctic.

The freshwater samples were collected from the Revelva catchment located in the Wedel-

Jarlsberg Land, in southwestern part of Spitsbergen in summer 2016. The main river

(Revelva) is fed both directly by atmospheric precipitation, snow melt water streams and a

river originating from the Arie glacier. Revelva drains into the bay of Ariebukta in the south,

forming an estuary. In the upper part of the catchment, the main streams originate from

the slopes of Eimfjellet and Skålfjellet. The catchment is characterised by an asymmetry,

with a dominance of left tributaries, of which the proglacial Ariebekken is the largest. The

diversity of the catchment landscape provides an ideal setting for a comprehensive study of

processes of pollutant deposition in different parts of the abiotic environment. The main

purpose of the research was to determine selected persistent organic pollutants (e.g.

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and trace elements. Additionally, the total number of

bacteria, size and biomass were quantified. Microbiological analyses have been conducted

using epifluorescence microscope to estimate the impact of chemical compounds presence

on the microbiological abundance.

The results obtained show that the bacterial abundance indices depended on nutrient levels

to a small extent, showing the environment of the Revelva catchment not to be nutrient

limited, which is in accordance with its rich biological life also in macroscale. These indices

were equally uncorrelated with the chemical threats (pollutant concentrations), which


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indicates the microorganisms of the Revelva catchment cope well with the experienced

levels of pollution. Moreover, the results obtained serve as early warning signal of expected

environmental changes because even low pollutants concentration levels in polar regions

may suggest a significant contamination of studied area.

The authors would like to thank the staff of the Polish Polar Station Hornsund for the

opportunity to carry out sampling. Additionally, the National Science Centre, Poland is

thanked for the research grant no. 2017/25/N/NZ9/01506.


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In-situ analysis of elemental composition of the sediments in Ebba Valley

(Petunibukta, Central Spitsbergen) using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

(XRF)

Lidia Kozak Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Przemysław Niedzielski Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Preliminary field studies with the use of portable XRF spectrometer have been conducted in

Central Spitsbergen (Billefjord). The subject of these studies was mapping of the elemental

composition of the glacial sediments in Ebba Valley (Petuniabukta). The one-month studies

allowed to recognize elements distribution caused by the glacial and paraglacial processes.

The preliminary studies allowed to get an experience in the use of portable XRF

spectrometer in field studies, worked out the strategy of glacial sediments analysis and find

the advantages and disadvantages of the portable instrument. The next, very important

experience has been connected with the logistic of the measurements (filters and foil

handling, use the vacuum pomp, charging the accumulators etc.) and instrument

transportation (permissions, carnet ATA for custom services, travel with the X-ray source

etc.), which will facilitate realisation of the proposed project. In the preliminary studies we

used the XRF spectrometer borrowed from the Institute of Archaeology, Adam Mickiewicz

University in Poznań, Poland.


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Late Oligocene interglacial environments on King George Island, West

Antarctic

Krzysztof P. Krajewski Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences

Monika A. Kusiak Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences

Andrzej Tatur Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw

Zoltán Pécskay Institute for Nuclear Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Elżbieta Worobiec W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences

Grzegorz Zieliński Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute

Keewook Yi Geochronology Team, Korea Basic Science Institute

King George Island is the largest and northernmost of the South Shetland Islands, on the western

site of the Antarctic Peninsula. The geological succession on KGI was studied extensively in late

1970’s following the discovery of Early Oligocene glacial and proximal glaciomarine deposits,

named the Polonez Cove Formation. Late Oligocene sedimentary successions on KGI, including

the Sheratt Bay and Destruction Bay Formations (Troedson and Smellie, 2002) unconformably

overlie older deposits. These volcanic and sedimentary sequences record non-glacial shallow

marine conditions. To shed new light into the Late Oligocene warming period in the glacial

history of the region, integrated geological, petrographical, palynological and isotopic studies

were undertaken on new outcrops of the Destruction Bay Formation (DBF) that were recently

exposed by ice retreat in the central part of the northern KGI coast.

The pollen assemblage in delta sediments is dominated by grains of Nothofagus subgenus

Fuscaspora. This pollen type is related to trees or shrubs of the extant Nothofagus species

occurring in cool temperate forests and alpine scrubs of southern South America, Australia and

New Zealand (Prebble et al., 2006). Recalculated strontium isotope stratigraphy (SIS) ages, using

87Sr/86Sr data from brachiopod shells, range within limits of 26-25 Ma and 25-24 Ma. Ages

older than 25 Ma are interpreted as overestimates due to diagenetic alteration of shell

carbonate. U-Pb zircon data of ca. 24 Ma are consistent with SIS results and suggest that the

main deposition period of the DBF occurred ca. 24 Ma.

Facies analysis, supported by petrographic and geochemical investigations, helps to reconstruct

interglacial near-shore and shelf sedimentary environments, and to elucidate the dominant

interglacial climatic conditions in the region. Palynologic systematic data reveal the type and

extent of Late Oligocene vegetation on the magmatic arc. Strontium isotope stratigraphy and U-

Pb zircon dating refined the Late Oligocene age of the formation, convergent with

paleoenvironmental studies performed on the east side of Antarctic Peninsula.


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Ionizing radiations in Global Electric Circuit (GEC). Preliminary analysis of

measurements from Polish Polar Station in Hornsund (Spitsbergen)

Marek Kubicki Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Anna Odzimek Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences The electrical conductivity of the air is a main parameter GEC due to existence of

atmospheric ions. The sources of ions are: cosmic radiations (generated 1-5 ions pars per

cubic centimeters per second) and natural radioactivity (α, β, γ radiating of Earth’s)

descending from the ground. This kind of ionizing produces 1-10 ions pars cm-3 sec-1. Due

to radioactive species in the air, ionization creates 1-5 ions pars cm-3 sec-1. Cosmogenic

radionuclide (e. g 7Be), Coronal Mass Eject (CME), Solar Particle Event (SEP) can also change

electrical conductivity through ionization, but this mechanism is complex.

New measurement’s equipment for the radionuclide in the air in α, β, γ radiation and

energy to 5MeV was installed in Polar Polish Stations in 2017. Environmental Gamma

Radiation Monitor, using counting technique with its high and low range Geiger Mueller

detectors in an assembly that provides excellent accuracy and linearity throughout its 1

μR/hr (10 nSv/hr) to 1000 R/hr (10 Sv/hr), 30 keV to 5.0 MeV operating range and NAIS-2x2

– NaI (Tl) LED, Temperature-Stabilized, Scintillation Detector, they are components of the

equipment. The measurements were made with a high time resolution (5 sec, 1 hour).

The analysis of measurements radioactivity parameters of air and atmospheric electric field

Ez (atmospheric electric field Ez depends on the electrical conductivity) in 2017 year shows:

- measurements indicated the occurrence of background radiations

- there were no incidents of significant radiation increase

- changes in background radiation may result variation Ez in time range 1-5 minutes

Instruments measuring ionizing radiations operating in Polish Polar Station were financed

from PolarPol grant. The work and participation in the Symposium is funded by the

statutory activities of Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, grant No 3841/E-

41/S/2018 and by the funds of the Leading National Research Centre (KNOW) received by

the Centre for Polar Studies for the period 2014-2018.


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Rainfall as a factor influencing organic pollutants level in Scott River water

in the summer of 2016 (Bellsund Fjord, Spitsbergen)

Sara Lehmann-Konera Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology

Waldemar Kociuba Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

Joanna Potapowicz Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology

Żaneta Polkowska Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology

Due to the processes of long-range atmospheric transport of pollutants (LRATP) Arctic

catchments received a vast amounts of a wide range of chemical compounds considered as

pollutants (e.g. persistent organic pollutants, phenols, formaldehyde, metals). An increase

in air temperature related to climate change result in the retreat of glaciers and the

degradation of permafrost in the polar areas. Extreme weather events such as. high air

temperature or heavy rain affect the hydrochemistry of the polar streams and rivers not

only through increased of water discharge but also release of more concentrated pulse of

chemical compounds from melting glaciers or thawing permafrost.

The present studies concerns chemical response of high Arctic river on the extreme weather

conditions (heavy rain). Surface water samples of the Scott River and rainfall were collected

in NW part of Wedel Jarlsberg Land (SW part of the Svalbard Archipelago). Sampling points

were located at the forefields of the Scott Glacier in the vicinity of the research station of

Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin- Calypsobyen. Sampling was conducted in the

gorge section of the glaciated part of the Scott River catchment. While precipitation

sampler (Hellmann rain gauge with 200 cm2 of inlet ring) was placed approximately 30 m

from the gorge section. In this part of the catchment Scott River is feed mainly by ablation

water and rainfall. In this work the chemical parameter (dissolved organic carbon (DOC))

and concentrations of organic pollutants (sum of phenols (∑phenols), formaldehyde

(HCHO)) in surface water samples were examined. From July 23 to August 31 of 2016 we

collected forty samples of water from the Scott River. During period of sampling sixteen rain

water samples were collected in volume of 2.70 to 300 ml. The concentration of DOC

ranged 0.030 - 4.14 mgC/ L in glacial river and 0.092-1.64 mgC/L in rainfall samples. While

potentially carcinogenic phenols ranged <LOD-0.020 mg/L and 0.005-0.058 mg/L in river

and rainfall samples respectively. HCHO occurred in both types of samples in concentration

from <LOD to 0.08 mg/L.

The presented study confirm atmospheric transport of organic pollutants from

industrialized and urbanized areas of the Eurasia to the polar environment. They also

proves the role of wet precipitation in providing additional loads of organic pollutants to the

High Arctic catchments. It was noted that fluctuations of organic compounds concentrations

in water of the glacial river were related with wet precipitation occurrence. In conclusion,


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rainfall was not only a source of additional loads of organic compounds but also a factor

causing release of increased amounts of pollutants from Scottbreen glacier.

Acknowledgments

The study was conducted in the scope of the 28th Polar Expedition of the Marie Curie-

Skłodowska University in Lublin to Spitsbergen, implementing grant of the National Science

Centre “Studies on differentiation of anthropogenic pollutants loads transported in feed

waters of periglacial Scott River (Bellsund Fiord, Spitsbergen) at their modifications under

the influence of rainwater” No. 2015/17/N/ST10/03177


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The glacial landsystem of a tropical glacier: Charquini Sur, Bolivian Andes


Harold Lovell Department of Geography, University of Portsmouth

Wojciech Ewertowski Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Łukasz Górski Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Tomasz Kurczaba Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Beata Latos Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Michał Miara Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Dorota Piniarska Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Jacek Płocieniczak Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Tomasz Sowada Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Marcin Spiralski Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Anna Warczachowska Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Antoine Rabatel CNRS, IRD, Université Grenoble Alpes

The geomorphological signature of tropical glaciers has the potential to provide important

information on the response of ice masses in high‐mountain environments to climate

warming. This study investigates the glacial geomorphology of Charquini Sur, Bolivia.

Detailed geomorphological mapping was conducted both in the field and from satellite

imagery in order to produce a 1:4,000 scale geomorphological map of the glacier foreland.

Sedimentological analyses (description of physical characteristics, clast shape and

roundness, particle‐size distribution) provided additional insight into the

landform‐sediment assemblage.

Glacial landforms are well preserved and include up to 11 moraine ridge suites, seven of

which are cross‐valley frontal moraine arcs. These can be linked to an existing lichenometric

chronology from previous work and record glacier recession since the local Little Ice Age

(LIA) maximum in the late‐1600s. Lateral moraine ridges also record continuous thinning of

the glacier over this time period. Smaller groups of parallel ridges are interpreted as annual

moraines formed during recession. Intermorainic areas consist of flutings and a typically

thin sediment cover of subglacial, supraglacial and glaciofluvial origin, with prominent

ice‐moulded bedrock protuberances in places. Analysis of the landform‐sediment


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assemblage provides an insight into the main controls on landform genesis in the basin and

implies there have been temporal changes in ice‐marginal dynamics since the LIA. We

present the first landsystem model for a tropical cirque glacier, documenting its behaviour

since the LIA and providing an indication of glacier response in rapidly‐warming

high‐mountain environments.


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The determinations of the elemental profiles after acid leaching of the

sediments samples collected in Ebba Valley (Petunibukta, Spitsbergen)

Przemysław Niedzielski Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Lidia Kozak Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

The investigations have been conducted in Petuniabukta (Billefjord, Spitsbergen) during the

Arctic scientific expeditions in the years 2014-2017. The sediments samples have been

collected from the square area (ca. 1000 cm2), stored in polyethylene containers and

transported to the laboratory. Subsequently, samples have been lyophilised, extracted and

finally analysed (determination of the 70 elements) by inductively coupled plasma optical

emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The elemental profiles (the results of the occurrence of

the elements normalised by the median values) were the marker of the sediments (finger

prints / chemical signatures) and may be used for sediments origin comparison.


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Black-legged kittiwake feathers as a valuable biomonitoring tool in Arctic

region

Aneta Pacyna Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology



In the recent years high attention was directed on Arctic region as a global early warning-

system. Polar area is specifically prone to climate changes. Bio-monitors are used to

indicate current ecosystem condition and recognize potential toxicological hazards. Birds

may easily deposit xenobiotics accumulated in their body tissues into feathers. Especially

seabirds are considered as reliable bioindicators due to their longevity, ability to transport

contaminants from sea to land, and high trophic position. Contaminants level is often

reported in internal tissues from collected dead or sacrificed randomly selected individuals.

Apart from ethical implications such sample collection may carry potentially unquantified

biases like unknown cause of death. Non-lethal sample collection, enables sample collection

from alive individuals over seasons and thus, it is possible to track changes caused by

elevated xenobiotics level. Feather represents a valuable source of information about

xenobiotic presence in blood during the time of the feather growth. Here, molted feathers

from the kittiwake colony localized in Bellsund, Svalbard were used to analyze

concentrations of chosen trace elements (essential and toxic) and persistent organic

pollutants. Black-legged kittiwake is a highly abundant seagull, that breeds in polar areas.

Results indicate that contaminants of anthropogenic origin may constitute an additional

stressing factor for this population. Contaminants bioaccumulation contributes an

undeniable thread worldwide, with no except for arctic species. Knowing baseline

concentration that may cause advert ecotoxicological effect is significant for birds

conservation. Tissues collected from arctic seagulls can be used to reliably reflect

contaminants levels in marine ecosystems.


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Chemical composition in freshwater samples collected from Billefjorden

(Svalbard)

Filip Pawlak Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology

Katarzyna Jankowska Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology


The Arctic is the object of research due to its unique climatic conditions such as low average

annual temperature, the presence of the ice caps and the occurrence of the polar night.

These conditions create the possibility of pollutants’ accumulation in the Arctic

environment. The main sources of pollution in the Arctic are heavy industry, flue gases

emitted from motor vehicles and power generators. Contaminants can be also transported

from other regions by ocean currents and atmosphere circulation. In the future, because of

climate change, the Arctic region may become a secondary source of pollution. In this study,

samples of water from rivers and streams flowing to the Isfjorden (Spitsbergen, Svalbard)

fiords were analysed. Water samples were analysed in order to determine the

concentration of various substances such as PAHs, metals, main cations, and anions.

Additionally, parameters such as pH, SEC, and TOC were also measured. It was established

that the highest levels of pollution were found in the Olavbekken stream draining the valley

bordering the city of Barentsburg. Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that

local anthropogenic sources are significant contributors to the total amount of impurities

can be deduced. Moreover, using the PCA analysis, it was possible to find a similarity

between samples collected from areas characterized by similar climatic conditions.

The authors would like to thank Klaudia Kosek for her help during the analyses of

freshwater samples. Additionally, conducted analyses were partly funded by the National

Science Centre, Poland, the research grant no. 2017/25/N/NZ9/01506.


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Examination of fresh water chemistry at Lions Rump headland (Maritime

Antarctica, King George Island) – preliminary results

Małgorzata Szopińska Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology

Danuta Szumińska Institute of Geography, Kazimierz Wielki University

Joanna Potapowicz Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology

Robert Bialik Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Science


The area of interests - Lions Rump headland belongs to Antarctic Specially Protected Area

No. 151. It means that this area is minimally influenced by local human impact. This first

data regarding fresh water chemistry characteristic in this area is aimed at determining the

general factors influencing local water bodies. Analysis covered determination of inorganic

ions, trace metals and non-metals, total organic carbon (TOC) and polycyclic aromatic

hydrocarbons (PAHs). Among selected analyses special attention should be paid on those

related to the local and global human activities (e. g. heavy metals and PAHs). Increased

concentration of them may negatively influence the natural balance of ecosystem. Heavy

metal concentrations (e.g. Hgmean= 0.137 μgL-1, Pb mean=1.08 μgL-1) and ∑ PAHsmean=

98.1 ngL-1 may indicate influence of human activities like diesel usage. Mean TOC

concentration (0.188 mgL-1) is in typical range for fresh waters localized at periglacial area.

To determine the degree of human impact influence on water chemistry collecting data for

over a period of a few years is required. Considering that ASPA No. 151 covers protection of

diverse biota and geological features, and is a representative example of the terrestrial and

limnological habitats of the Maritime Antarctica, further monitoring of pollution in this

special area is strongly recommended.

Acknowledgments:

This work was carried out as part of an agreement between the Institute of Biochemistry

and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Science (IBB,PAS), and Gdansk University of Technology.

The data used in the paper were collected at the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station.


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Selected chemical determinants of human activity in land-surface and

shallow aquatic sediments at cold environment (King George Island, South

Shetland Island, Antarctica)

Joanna Potapowicz Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology

Małgorzata Szopińska Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology

Danuta Szumińska Institute of Geography, Kazimierz Wielki University


Robert Bialik Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Science


Growing activities of scientific stations, tourists and fishermen may contribute to the increase in

the level of pollution (e.g. heavy metals) in Antarctica. Therefore, following analytes and

parameters were determined in near-shore sediments: water soluble organic carbon (WSOC),

inorganic ions, trace metals and non-metals. Land-surface and shallow aquatic sediments was

studied because they may constitute an area of pollution accumulation (via adsorption

processes). Samples were collected twice in 9 points located at the western shore of Admiralty

Bay in the vicinity of the Arctowski Station in late January and March 2016. In both months, the

average WSOC content was similar (mean concentration = 2.52 mg/L in January and 2.28 mg/L in

March). WSOC content in the soil varied depending on local environmental and biotic factors.

The presence of penguin colonies has the greatest influence, in areas where there are visible

changes in soil properties. Organic matter also plays a significant role in the transport of heavy

metals because they can undergo adsorption on its surface. In terms of ions special concern

should be paid on SO42- concentration level. The concentration of SO42- which was on average

0.142 mg/g dw in January and 0.354 mg/g dw in March may come from anthropogenic sources

(e.g. industry, emission from ships) together with marine aerosol. In the case of metals and non-

metals, the highest values were obtained for aluminum and iron (over 38338 μg/g dw), which is

caused by the morphology of moraine molds exposed by the glacier. Nevertheless, the source of

some heavy metals may be related to the local human activity e.g. presence of Hg, Cd and Pb in

average concentrations: 0.473 μg/g, 0.094 μg/g, and 533 μg/g, respectively. What is more, trace

metals can be also transported in the atmosphere over long distances. Given the increase in

population and industry in the Southern Hemisphere, metal pollution can also come from the

plastics industry or steel mills. Heavy metals and other pollution concentration level monitoring

is important due to the degree of risk that they are able to cause. Large amounts of

contamination in local flora and fauna, through the accumulation of metals in tissues, may cause

disturbance of the balance of Antarctic ecosystems. This work was carried out as part of an

agreement between the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Science

(IBB, PAS), and Gdansk University of Technology. The data used in the paper were collected at

the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station.


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Fine-scale population genetic diversity of S. thompsoni in the Southern

Ocean

Angelika Słomska Institute of Marine Plankton Research, University of Gdańsk

Will Goodall-Copestake Bristish Antarctic Survey

The need for information about population structure is most acute for ecologically key

species like S.thompsoni because they play a key role in the marine ecosystem, and are

likely to be heavily influenced by climate change. This impact is believed to be positive in

the Antarctic waters, with pronounced expansion of pelagic tunicates under favorable

environmental conditions. This study as one of the first shows a different approach to

research on Antarctic salps population, and possible could fulfil the gap in knowledge about

their evolution and population structure in the Southern Ocean. Oozoids caught off South

Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula and Polar Front area generated barcodes consisting of a

few different DNA sequences and reveal some signals of inter and intra-population

variation. The average haplotype diversity (h) and nucleotide diversity (π) were 0.7198-

0.9346 and 0.0099, respectively. The AMOVA analysis disclosed statistically significant

differences between studied groups (ST = 0.37748 with P value= 0.0000) with evidence for

genetic structure. Negative Tajima’s D and Fu and Li’s D statistics indicates excess of new

mutation as a result of evolutionary forces, such as selective sweeps or population grow.

The applied phylogenetic trees disclosed presence of cryptic species among S.thompson's

populations, that show evidence of some selection processes and local adaptation of

Antarctic salp.


131

Sediment-bound and dissolved nutrients (Si, Fe) delivery from a glacier in

High Arctic (Werenskioldbreen, SW Spitsbergen)

Łukasz Stachnik University of Wrocław

Krzysztof Janik University of Silesia in Katowice

Jon Hawkings University of Bristol

Dariusz Ignatiuk University of Silesia in Katowice

Sławomir Sitek University of Silesia in Katowice

Katarzyna Stachniak University of Silesia in Katowice

Elżbieta Łepkowska University of Silesia in Katowice

Increased melting of glaciers in response to climatic warming is delivering increasingly large

quantities of freshwater to the oceans. Further air temperature increases in polar regions

over the next few decades will further enhance meltwater delivery. Recent research

indicates that glaciers export potentially significant quantities of biolabile nutrients, such as

iron (Fe), silicon (Si) and phosphorus (P), and that this flux is likely to increase with glacier

mass loss. Glacier-derived nutrients (e.g. Fe, Si) may be transported to the coastal regions

adjacent to ice masses through meltwater runoff and calving. A higher flux of these

nutrients may provide an important negative feedback effect on atmospheric CO2

concentrations by fuelling primary production in fjords and near-coastal regions due to

enhanced photosynthesis by marine phytoplankton. Studies on glacier-derived nutrients

indicate that labile sediment-bound fractions constitute a high proportion of the total

nutrient yield from a glacierized basin. Future increases in glacier melt and sediment yield

may therefore also lead to higher fluxes of sediment-bound nutrients, the downstream

effects of which are highly uncertain. Here we have determined the concentrations and

fluxes of sediment-bound and dissolved nutrients (Si, Fe) from a polythermal glacier in SW

Spitsbergen, Svalbard. The research was conducted in the basin of the Werenskioldbreen,

which covers 44.1 km2 (>60 % glacial cover). Suspended sediment and filtered water

samples were collected from a hydrometric station, subglacial outflows and supraglacial

streams. Water was filtrated for determination of suspended sediment concentration (SSC)

using GF/F glass-fibre filters (0.7 µm pore size). Dissolved nutrients water was filtered

through cellulose nitrate filters (0.45 µm pore size), with the sediment retained for

sediment extractions. Sediment fluxes were calculated for entire season using runoff and

discharge-weighted mean SSC concentration. Sequential extractions of sediment-bound

nutrients (Si, Fe) were performed to determine labile and more refractory fractions.

Discharge-weighted mean dissolved and easily dissolvable amorphous Si concentrations at

the hydrometric station were 8.6 µM (5.4-12.1) and 25.7 µM (6.1-53.5), respectively.

Dissolved Si concentrations were usually higher in subglacial outflows (11.2 µM) than at the


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downstream hydrometric station, but amorphous silica (19.5 µM) was lower at the .

Sediment-bound discharge-weighted mean ascorbate Fe (selective for amorphous 2-line

ferrihydrite) concentration was 22.7 µM (7.9-48.7 µM). Ascorbate Fe concentration was

generally lower at the subglacial outflows (15.3 µM). The calculated flux of sediment-bound

nutrients (Si, Fe) were several times (3-15) higher than dissolved fluxes of those nutrients.

Our data shows the potential impact of the sediment-bond nutrients transport on the

nutrient cycling in the glacierised basin in high Arctic, which has previously been

overlooked.


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Morphological and lithodynamic characteristic of the alluvial fan of

Dymamisk creek; Ebbadalen, Central Spitsbergen

Monika Stawska Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Global warming observed nowadays causes an increase in geomorphic activity in polar

regions. Habitat conditions, in particular water availability and stability of the deposits, have

a significant influence on sediment transport and the rate of both accumulation and erosion

processes within newly deglaciated areas. Alluvial fans, as a characteristic element of the

mountain landscape of the Svalbard Archipelago in the high-Arctic, and being elements of

slope denudational system, give a possibility to study these processes.

An alluvial fan of Dynamisk creek located in the Ebba Valley has been selected to assess

temporal variability and intensity of geomorphic processes operating on its surface. The

goal of the study was to determine variability, spatial distribution and contemporary

dynamics of sediments building differentiated by origin relief forms within the fan.

Within the investigated area of the fluvial-flow-dominated fan, microforms differentiated by

origin, age and stability were selected to take sediment samples. Analysis of grain size

parameters (mean size, sorting, skeweness, kurtosis, median and first percentile) was then

conducted and used for the lithodynamic interpretation of the environment. On this basis,

morphodynamic zones were delimited.

Gravel fraction was dominating within unstable, presently remodelled areas of the fan: (1)

in its apex, forming shoals and lag deposits and (2) in active and inactive channel beds of the

creek. Within minor remnants of an old alluvial fan sand fraction was dominating but

consisted considerable admixtures of gravel. Channel banks and the area of the old alluvial

fan are build mostly of sand and fine gravel fraction. Sediment sorting within all delimited

zones vary little, from poor to very poor. This indicates turbulent, high-energy transport of

sediments within the whole area of the fan.


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Sediment accumulation rates in fjords of Svalbard over the last century:

a review of 210Pb and 137Cs-based estimates



Matthias Forwick UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø

Fjords are commonly considered to be efficient sediment traps. Moreover, as documented

in a number of studies, the sediment accumulation rate increases with climate warming and

glaciers retreat. Among various ways to assess the accumulation rate and their variations

during the last century, the application of two radioisotopes, namely 210Pb and 137Cs is

relatively common. The main goal of the presentation is to summarize existing published

and present new data on applications of these isotopes in fjords of Svalbard in order to

provide critical assessment of their applications and state-of-art view on sediment

accumulation rates in Svalbard. The presented data comes mainly from Kongsfjorden,

Krossfjorden, Isfjorden, Billefjorden, Tempelfjorden, Dicksonfjorden, Adventfjorden, Van

Mijenfjorden and Hornsund. All together almost 100 sediment cores were analysed, so far.

However, most of them were taken in central and outer parts of the fjords and provide

relatively low sediment accumulation rates (up to several mm/year). The sediment cores

from inner parts of fjords provided much higher accumulation rates (over 1 cm/year),

however, they revealed also the biggest problem in dating due to non-steady sedimentation

and dilution of the radionuclides in large mass of sediments. The analysis of existing data

revealed that the sediment accumulation rate in fjords is related to extent of glacier

coverage of a fjord basin, as well as to a ratio of fjord basin (catchment) to fjord area.

The study was funded by Polish National Science Centre grant No. 2013/10/E/ST10/00166.


135

Paleoenviromental recostructions of Revdalen in last 3000 yrs - literature

review

Piotr Szczypkowski University of Wrocław

Łukasz Stachnik University of Wrocław

Piotr Owczarek University of Wrocław

For the last ~3000 years paleoenvironmental studies defined following periods: Modern

Warming (MW), Little Ice Age (LIA), Medieval Warm Period (MWP), Dark Ages Cold Period

(DACP), Roman Warm Period (RWP) and Neoglacial. The synchronicity of occurrences of

warm and cold periods is noticeable, nevertheless regional differences are revealed in: the

time span, the beginning and end of a given period and its amplitude. In Svalbard, studies

on paleoenvironmental reconstructions have covered last 2000 relatively well, but earlier

period (3000-2000 BP) is weakly shown in the proxy data. To date, sediment cores from

Revdalen show undistributed sediment deposition for last 3000 years. The aim of this

abstract is to compare different scenarios of the paleoenvironmental history of the

Revdalen based upon the literature review.

Revdalen is situated in a north shore of Hornsund fiord, SW Spitsbergen. The Polish Polar

Station is situated ~5 km south-east from the valley. Glacier and firn cover is 3,77 km2,

which constitutes ~24% of total basin surface (16 km2). Floor of the valley is flat with

altitude within the range 20 – 100 m a.s.l. Crossection of the valley shows significant slopes

asymmetry, indicating structural origin of the valley, nevertheless transformed by glacier

activity. Western slopes are 42° incline, whereas eastern 30-34°. On the eastern slopes

occur hanging valley (from 70 to 200 m above valley floor) covered by small cirque glaciers.

Lake Rev (Revvatnent) cover 0,9 km2.

This area has been studied since first scientific expeditions in a 1960s. There are two

opposite scenarios of glacial history of Revdalen: (1) ~2400 yr BP glacier transfluenced from

Tuvbreen to Revdalen, then destroyed the sea terraces and transformed western slope of

the valley and, finally, filled valley floor in; (2) Age and undisturbed character of sediment

suggest a lack of glaciation of valley floor in vicinity of Revvatnet in last 3000 yrs. We show

the arguments against and for both scenarios.


136

Grain size distribution of bedload transport in Baranowski Glacier

catchment (King George Island, W Antarctica)

Joanna Sziło Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Robert J. Bialik Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences The presented poster joints together and summarized results presented in Sziło and Bialik

(2017, 2018). The main finding of these papers is that the grain size distribution (GSD) of

bedload transport can be one of the method of the assessment of the relative formation of

proglacial creeks. In order to obtain this goal, filed observations in two gavel-bed troughs

(Fosa and Siodło creeks) and laboratory analysis have been conducted in glaciated

catchment of Baranowski Glacier. The estimation of the GSD parameters and statistical

comparison between the creeks have been presented based on the collected bedload

material and velocity measurements. The obtained results showed significant difference in

flow velocity. Furthermore, the carried out analysis suggest that the material in Siodło Creek

was poorly sorted fine and very fine gravels. This may suggest that the through is at lower

stage of forming in relation to Fosa through.


137

Texture, geochemistry, and mineral composition of surface soil horizons in

the town of Longyearbyen (Spitsbergen)

Wojciech Szymański Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University

Janusz Siwek Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University

Bronisław Wojtuń Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław

Aleksandra Samecka-Cymerman Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław

Paweł Pech Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław

Ludmiła Polechońska Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław

Aleksandra Smyrak-Sikora Department of Arctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard

Knowledge on the physical and chemical properties of soils in urban areas is very important

to proper planning and management of urban space in a sustainable manner. The main

aims of this study were: 1) to determine the texture and chemical properties of the surface

horizons of soils occurring in Longyearbyen, 2) to determine their spatial distribution within

the area of this city, and 3) to determine the mineral composition of the studied soils. Soil

samples from surface layer (uppermost 10 cm) were collected randomly from 53 sites

within Longyearbyen (central part of Spitsbergen). The texture, soil pH, content of total

organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO, MgO, K2O, Na2O, and

P2O5 as well as the mineral composition of the studied soils were determined in this study.

The spatial differentiation of the studied properties was presented and explained. In

general, the studied soils were characterized by loamy texture, acidic pH, substantial

content of TOC, high content of SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and low content of K2O, Na2O, CaO,

MgO, and P2O5. Quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase, mica, and chlorite were the prevailing

minerals in the studied soils. Differences in the concentration of TOC, TN, and oxides in

surface soil layers were related to the diversity of texture and mineralogy of the local parent

material (SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, K2O, Na2O, MgO, CaO) and the development of vegetation

cover (TOC, TN) as well as impact of seabirds (P2O5) and sea spray (Na2O).


138

Application of UAV surveys to quantify geomorphic changes related to

glacial lake outburst flood, Zackenberg Valley, West Greenland

Aleksandra Tomczyk Faculty of Geographical and Geological Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Marek Ewertowski Faculty of Geographical and Geological Studies, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Zackenberg River (Western Greenland) drains local ice cap situated approximately 30 km

from the seashore. River floods related to the outburst of ice-dammed lake occur on cyclic

basis. In this study we investigated geomorphic changes related to the flood which

happened on 6th of August 2017. 2 km long section of the river, located near the river

mouth and Zackenberg Research Station, was studied to quantify short-term riverscape

response to the flood. Three survey session utilizing small quadcopter were performed on:

5th August 2017 (a day before the flood started), 6th August 2017 (during the high-water

conditions) and 8th August 2017 (after the river returned to the normal water level). From

each survey session detailed orthomosaic (2 cm cell size) and digital elevation model (DEM,

7 cm cell size) has been produced. Volumetric changes were quantified using geomorphic

change detection approach by subtraction of DEMs from subsequent periods. Planar

changes were investigated using time-series of orthomosaics. Results indicate an important

role of thermo-erosion in modification of riverbanks. Waterflow seriously undercut steep

riverbanks leading to development of overhanging sections or collapsing of large blocks of

sediments. The maximal later erosion recorded as an effect of this single flood event was up

to 9 meters. River channel also changed course, width and depth. In addition, collected data

are useful from logistics point of view allowing to assess potential hazards to the buildings

of Zackenberg Research Station (due to the lateral riverbanks erosion) and to the steel

bridge, which foundations were also affected by erosion. Results indicated suitability of

small, budget UAVs, for monitoring of rapid changes, even in relatively harsh Arctic

environment. The research has received funding from INTERACT under the European Union

H2020 Grant Agreement No.730938, project number: 119 [ArcticFan]


139

Structural characteristic of prokaryotes post-glacial reservoirs of the

Bellsund area (West Spitsbergen)

Paulina Wasilewska Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

Dorota Górniak Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn


Sara Lehman- Konera Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology

Żaneta Polkowska Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology

The structure of microorganisms was investigated in 27 post-glacial arctic Western

Spitsbergen in the Bellsund region. The samples were taken from the foreland of glaciers:

Blomlibreen, Renardbreen, Scottbreen, the Calypsostranda coastal plain, the

Chamberlindalen valley and Sothögda, which were the source of the dead glacier's water.

The basic microbiological parameters were analyzed such as total prokaryotic cells number

(OLB), biomass (BB), average cell volume (SOK), size structure, morphological and structural

diversity of microorganisms – Shannon’s structural diversity index. DAPI staining,

epifluorescence microscopy, computer image analysis using MultiScan software were used

in the study. For statistical data analysis Statistica 10,0 and Excel were used.

High structural diversity of cells was observed in the post-glacial waters of the Bellsund area

located in separate measurement sites. The observed differences were due to different

geographic location, age of lakes, availability of organic matter in water, physicochemical

parameters as well as interaction between the organisms present.

Conducted research on prokaryotes of post-glacial reservoirs of the Bellsund region showed

that these microbiocenoses differ in the occurrence of individual forms of prokaryotic cells,

their quantity and biomass depending on specific abiotic factors occurring in a given area.

During the analysis of the obtained results, there were significant relationships between the

basic microbiological and physicochemical parameters prevailing in the water environment.

The tested samples showed a statistically significant negative correlation between the

number of prokaryotic cells (OLB) and temperature, electrolytic conductivity and content of

mineral salts in water (TDS). A positive correlation coefficient was demonstrated between

the average cell volume (SOK) and temperature, electrolytic conductivity, mineral salt

content (TDS) as well as the content of organic carbon in water (DOC). Analyzing the

influence of physicochemical parameters of the aquatic environment on the structure of

morphological forms of prokaryotic cells, statistically significant dependence of the size of

the kernel biomass on the pH of water was noted. At the same time, a statistically

significant effect of water temperature on the morphological diversity and size structure of

prokaryotes expressed in the SH index was demonstrated.


140

The euphasiids component of Pygoscelis penguin diets on King George

Island (South Shetland Islands) during the austral summer 2012/2013

Justyna Wawrzynek University of Gdańsk

Anna Panasiuk Univeristy of Gdańsk

Aleksandra Musiał Univeristy of Gdańsk Małgorzata Korczak-Abshire Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

In krill-based ecosystem of the Antarctic, fluctuations in distribution and abundance of

Euphausia superba might have strong implications on its predators population. With the

increasing concerns over possible changes in this environment, it is crucial to observe

feeding habits of Antarctic predators. Therefore, we determined composition of

euphausiids species in diet samples collected from Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins

at King George Island (South Shetlands Islands), during 2012/2013 breeding season. For all

three penguin species, euphausiids consisted almost entirety of all stomach samples (99,9%

- Adélie and Chinstrap penguins), despite Gentoo penguins known to feed also on fish

(99,4% - krill; 0,5% - fish). Other euphasiids species like Thysanoessa macrura, E.

crystallorophias and E. frigida were minor components of their diet. Analysed material

differed in size of eaten euphausiids, with the smallest crustaceans consumed by Adélie

penguins. There was also a difference in female, male and adolescent ratio of consumed

krill as well as in size of prey in researched time period. Such disparities may be results of

slight difference in feeding areas preferred by those birds, however, additionally we

observed high amount of strongly digested content which can suggest that penguins

needed to travel far for its pray.


141

History of heavy metal accumulation in the Svalbard area: distribution,

origin and transport pathways

Agata Zaborska Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Agnieszka Beszczyńska-Moller Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Maria Włodarska-Kowalczuk Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences

The Arctic has been recognized as a sink of contaminants emitted in the northern

hemisphere. In marine waters, metals readily sorb onto sinking organic and fine mineral

matter and are deposited on the sea bed. In this study temporal changes of Pb, Zn, Cd and

Cu concentrations were studied in 19 dated sediment cores collected from Svalbard fjords

and the Barents Sea. The main aim was to study spatial and historical variations in heavy

metal concentrations, deposition rates and sources in the context of different metal

transport pathways. Metal concentrations ranged from 5.7 to 45.8 mg·kg-1 for Pb, from

13.4 to 54.5 mg·kg-1 for Cu, from 0.01 to 0.90 mg·kg-1 for Cd and from 55.6 to 130.4 mg·kg-

1 for Zn. Some fjords were unpolluted by heavy metals while in others a clear signal of

metal enrichment was found (outer Kongsfjorden, Hornsund, Adventfjorden). Large-scale

processes such as atmospheric and oceanic transport were found to be important drivers of

heavy metal contaminant distribution. The significance of global drivers varied among the

fjords, due to coupling with local processes. Outer fjord parts, the most impacted by

oceanic transport, were characterized by the excess 206Pb/207Pb values of ~1.17, while the

inner basins were characterized by the excess 206Pb/207Pb of ~1.14 suggesting possible

different importance of Pb sources (marine currents and atmospheric transport). High

calculated excess 206Pb/207Pb (of ~1.20) in northern Svalbard fjord sediments can suggest

a contribution possible from North American Pb sources.


142

Morphodynamics of the Recherchefjorden coast (Spitsbergen)

Piotr Zagórski Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

Jan Rodzik Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

Kamila Jarosz Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

Karolina Mędrek Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin

Recherchefjorden is one of the fjords of the western coast of Spitsbergen. This small water

body with S-N orientation, length of 7 km, and width of 4-5 km is located 20 km from open

sea. The fjord is open northwards, where it is connected with the Bellsund. The depth of the

fjord is varied, but not exceeding 100 m. The prolongation of the fjord towards SSE is the

valley of the large Recherchebreen with a lagoon in front of the terminus, and towards SSW

– almost glacier-free Chamberlindalen. To the E and partially W it is surrounded by 600-800

m high mountain ridges. Due to such location, the water body is sheltered from strong

winds. Ocean swell also hardly reaches here. The regime of currents is counter clockwise –

they are mainly tidal currents, particularly evident during spring tides with an amplitude

usually exceeding 1.5 m. In winter, bays on the boundaries of the fjord freeze, and in

summer ice floats out of the lagoon at Recherchebreen along the eastern shore.

The objective of the study was the designation of typologically diverse sections of the coast

and their characteristics with consideration of modern tendencies and transformation

dynamics. They are among others the result of climate warming, retreat of glacier

terminuses, and exposure of increasingly large paraglacial areas. The objective was met

through the analysis of archival materials, including unique 19th century sketches and

photographs. Photographic documentation of particular sections of the coast was also

prepared. During spring tides in conditions of low water level, geomorphological mapping

was performed, and 105 cross profiles were measured by means of a DGPS receiver (Leica

system 500). In particular zones of all profiles, granulometric analyses of sediments were

conducted by the photographic method (Sedimetrics ® Digital Gravelometer software).

High lithological, genetic, and morphological variability of the shores of Recherchefjorden

was determined. In lithological-sediment terms, the following shores were designated:

rocky, paraglacial (moraine and outwash plains), periglacial, and fluvial. Morphological

categorisation permitted the designation of the following sections of the coast: cliff, cliff-

skerry, straight, spit-lagoon, and delta-estuary. In genetic-process terms: abrasion,

accumulative, accumulative-abrasion, and abrasion-accumulative sections were designated.

In spite of identifying the Recherchefjorden shores as low-energy, rapid transformations

currently occur in their configuration, often with a tendency for morphogenesis inversion.

Changes in the climatic conditions contributed to the intensification of movements of

marine water, particularly in the autumn-winter period. Weaker ice cover in the waters and

shores of the fjord increases the susceptibility of the shores to the effect of waves and


143

marine currents. In many cases, this resulted in changes in the shore configuration and

directions of its development. Such changes often remained in a cause-and-effect

relationship. The highest dynamics of changes occur in the case of paraglacial shores. The

result of glacier retreat is a considerable change in the places and volume of material supply

and shore configuration. With time, the effect of waves and currents causes the planation

of the shoreline of paraglacial shores.

National Science Centre grant No. 2013/09/B/ST10/04141


144

Orthophotomap of the Western Shore of Admiralty Bay (King George

Island, South Shetland Islands) developed on the basis of UAV obtained

images

Anna Zmarz Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw

Mirosław Rodzewicz Faculty of Power and Areonautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology

Matthias Bosshard Vermessung AVT ZT-GmbH

Edgar Moskopp Vermessung AVT ZT-GmbH

Kjersti Moe Vermessung AVT ZT-GmbH

Christoph Schreiner Vermessung AVT ZT-GmbH

Małgorzata Korczak-Abshire Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Izabela Karsznia Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw

Maciej Dąbski Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, University of Warsaw Katarzyna J. Chwedorzewska Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

A orthophotomap of the Western Shore of Admiralty Bay (King George Island, South

Shetland Islands, Antarctica) was developed on the basis of images obtained from an

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). In this research fixed-winged UAV platform PW-ZOOM was

used to collect digital data on Antarctic fauna, flora and landforms. The UAV was equipped

with a control systems enabling autonomous flight: autopilot MP2128g (MicroPilot, Stony

Mountain, Manitoba, Canada), telemetry module: YM650 SATELLINE – EASY produced by

SATEL Company, Finland and digital camera Canon 700D with Canon 35mm f/2.0 lens. The

study area covers the western shore of Admiralty Bay from the Point Thomas to the Red

Hill, including coastal area of the Antarctic Specially Protected Area No.128 and the

Arctowski Station region. Two Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights were performed at

an altitude of 500 m ASL (Above Sea Level) during austral summer 2016, on Nov 15th and

17th. Aerial images obtained during the UAV missions were processed into an

orthophotomap with a resolution of 0.05 m (double definition) in the WGS 1984 UTM Zone

22S coordinate system. The Agisoft Photoscan Professional software and dense image

matching were used to create an orthophotomap covering 18.25 km2.

Funding: Project No197810 the Polish-Norwegian Research Programme operated by the

National Centre for Research and Development and Project Development VOLTA H2020-

MSCA-RISE-2016: innoVation in geOspatiaL and 3D daTA – VOLTA, H2020-MSCA-RISE-2016

Ref. GA No. 734687.


145

Highly specialized bacterial communities associated with the native

Antarctic grass Deschampsia antarctica

Anna Znój Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Katarzyna Chwedorzewska Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Jakub Grzesiak Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Jan Gawor Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Robert Gromadka Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences

Deschampsia antarctica is one of two flowering plants native to Antarctica. As most plants

on Earth were recognized to form symbiotic relations with soil-dwelling bacteria, the

rhizosphere of this Antarctic grass has also been investigated in such regard. Three distinct

habitats within the D. antarctica root-associated bacterial communities were analyzed: the

rhizosphere (root-adjacent soil particles), the epirhizome (root-bound bacteria) and the

endorhizome (inner-root tissue bacteria). Phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial assemblages

residing in those habitats has revealed the presence of several phyla, most notably

Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. A clear distinction was apparent when the physiological

properties of pure bacterial strains isolated from each of the zones were analyzed. Rock-

phosphate solubilizing abilities were a domain of the rhizosphere bacteria (providing

dissolved mineral compounds for plant growth) as well as phytohormone production

abilities (increasing root range and biomass). Epirhizome bacteria had biofilming properties

(for root surface attachment) and displayed antifungal potential (chitinase production)

whereas endorhizome isolates secreted cellulolytic enzymes (presumably for root

penetration), produced phytohormones and provided reduced nitrogen compounds via N2-

fixation. This work was supported by the National Science Centre Poland (NCN) grant

number 2016/21/N/NZ9/01536.


146

Niche overlap in the Arctic vegetation communities under the disturbance

of colonial seabirds

Adrian Zwolicki Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk

Katarzyna Zmudczyńska-Skarbek Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk

Lech Stempniewicz Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, University of Gdańsk

The Arctic terrestrial ecosystems are relatively simple in terms of structure and functioning,

therefore they represent a good scientific polygon for testing basic ecological interactions

such as competition, resulting in a niche segregation. The prediction of the competition

theory assumes that community structure will be shaped by resources partitioning between

coexisting species. Therefore the quantification of niche overlap is an important measure to

discover the relations between species within plants or animals community. In our study,

we approach the most widespread Hutchinsonian definition of an ecological niche,

explained as n-dimensional hypervolume of resources required for species long-term

survival. In the most basic approach, the niche describes the response of species along

environmental variable with niche breadth (range of values within gradient) and with a

niche position (the niche optimum).

On the coastal ice-free areas, situated in the vicinity of large seabird colonies, the relatively

rich communities of ornithogenic tundra with significantly increased productivity are

observed. A substantial amount of nutrients of marine origin deposited on land, mostly in

the form of guano, significantly shape the vegetation communities composition. We

hypothesize that nutrients derived from colonial seabirds will increase niche overlap and

potentially reduce the intraspecific competition within communities and decrease niche

overlap between different communities.

The aim of our study was to describe changes in α niche overlap of plant species in the high

Arctic vegetation communities across the gradient of seabird influence in five colonies of

little auks (Alle alle), located across the Archipelago of Svalbard (High Arctic) and differing in

geographical location, oceanographic and climatic influence, as well as soil characteristics.

We tested whether all plant species were evenly distributed across niche space and

compared local realized niche space between selected pairs of species to determine if they

occupy the same niche. To perform this we used the new statistical methods proposed by

(Geange et al. 2011).

We found that different nutrient availability affected interspecific competition within plant

community, and species with an ability to respond rapidly to increased nutrients level have

a competitive advantage over those adapted to low nutrient access. It resulted in a

selection for plants with high growth rates and rapid tissue turnover but low nutrient use

efficiency (e.g. Cochlearia groenlandica, Poa alpina, Cerastium arcticum) against slow-

growing plants with long-lived leaves and high nutrient use efficiency (Saxifraga

oppositifolia and Salix polaris).


147

Lista uczestników

Piotr Androsiuk UWM [email protected]

Andrzej Araźny UMK [email protected]

Andrey Bakeykin Ambasada

Rosji w Polsce

[email protected]

Robert Bialik PAN [email protected]

Katarzyna Błachowiak-Samołyk PAN [email protected]

Janina Borysiak UAM [email protected]

Edyta Bredla UAM

Agata Buchwał UAM [email protected]

Agnieszka Burakowska NCBJ [email protected]

Maciej Chełchowski PAN [email protected]

Anna Cwanek PAN [email protected]

Anna Cygankiewicz UJ

Jolanta Czerniawska UAM [email protected]

Joanna Ćwiąkała PAN [email protected]

Maciej Dąbski UW [email protected]

Wojciech Dobiński UŚ [email protected]

Piotr Dolnicki UP Kraków

Aleksander Dominiczak UAM [email protected]

Daniel Dunkley UŚ [email protected]

Wojciech Działowski PP [email protected]

Marek Ewertowski UAM [email protected]

Jerzy Fedorowski UAM [email protected]

Łukasz Franczak UMCS [email protected]

Wojciech Gajek PAN [email protected]

Jerzy Giżejewski PAN [email protected]

Michał Glazer UŚ

Piotr Głowacki PAN [email protected]

Tomasz Grajewski UMK

Katarzyna Greń UW

Jakub Grzesiak PAN [email protected]

Dariusz Gwiazdowicz UP Poznań [email protected]

Jacek Hoffman PAN

Piotr Jadwiszczak UwB [email protected]

Jacek Jania UŚ

Krzysztof Janik UŚ

Katarzyna Jankowska PG [email protected]

Tomasz Jankowski PAN [email protected]

Radosław Jaros

[email protected]

Kamila Jarosz UMCS [email protected]

Krzysztof Jarzyna UJK

Marek Jaskólski UWr [email protected]

Krzysztof Jażdżewski UŁ [email protected]

Paula Kacprzak UG [email protected]


148

Michał Kamiński UAM

Andrzej Karczewski UAM

Marek Kasprzak UWr [email protected]

Leszek Kasprzak UAM [email protected]

Marek Kejna UMK [email protected]

Sebastian Kendzierski UAM [email protected]

Daniel Kępski PAN [email protected]

Małgorzata Kolicka UAM [email protected]

Julia Kończak

[email protected]

Klaudia Kosek PG

Andrzej Kostrzewski UAM [email protected]

Lidia Kozak UAM [email protected]

Magdalena Krajewska PAN [email protected]

Adam Krawczyk UJ

Wiesława Ewa Krawczyk UŚ [email protected]

Agnieszka Kruszewska PKPol.,

PAN [email protected]

Marek Kubicki PAN [email protected]

Tomasz Kurczaba UAM

Monika A. Kusiak PAN [email protected]

Jacek Lebiedź PG [email protected]

Marek Nawrocki UAM [email protected]

Marek Lewandowski PAN [email protected]

Paulina Lewińska AGH

Maja Lisowska UŚ [email protected]

Elżbieta Łepkowska UŚ [email protected]

Leszek Łęczyński UG [email protected]

Edyta Łokas PAN [email protected]

Aneta Łuczkiewicz PG [email protected]

Wojciech Majewski PAN [email protected]

Jakub Małecki UAM [email protected]

Artur Marciniak PAN [email protected]

Andrzej Marsz

Stowarzy-szenie

Klimatolo-gów

Polskich

Lech Mastalerz

Marianna Michałowska UAM [email protected]

Krzysztof Migała UWr [email protected]

Piotr Modzel UWr [email protected]

Marta Molińska UAM

Andrzej Mostek

COMET Andrzej Mostek Sp. k.

[email protected]


149

Adam Nawrot PAN [email protected]

Przemysław Niedzielski UAM [email protected]

Tadeusz Niedźwiedź UŚ [email protected]

Maria Olech UJ [email protected]

Piotr Owczarek UWr [email protected]

Aneta Pacyna PG

Mariusz Pasik PW [email protected]

Filip Pawlak PG

Malgorzata Perycz MIBMIK [email protected]

Kazimierz Pękala

Natalia Pilguj UWr [email protected]

Żaneta Polkowska PG [email protected]

Joanna Potapowicz PG

Anna Pouch PAN [email protected]

Rajmund Przybylak UMK [email protected]

Janina Repelewska-Pękala

Markus Rhomberg Sommer [email protected]

Krzysztof Rymer UAM [email protected]

Tymoteusz Sawiński UWr [email protected]

Marek Sęk

COMET Andrzej Mostek

Sp. k.

[email protected]

Jacek Siciński UŁ [email protected]

Angelika Słomska UG [email protected]

Tadeusz Sobczak UAM

Ireneusz Sobota UMK [email protected]

Anna Sowa PAN, UG

Alfred Stach UAM [email protected]

Łukasz Stachnik UWr [email protected]

Magdalena Stanik PŚ

Wojciech Stankowski UAM [email protected]

Monika Stawska UAM [email protected]

Lech Stempniewicz UG [email protected]

Mateusz Strzelecki UWr

Anna Styszyńska PG

Jakub Szczepański PP [email protected]

Wojciech Szczerbowicz UWr [email protected]

Witold Szczuciński UAM [email protected]

Piotr Szczypkowski UWr [email protected]

Joanna Sziło PAN

Wojciech Szymański UJ [email protected]

Małgorzata Szymczak-Żyła PAN [email protected]

Aleksandra Tomczyk UAM [email protected]


150

Sławek Tułaczyk

University of

California Santa Cruz

[email protected]

Patrycja Ulandowska-Monarcha

UMK [email protected]

Waldemar Walczowski PAN [email protected]

Katarzyna Walczyńska UG [email protected]

Aleksander Waśniowski Space

Garden

Justyna Wawrzynek UG

Piotr Weckwerth UMK [email protected]

Justyna Weltrowska UAM [email protected]

Agata Weydmann UG [email protected]

Jan Marcin Węsławski PAN [email protected]

Anna Wielgopolan PAN [email protected]

Marcin Winowski UAM [email protected]

Agata Zaborska PAN [email protected]

Krzysztof Zawierucha UAM

Wiesław Ziaja UJ [email protected]

Kajetan Zielkowski PAN

Anna Znój PAN [email protected]

Adrian Zwolicki UG [email protected]

Zbigniew Zwoliński UAM [email protected]


151

Miejsce na notatki


152

Miejsce na notatki

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