Stanisław Kędzia

Articles

A record of climate changes over the past 200 years in slope morphodynamics and the cryosphere of the Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains

Stanisław Kędzia

Przegląd Geograficzny (2017) tom 89, zeszyt 3, pp. 353-376 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.3.1

Further information

Abstract Climate change has a huge impact on many forms of life and processes occurring on Earth. As high mountains have emerged as particularly sensitive to climate change, the Tatras, have long been a site for research on climate change and its impact on the environment. Debris flows are among the most spectacular hydrometeorological and geomorphological events occurring in high mountains, and given the long-term permafrost and large number of multiannual snow patches occurring in the Tatras, as well as the impact these exert on slope morphodynamics, it was also decided to examine the impact of climate change on selected elements of the cryosphere here. Equally, although the Karkonosze may not be counted as high mountains, but are at best intermediate between these and mountains of medium height, research of the same kind as in the Tatras has nevertheless been pursued at locations within this range. Lichenometric dating shows that the period with the greatest intensity of slope modelling in the two mountain ranges was the so-called “Little Ice Age”, the end of which is similar in the Karkonosze to in the Tatras. In both ranges, the 1930s and 1940s brought an upsurge in debris flows. Another phase of increased frequency of debris flows in the Tatras generally began in the 1970s and has continued through to the present day, while the analogous phenomenon in the Karkonosze Mountains began some 10-20 years later. Analysis of the intensity and duration of precipitation indicates that, in both the Tatra Mountains and the Karkonosze, daily precipitation totals are much less significant for the initiation of debris flows than the intensity of precipitation at given times. In the Tatras, it is sufficient for heavy precipitation of more than 1 mm/min to persist for at least 15 minutes, for debris flows to begin to occur. In the case of the Karkonosze, the duration of such heavy-rainfall events is slightly longer, with the presently-available (still scant) data suggesting 30 minutes is siffucient. The thickness of the cones analysed by GPR sounding in the Tatra Mountains is at least twice as great as that of the cones present at Mały Staw in the Karkonosze Mountains. This difference mainly reflects the size and shape of the sediment supply area and the type and dynamics of the morphogenetic processes providing the material from which the cones are formed. The Karkonosze Mountains currently lack any multiannual snow patches, though it seems very likely that 80+ years ago (at the end of the “Little Ice Age”), snow did cover parts of these mountains for almost the whole year. Existing debris glaciers in the Tatra Mountains, like the largest such glacier in the Karkonosze, displayed no activity during the “Little Ice Age”, despite the probable presence of permafrost in some of the Tatra rock glaciers. Despite the climatic differences between the Tatra and Karkonosze Mountains (mainly related to altitude and geographical location), a high degree of concordance is to be noted in the course of changes in morphogenetic processes discussed in this paper. These in turn relate to the latitudinal teleconnection phenonenon found by both climatologists and dendrochronologists. The impact of climate change on the activity of debris flows and the response on the part of snow patches/ glacierettes in the Tatra Mountains and the Karkonosze Mountains is seen to be similar to the impact and change reported in the Alps.

Keywords: Tatry, Karkonosze, kriosfera, spływy gruzowe

Stanisław Kędzia [kedzia@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland

Citation

APA: Kędzia, S. (2017). Zapis zmian klimatu w ostatnich 200 latach w morfodynamice stoków oraz kriosferze Tatr i Karkonoszy. Przegląd Geograficzny, 89(3), 353-376. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.3.1
MLA: Kędzia, Stanisław. "Zapis zmian klimatu w ostatnich 200 latach w morfodynamice stoków oraz kriosferze Tatr i Karkonoszy". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 89, no. 3, 2017, pp. 353-376. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.3.1
Chicago: Kędzia, Stanisław. "Zapis zmian klimatu w ostatnich 200 latach w morfodynamice stoków oraz kriosferze Tatr i Karkonoszy". Przegląd Geograficzny 89, no. 3 (2017): 353-376. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.3.1
Harvard: Kędzia, S. 2017. "Zapis zmian klimatu w ostatnich 200 latach w morfodynamice stoków oraz kriosferze Tatr i Karkonoszy". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 89, no. 3, pp. 353-376. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.3.1

The activity of debris flows in the Polish part of the Karkonosze Mountains in the light of lichenometric measurements

Stanisław Kędzia, Krzysztof Parzóch

Przegląd Geograficzny (2016) tom 88, zeszyt 3, pp. 401-416 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2016.3.0

Further information

Abstract While 70 forms created by debris flows have been mapped for the Polish part of the Karkonosze Mountains, only 14 of these have a known time of origin and have been described in available literature. The oldest registered and described flows occurred in 1964, as followed by further events in 1994, 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2006. In 2011-2012 and 2014. Lichenometric measurements were carried out for the forms created by debris flows in the Karkonosze Mountains, i.e. the Great Snowy Cirque, the Black Cirque of Jagniątków, the Small Tarn Cirque, the Łomniczka Cirque and the White Jar nivation niche, in order to investigate levels of activity over the past 150 years. The lichenometric dating was based around lichens of the Rhizocarpon group. A major obstacle proved to be the limited amounts of lichens, or even their total absence in the case of the youngest forms created by debris flows. An exception was the Łomniczka Cirque. On the basis of the lichenometric dating it proved possible to identify three phases to the activity of Karkonosze debris flows. The first of these was characterised by a high intensity of the processes studied, and was associated with the Little Ice Age. As in the Tatra Mountains, this phase was seen to end in the 1920s, and was followed by a period of relative calm, interspersed with a small number of debris flows in the 1930s and 40s, and then in 1964. The next phase of increased activity as regards the transport of rock material within the forms created by flows (and including new debris flows), began in the 1980s, and has continued through to the present day. The debris flows in the Polish part of the Karkonosze Mountains are thus characterised by a course of activity similar to that noted in the Tatra Mountains.

Keywords: cyrki polodowcowe, spływy gruzowe, datowania lichenometryczne, Karkonosze

Stanisław Kędzia [kedzia@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland

Citation

APA: Kędzia, S., & Parzóch, K. (2016). Aktywność spływów gruzowych w polskiej części Karkonoszy w świetle badań lichenometrycznych. Przegląd Geograficzny, 88(3), 401-416. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2016.3.0
MLA: Kędzia, Stanisław, and Parzóch, Krzysztof. "Aktywność spływów gruzowych w polskiej części Karkonoszy w świetle badań lichenometrycznych". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 88, no. 3, 2016, pp. 401-416. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2016.3.0
Chicago: Kędzia, Stanisław, and Parzóch, Krzysztof. "Aktywność spływów gruzowych w polskiej części Karkonoszy w świetle badań lichenometrycznych". Przegląd Geograficzny 88, no. 3 (2016): 401-416. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2016.3.0
Harvard: Kędzia, S., & Parzóch, K. 2016. "Aktywność spływów gruzowych w polskiej części Karkonoszy w świetle badań lichenometrycznych". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 88, no. 3, pp. 401-416. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2016.3.0

Odpowiedź na krytyczne uwagi W. Dobińskiego do mojego artykułu

Stanisław Kędzia

Przegląd Geograficzny (2015) tom 87, zeszyt 3, pp. 559-563 | Full text

Further information

Keywords: wieloletnia zmarzlina, sezonowe przemarzanie gruntu, Tatry

Stanisław Kędzia [kedzia@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland

Citation

APA: Kędzia, S. (2015). Odpowiedź na krytyczne uwagi W. Dobińskiego do mojego artykułu. Przegląd Geograficzny, 87(3), 559-563. https://doi.org/
MLA: Kędzia, Stanisław. "Odpowiedź na krytyczne uwagi W. Dobińskiego do mojego artykułu". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 87, no. 3, 2015, pp. 559-563. https://doi.org/
Chicago: Kędzia, Stanisław. "Odpowiedź na krytyczne uwagi W. Dobińskiego do mojego artykułu". Przegląd Geograficzny 87, no. 3 (2015): 559-563. https://doi.org/
Harvard: Kędzia, S. 2015. "Odpowiedź na krytyczne uwagi W. Dobińskiego do mojego artykułu". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 87, no. 3, pp. 559-563. https://doi.org/

An outline of the history of ground freezing and permafrost research in the Polish Tatra Mountains

Stanisław Kędzia

Przegląd Geograficzny (2015) tom 87, zeszyt 1, pp. 53-69 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.1.3

Further information

Keywords: wieloletnia zmarzlina, przemarzanie gruntu, Tatry

Stanisław Kędzia [kedzia@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland

Citation

APA: Kędzia, S. (2015). Zarys historii badań przemarzania gruntu i wieloletniej zmarzliny w polskiej części Tatr. Przegląd Geograficzny, 87(1), 53-69. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.1.3
MLA: Kędzia, Stanisław. "Zarys historii badań przemarzania gruntu i wieloletniej zmarzliny w polskiej części Tatr". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 87, no. 1, 2015, pp. 53-69. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.1.3
Chicago: Kędzia, Stanisław. "Zarys historii badań przemarzania gruntu i wieloletniej zmarzliny w polskiej części Tatr". Przegląd Geograficzny 87, no. 1 (2015): 53-69. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.1.3
Harvard: Kędzia, S. 2015. "Zarys historii badań przemarzania gruntu i wieloletniej zmarzliny w polskiej części Tatr". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 87, no. 1, pp. 53-69. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.1.3

A new lichenometric curve for the Polish part of the Tatra Mountains

Stanisław Kędzia

Przegląd Geograficzny (2013) tom 85, zeszyt 1, pp. 53-63 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2013.1.4

Further information

Keywords: porosty, datowania lichenometryczne, krzywe lichenometryczne, Tatry

Stanisław Kędzia [kedzia@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland

Citation

APA: Kędzia, S. (2013). Nowa krzywa lichenometryczna dla polskiej części Karpat. Przegląd Geograficzny, 85(1), 53-63. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2013.1.4
MLA: Kędzia, Stanisław. "Nowa krzywa lichenometryczna dla polskiej części Karpat". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 85, no. 1, 2013, pp. 53-63. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2013.1.4
Chicago: Kędzia, Stanisław. "Nowa krzywa lichenometryczna dla polskiej części Karpat". Przegląd Geograficzny 85, no. 1 (2013): 53-63. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2013.1.4
Harvard: Kędzia, S. 2013. "Nowa krzywa lichenometryczna dla polskiej części Karpat". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 85, no. 1, pp. 53-63. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2013.1.4

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

Bogdan Gądek, Stanisław Kędzia

Przegląd Geograficzny (2009) tom 81, zeszyt 1, pp. 75-91 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2009.4.3

Further information

Abstract This paper presents the results of winter monitoring of ground surface temperature in the alpine zone of the Tatra Mountains, at sites where earlier studies had documented the presence or absence of permafrost. This made it possible to test the usefulness of the BTS method in permafrost mapping, and to take up the discussion on possibilities for its contemporary development. The data obtained reveal that the thermal regime of ground surface beneath snow cover cannot serve as an indicator of permafrost occurrence. The regime is first and foremost connected with snow cover development and may change from year to year. Both places of permafrost occurrence and permafrost-free sites may feature three basic types of ground surface winter thermal regimes, i.e.: (1) short-term ground-surface temperature (i.e. GST) fluctuations throughout the winter, (2) shortterm GST fluctuations at the beginning of winter only, and (3) a lack of short-term GST fluctuation during the whole period of occurrence of dry snow cover. However, places contemporarily maintaining permafrost were markedly colder than others. At the end of winters 2003/04 and 2004/05, temperatures beneath thick snow cover (conventional BTS) were no higher than –5°C, as compared with lowest BTS values of –3°C where permafrost was absent. Snow cover did not protect the ground from freezing, however, according to its thickness and density and the amount of heat in the ground there were decreased amplitudes and extended reaction times of GST to changes in air temperature. Even in the case of snow cover remaining several meters thick for several months, it was possible to record a slow decrease in bottom temperature until a minimum value was reached at the end of winter. In the light of the obtained data, contemporary permafrost in the alpine zone of the Tatra Mountains can be said to develop under both thick and thin snow cover, its existence therefore probably being more related to local circulation of cold air over the surface and low solar irradiation than to altitude and snow cover development.

Keywords: wieloletnia zmarzlina, temperatura powierzchni gruntu, BTS, Tatry

Bogdan Gądek [bogdan.gadek@us.edu.pl], Institute of Earth Sciences University of Silesia in Katowice ul. Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec: Poland
Stanisław Kędzia [kedzia@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland

Citation

APA: Gądek, B., & Kędzia, S. (2009). Problemy detekcji wieloletniej zmarzliny na podstawie temperatury u spągu zimowej pokrywy śnieżnej na przykładzie Tatr. Przegląd Geograficzny, 81(1), 75-91. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2009.4.3
MLA: Gądek, Bogdan, and Kędzia, Stanisław. "Problemy detekcji wieloletniej zmarzliny na podstawie temperatury u spągu zimowej pokrywy śnieżnej na przykładzie Tatr". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 81, no. 1, 2009, pp. 75-91. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2009.4.3
Chicago: Gądek, Bogdan, and Kędzia, Stanisław. "Problemy detekcji wieloletniej zmarzliny na podstawie temperatury u spągu zimowej pokrywy śnieżnej na przykładzie Tatr". Przegląd Geograficzny 81, no. 1 (2009): 75-91. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2009.4.3
Harvard: Gądek, B., & Kędzia, S. 2009. "Problemy detekcji wieloletniej zmarzliny na podstawie temperatury u spągu zimowej pokrywy śnieżnej na przykładzie Tatr". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 81, no. 1, pp. 75-91. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2009.4.3