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Snow cover is a valuable source of information about air quality. It enables detection of dust and other air pollutants which have been accumulated throughout the period since the snow cover was formed. Research conducted in Kielce confirms multidirectional human pressure from local and regional emission sources. Combustion of fuels resulted in lower pH and increased EC, SO4 and NO3 concentrations in the southern and northern parts of the city. Elevated concentrations of Cl and Na indicate the effect of transportation and winter road maintenance. Apart from local emitters, air quality in Kielce is affected by the regional sources, including the nearby center of the lime and cement industries. Climate change is reflected in the number of days with snow and thickness of snow cover, declining since the 1990s.

The TL and OSL ages obtained from two ancient kilns and gothic to baroque bricks in the SE of Poland, were compared to their presumed historical ages and discussed. The luminescence ages of ancient kilns were also matched with the results of archaeomagnetic dating. The OSL and archaeomagnetic data indicates that the ancient kilns were last used not later than ca. 280 AD. This age corresponds well to the lower limit of the postulated age of fragments of Roman type storage vessels found in the filling of kilns. The OSL data used alone can point even to the end of the phase B2 of Roman influence in Poland. The TL ages obtained from the kilns (5297 ± 256 BC, 7092 ± 423 BC) are significantly older. These bottom parts of kilns, from which samples were taken, most probably were heated to a relatively low temperature, insufficient to reset the TL signal. Most of TL ages obtained from gothic to baroque bricks do not correlate with their historical ages. Unknown and most probably varied brick moisture contents in sampled ground floor walls and cellars does not allow to precisely date these bricks using the TL signal.

The Neolithic and Bronze Age communities that settled the eastern Carpathian Forelands and Carpathian Foothills used a variety of local and non-local siliceous raw materials. Raw materials identified in the archaeological record differ in quality and usefulness for making tools. Obsidian, Jurassic flint from the Cracow-Częstochowa Upland, chocolate flint, or Świeciechów and Volhynian flints represent the best quality. On the other hand, some local raw materials were also in use, most popular among them being siliceous marls and cherts. Sources of siliceous marls and cherts are known from many locations in the Dynów, Strzyżów and Przemyśl foothills. Moreover, systematic field surveys in this area have provided new information on the availability of cherts and siliceous marls at many new locations in the region. They appear in the primary autochthonous, secondary autochthonous, and more rarely in sub-autochthonous or residual, sources. Exposures on steep hill slopes and dissected river valleys provide easy access to the best quality raw materials in the primary autochthonous sources. Raw materials from secondary autochthonous sources in the riverbeds were also available, but they were of lesser quality than those from the exposures. The aim of this paper is to present natural exposures of siliceous marls and cherts and discuss them as a potential source of raw materials for the Neolithic and Bronze Age communities inhabiting loess areas of the eastern Carpathian foreland (Rzeszów Settlement Region).

Based on the analysis of the geological context and palynological studies performed on lake and bog sediments in the Southern Podlasie Lowland, a new concept of the maximum extent of the Odranian Glaciation (Saalian, MIS 6) is presented for the study area. It is depicted by the Siedlce-Łosice-Kornica zone of end moraines, which so far was considered as stadial-rank or as the Wartanian ice sheet limit. To the south of this zone, near Biała Podlaska and in the Łuków Plain, there occur numerous sites with fossil deposits of the Mazovian Interglacial (MIS 11c). Sites with new documentation, i.e., Wólka Domaszewska, Kolonia Bystrzycka, Przytulin, Hermanów, and Skrzynka are located about 30 km to the south and 60 km to the west of the Biała Podlaska area. Palynological analysis unequivocally indicates the presence of a vegetation succession characteristic of the Mazovian Interglacial. In all sites, deposits of the Mazovian Interglacial are covered by lacustrine sediments of the Liviecian Glaciation (Fuhne, MIS 11b-MIS 10) or mineral sediments of the Vistulian Glaciation (Weichselian, MIS 2) and the Holocene. The sediments infill paleolakes carved in glacial tills of the Sanian 2 Glaciation (MIS 12). The lake sediments of the Mazovian Interglacial and the overlying biogenic and mineral deposits occur in the analysed sites directly below the surface. They are never covered by glacial deposits, which suggests that the Odranian ice sheet did not cover the study area. The location of the lake and bog sites with their geological analysis allow for the precise depiction of the eastern limit of the Odranian ice sheet lobe, which in the study area correlates with the limit suggested in the late 19th century. The Odranian ice sheet did not cover Southern Podlasie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deeply buried, northeastern segment of the fold-and-thrust belt of the Outer Carpathians is contoured by synorogenic sediments (Upper Oligocene-Lower Miocene) of tectonically multiplied thicknesses, which mask the deep-seated structures. Integration of archival mappings and profiles of deep wells with the new generation of geological-seismic cross-sections reveals the unconformable position of asymmetric folds and duplexes built of synorogenic sediments, resting upon the older flysch formations (Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene). These structures are cut by a system of dislocated, monovergent, imbricated overthrusts, deeply rooted in the outer zones of thrust folds. These zones are associated with deep-seated, high-amplitude (up to several kilometres), Meso-Paleozoic and Precambrian faults originated by subduction of the European Platform. As revealed by geological reinterpretation of MT-1 magnetotelluric soundings, the time/space identification of longitudinal, compressional sutures rotated by transversal, transpressional faults suggests a segmented model of subduction of the platform basement. Its coincidence with the reconstructed kinematic evolution of sedimentary covers justifies the origin of the inversion tectonics of the Central Depression of the Outer Carpathians as a result of the heterogenic structure of the consolidated basement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferns from the family Matoniaceae are characteristic but not very numerous elements of Early Jurassic floras of the Holy Cross Mountains. Based on historical specimens from the Geological Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, only partly published by Raciborski and Makarewiczówna, and a new collection gathered recently from the Gromadzice outcrop, two taxa are here recognised: Matonia braunii and Phlebopteris angustiloba, of which only P. angustiloba is rather frequent. Both species are represented by sterile and fertile specimens well comparable with historical and recently published material of these species from Greenland, Germany and Sweden. Specimens referred by Raciborski to Laccopteris elegans (illegitimate name) do not belong to Matoniaceae.

This paper presents an analysis of well testing data, performed with a Drill stem test (DST). The carbonate levels of Mesozoic reservoir rocks were investigated in the research area of the Carpathian Foredeep. Based on the results of 17 two-cycle DST reservoir tests, the dependence of the volume of the reservoir water flow rate from the Mesozoic carbonate reservoirs (Upper Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous) to the wells as a function of the mean depression of bottom pressure was researched in the selected oil exploration area in the Carpathian Foredeep basement, SE Poland. Using methods of statistical analysis, a satisfactory correlation between variables for power and the exponential model was found, and a weak correlation for the linear model was found. A decrease in the value of the reservoir water flow rate along with an increase in pressure depression was found for the Mesozoic carbonate reservoirs, which may indicate the occurrence of fractures and micro-fractures shortening under extreme pressure depression and blockage phenomena of fractures and cavernous pores in the perimeter area by solid particles (cuttings, salt, polymers, etc.).

Abstract Although geothermal resources are practically independent of climate factors, those factors significantly condition the potential use of the Earth’s natural heat resources. Unlike all the other factors limiting or facilitating the use of geothermal heat (like receivers’ temperature expectation, financial issues or local regulations), climate factors remain immovable. Thus, climate remains the main factor influencing the effective use of geothermal resources. Volumes of sold energy, typical capacity factors and rapid changes in heat demand may all influence the financial and technological performance of an investment. In the current paper, climate factors are translated into heat demand based on historical data (meteorological and district heating logs) by means of a dedicated artificial neural network, and analysed in terms of possible constraints and facilitators that might affect the effective use of geothermal energy. The results of ANN simulation indicate that average and typical operation is expected without any turbulences, yet about 10% of operating hours may require additional technical measures, like peak source support, smart management and buffers in order to limit pumping ramp rate. With appropriate dimensioning and exploitation, capacity factors as high as 60% are available, proving the potential for financially and environmentally effective use of geothermal resources.

The three-year study on borage was conducted in Lublin, SE Poland. The aims were to investigate the flowering pattern and abundance, and the attractiveness (in terms of nectar and pollen production) for flower-visiting insects, mainly bees. Insect visitation and the effect of pollinators on fruit set and seed set were assessed as well. Flowering of borage started in the latter half of June and lasted eight weeks. The mean number of flowers · m−2 of the crop was 4570 per season. A borage flower produced on average 4.0 mg of nectar with a mean sugar concentration of 31.5%. The mean total sugar amount secreted in nectar was 1.2 mg. The pollen amount · flower−1 was 1.1 mg. A borage plant can supply insects with 1.1 g of nectar sugars and 1.1 g of pollen. The estimated nectar sugar yield and pollen yield per 1 m2 of the crop were similar, i.e. 5.2 g. Bees accounted for 73.0% of all insect visits to the borage flowers. The presence of insect pollinators increased the fruit set by 43.3% and seed set by 26.8%.

Abstract The middle Miocene Badenian evaporite basin of the Carpathian Foredeep Basin was a saline lake, separated by a barrier from the sea and supplied with seawater seeping through the barrier or overflowing it occasionally in the form of short-lived marine transgressions. Such transgressions could leave behind marine microfossils in marly clay intercalations. One of them (2.3 m thick) occurs in the uppermost part of the sulphate sequence, in the unit ‘o’, in the Babczyn 2 borehole section. It contains marine palynomorphs (dinoflagellate cysts) and foraminiferal assemblages indicating a marine environment. The low-diversity benthic foraminiferal assemblages are dominated by opportunistic, shallow infaunally living species, preferring muddy or clayey substrate for thriving, brackish to normal marine salinity, and inner shelf environment. Dinoflagellate cyst assemblages, although taxonomically impoverished, consist of marine species; euryhaline forms that tolerate increased salinity are missing. Relatively common microfossils found in clay intercalations within gypsum have important palaeogeographical implications: they strongly suggest that there existed an additional inflow channel supplying the Polish Carpathian Basin from the south during the evaporite deposition and afterwards.

The geodiversity of loess areas is reflected in the characteristic dataset of loess landforms, with the dominance of several types of valley forms (mainly gullies). The availability of satellite elevation data and high-resolution aerial topography scanning data provides an opportunity for quantitative assessment of geomorphodiversity. This is done through the analysis of topographic texture, delimitation and statistical characterization of the topographic parameters of erosional landforms, such as volume and degree of dissection (density of valleys) or the degree of ‘coverage’ of the area by valley forms. An important factor affecting the accuracy of the estimation is the accuracy of the underlying digital terrain model (DTM). This study compares three digital terrain models, with cell sizes of 30, 10 and 1 m, generated from satellite altimetry data and airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. The subregion of Szczebrzeszyn Roztocze (Western Roztocze Region, SE Poland), i.e., one of the most typical loess relief regions in Poland, was selected as the study area. Selected topographic texture analyses were carried out using the SLRM (Simple Local Relief Model) algorithm. Delimitation of valleys was performed by delineating the extent of slope change in two key steps: (1) detection of areas below the average topographic surface; (2) delimitation using supervised classification of DTMs. The results of the study show that the accuracy of delimitation of valleys increases inversely proportional to the DTMs resolution. Automated topographic texture analysis allows delimitation and extraction, as well as statistical analysis of parameters of valleys. Finally, two indicators have been proposed, Relative Valley Area (RVA) and Area-normalised Valley Cubature (AVC), which can be used in geomorphodiversity studies of a geologically homogeneous area. The dimensionless RVA index can also be expressed as a percentage (%) of the area of valley forms in a basic field of 1 km2. Furthermore, the AVC index shows the dynamic character of the main relief features of the analysed area.

The newly discovered mid-Campanian Szozdy Delta System (Roztocze Hills, SE Poland) located in the southern part of the Polish Cretaceous Basin, at the northern edge of the Łysogóry-Dobrogea Land, has revealed interesting features concerning the relationship between the abundance of rutile and tourmaline. A distinct inverse relationship between rutile and tourmaline can be readily recognised in the succeeding units of the tripartite cyclothems (calcareous mudstone, calcareous sandstone, and calcareous gaize) representing the submarine part of the Szozdy Delta System. In the Szozdy section, both minerals are of similar shape (highly rounded), durability, and size; they are, however, characterised by markedly different densities. Therefore, it might be expected that these two mineral phases will be strongly dependent, both vertically and spatially, on the local energy of the sedimentary environment hydrodynamic power that existed during the deposition of the succeeding units of the cyclothems. The lighter tourmaline was likely transported further to the more quiescent prodelta environment, rendering the prodelta facies overrepresented in this mineral, whereas the heavier rutile was deposited closer to the river discharge. Such relative change in the abundance of these two mineral phases, emphasised by a standardised Z-score statistics, is referred here to as rutile to tourmaline index (RuTidx). Accordingly, as the RuTidx increases, the hydrodynamic power in the sedimentary environment increases as well. Since these two mineral phases are comparatively immune to alteration during the sedimentary cycle, the RuTidx is considered here to be an independent tool in recognising the hydrodynamics of the depositional environments of any age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attractiveness of plants to pollinators depends strongly on flower rewards, especially nectar and pollen. Nectar mass, sugar concentration, and sugar mass are known to influence the spectrum and abundance of insect visitors. Respective data on nectar secretion in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) under the climatic conditions of Poland are scarce. This study was conducted in 2002–2005 to assess flower abundance, nectar production, and insect visitors in six varieties of V. corymbosum in Niemce, SE Poland. Flower abundance ranged from 1.63 ± 0.64 (‘Darrow’) to 4.07 ± 0.95 in thousands of flowers per shrub (‘Northland’). Nectar mass, sugar concentration, and nectar sugar mass increased with flower age, peaking between the sixth and ninth day. Significant differences in nectar characteristics occurred between years and between varieties. ‘Bluecrop’ and ‘Darrow’ produced the largest nectar mass (19.08 ± 7.09 and 16.60 ± 8.31 mg nectar per flower, respectively) and nectar sugar mass per flower (6.39 ± 1.52 and 5.76 ± 1.51 mg sugar per flower, respectively). The estimated sugar yield in the studied V. corymbosum varieties ranged from 9.4 ± 3.3 to 20.7 ± 3.8 g sugar per shrub (‘Croatan’ and ‘Bluecrop,’ respectively). Regarding insect visitors, only honey bees and bumble bees were observed. Honey bees comprised 81%–98% of the total number of observed insect visitors. Highbush blueberry, due to abundant blooming and high per-flower sugar yield, is thus a good source of nectar sugars for honey bees.

The article "The Early Neolithic Cultural Transformation in the Targowisko Settlement Region, SE Poland" deals with the cultural change in the early Neolithic settlement region of Targowisko in southeastern Poland. The study examines various aspects such as settlement phases, the function of "pseudo-ditches," and the organization of the settlement space. Fundamental cultural changes have been identified, particularly in terms of symbolism, while continuity mainly concerns everyday objects. The results suggest a connection between the late Linearbandkeramik (LBK) and the Middle Culture (MC). The study shows that there was continuity of settlement in the region, although sociocultural and genetic aspects changed. Remains of cereal crops were also found, indicating continued agricultural activity. The results demonstrate that the cultural change in the Targowisko settlement region was complex and requires further investigation. [Extracted from the article]