Measuring visual pollution by outdoor advertisements in an urban street using intervisibilty analysis and public surveys

Debates on the encroaching commercialization of public space by outdoor advertising highlight its possible negative impact on local quality of life and enjoyment of public spaces. These overstimulating outdoor advertisements are often considered a source of visual pollution, but cities have no standard way of measuring where it exists and its local impact, and thus cannot regulate it effectively. This study illustrates that visual pollution can be measured in a useful way by relating public opinion to the number of visible advertisements (intervisibility analysis). Using a 2.5D outdoor advertisement (OA) dataset (location and height) of a busy urban street in Lublin, Poland, this preliminary experiment translates visibility into visual pollution. It was found that streetscape views with more than seven visible OAs created visual pollution in this case study. The GIS-based methodology proposed could provide Lublin officials with a basic tool to assess and manage visual pollution, by informing permitting decisions on OAs.     

Strontium isotope composition of Middle Miocene primary gypsum (Badenian of the Polish Carpathian Foredeep Basin): evidence for continual non‐marine inflow of radiogenic strontium into evaporite basin

Strontium isotope compositions of ancient sulphate deposits not only provide chemostratigraphic information but also offer insight into the system in which the evaporites precipitated. Primary gypsum from two Middle Miocene (Badenian) sections in southern Poland shows steadily higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios than those expected from a marine‐derived formation. The ratios are interpreted as the result of increasing inflow into the basin at the time of gypsum precipitation. Palaeogeographic reconstructions suggest that riverine runoff sources were situated in the West and East European platforms (to the north and east, respectively) and the Carpathians (to the south), which are mostly composed of Mesozoic sedimentary rocks; their dissolution cannot be responsible for the higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios recorded. We conclude that Archaean and Palaeoproterozoic igneous and supracrustal rocks of the Ukrainian Shield were the source of the higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios recorded in the Badenian primary gypsum. A distinctive decreasing trend of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios from western Ukraine to southern Poland is explained by a consistent direction of brine inflow during gypsum crystallization (typical cyclonic circulation controlled by the Coriolis effect).     

Environmental responses to Lateglacial climatic fluctuations recorded in the sediments of pre‐Alpine Lake Mondsee (northeastern Alps)

Investigation of the sedimentary record of pre‐Alpine Lake Mondsee (Upper Austria) focused on the environmental reaction to rapid Lateglacial climatic changes. Results of this study reveal complex proxy responses that are variable in time and influenced by the long‐term evolution of the lake and its catchment. A new field sampling approach facilitated continuous and precisely controlled parallel sampling at decadal to sub‐annual resolution for µ‐XRF element scanning, carbon geochemistry, stable isotope measurements on ostracods, pollen analyses and large‐scale thin sections for microfacies analysis. The Holocene chronology is established through microscopic varve counting and supported by accelerator mass spectrometry ¹⁴C dating of terrestrial plant macrofossils, whereas the Lateglacial age model is based on δ¹⁸O wiggle matching with the Greenland NGRIP record, using the GICC05 chronology. Microfacies analysis enables the detection of subtle sedimentological changes, proving that depositional processes even in rather large lake systems are highly sensitive to climate forcing. Comparing periods of major warming at the onset of the Lateglacial and Holocene and of major cooling at the onset of the Younger Dryas reveals differences in proxy responses, reflecting threshold effects and ecosystem inertia. Temperature increase, vegetation recovery, decrease of detrital flux and intensification of biochemical calcite precipitation at the onset of the Holocene took place with only decadal leads and lags over a ca. 100 a period, whereas the spread of woodlands and the reduction of detrital flux lagged the warming at the onset of the Lateglacial Interstadial by ca. 500–750 a. Cooling at the onset of the Younger Dryas is reflected by the simultaneous reaction of δ¹⁸O and vegetation, but sedimentological changes (reduction of endogenic calcite content, increase in detrital flux) were delayed by about 150–300 a. Three short‐term Lateglacial cold intervals, corresponding to Greenland isotope substages GI‐1d, GI‐1c2 and GI‐1b, also show complex proxy responses that vary in time. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shapes and rotational properties of thirty asteroids from photometric data

We have analyzed photometric lightcurves of 30 asteroids, and present here the obtained shapes, rotational periods and pole directions. We also present new photometric observations of five asteroids. The shape models indicate the existence of many features of varying degrees of irregularity. Even large main-belt asteroids display such features, so the resulting poles and periods are more consistent than those obtained by simple ellipsoid-like models. In some cases the new rotational parameters are rather different from those obtained previously, and in a few cases there were no proper previous estimates at all.     

Results of statistical analysis of primary components concentrations in bulk chemical composition of ordinary chondrite groups

We used two different methods of statistical analysis—cluster analysis and principal component analysis—to analyze the concentrations of principal chemical components (Si, Mg, Ca, Fe, Ni) and Co in ordinary chondrites. The analysis is based predominantly on published data (metadata). In total, chemical composition data from 646 ordinary chondrites were used in the statistical analysis. The aim of this analysis was to establish whether it would be possible or not to distinguish H, L, and LL chondrites based on the concentrations of major elements and Co in their bulk chemical compositions. It was also important to determine what conclusions such an analysis could enable to draw about matter differentiation in the formation environments of primordial parent bodies of particular ordinary chondrite groups (H, L, and LL). Another aim of the statistical analysis was to determine whether the distribution of Fe and Ni (with Co admixtures) is independent of petrographic types within particular groups of chondrites. This is of crucial importance for determining the distribution of FeNi(Co) ore occurrences in potential extraterrestrial deposits on modern asteroids—the sources of ordinary chondrites. The obtained results of statistical analyses confirmed that a clear-cut distinction between particular groups of ordinary chondrites is only possible for group H, while distinguishing L chondrites from LL chondrites is not always obvious. The results of the statistical analyses relating to the question of the possible existence of several primordial parent bodies (formation environments) of each group of ordinary chondrites are consistent with the results of contemporary astronomical spectroscopy research. What is particularly interesting is obtaining indications of the existence of common formation environments of the matter of L and LL chondrites, possibly on a few primordial parent bodies. The statistical analyses indicate that there is no correlation between the concentration of principal chemical components and the petrographic type of ordinary chondrites. This proves homogenous distributions of these elements within the parent bodies of each group of ordinary chondrites. Hence, the distribution of these elements in individual present-day asteroids is also homogenous.     

Floods at the northern foothills of the Tatra Mountains — A Polish-Swiss research project

The present paper introduces the topical area of the Polish-Swiss research project FLORIST (Flood risk on the northern foothills of the Tatra Mountains), informs on its objectives, and reports on initial results. The Tatra Mountains are the area of the highest precipitation in Poland and largely contribute to flood generation. The project is focused around four competence clusters: observation-based climatology, model-based climate change projections and impact assessment, dendrogeomorphology, and impact of large wood debris on fluvial processes. The knowledge generated in the FLORIST project is likely to have impact on understanding and interpretation of flood risk on the northern foothills of the Tatra Mountains, in the past, present, and future. It can help solving important practical problems related to flood risk reduction strategies and flood preparedness.     

A conceptual framework for multi-regional climate change assessments for international market systems with long-term investments

A conceptual framework for climate change assessments of international market systems that involve long-term investments is proposed. The framework is a hybrid of dynamic and static modeling. Dynamic modeling is used for those system components for which temporally continuous modeling is possible, while fixed time slices are used for other system components where it can be assumed that underlying assumptions are held constant within the time slices but allowed to vary between slices. An important component of the framework is the assessment of the “metauncertainty” arising from the structural uncertainties of a linked sequence of climate, production, trade and decision-making models. The impetus for proposing the framework is the paucity of industry-wide assessments for market systems with multiple production regions and long-term capital investments that are vulnerable to climate variations and change, especially climate extremes. The proposed framework is pragmatic, eschewing the ideal for the tractable. Even so, numerous implementation challenges are expected, which are illustrated using an example industry. The conceptual framework is offered as a starting point for further discussions of strategies and approaches for climate change impact, vulnerability and adaptation assessments for international market systems.     

Applying numerical modeling for designing strategies of effective groundwater remediation

Selection of effective groundwater remediation scenarios is a complex issue that requires understanding of contaminants’ transport processes. The effectiveness of cleanup measures may be verified by fate and transport numerical modeling. The goal of this work was to present the usefulness of fate and transport modeling for planning, verification and fulfillment of effective groundwater remediation methods. Selection methodology was developed, which is based on results of numerical flow and transport modeling. A field site located in south-east Poland was selected as a case study, in which groundwater contamination of trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene was detected. The results indicated that “pump and treat” was the most effective among the studied remediation methods, followed by permeable reactive barrier and in situ chemical oxidation. Natural attenuation-based remediation was demonstrated to be the least suitable, as it requires the longest time to reach predefined remediation goals, principally due to low sorption capacity and unfavorable hydrogeochemical conditions for biodegradation. Fate and transport numerical modeling allowed simulating different remediation strategies, and thus the decision-making process was facilitated.     

Gypsum facies transitions in basin-marginal evaporites: middle Miocene (Badenian) of west Ukraine

In the middle Miocene Badenian gypsum basin of the Carpathian Foredeep, west Ukraine, three main zones of gypsum development occur in the peripheral parts of the basin. Zone I consists entirely of stromatolitic gypsum formed in a nearshore zone. Zone II is located more basinward and is characterized by stromatolitic gypsum in the lower part of the section, overlain by a sabre gypsum unit. Zone III occurs in still more basinward areas and is characterized by giant gypsum intergrowths (or secondary nodular gypsum pseudomorphs of these) in the lowermost part, overlain by stromatolitic gypsum, sabre gypsum and then by clastic gypsum units. Correlation between these facies and zones has been achieved using lithological marker beds and surfaces. Of particular importance for correlation is a characteristic marker bed (usually 20–40 cm thick) of cryptocrystalline massive gypsum occurring in zones II and III. The marker was not distinguished in zone I, possibly because this bed is older than the entire gypsum section of that zone. These new results strongly suggest that the deposition of giant gypsum intergrowth facies and stromatolitic gypsum facies was coeval. In some sections of zones I and II, limestone intercalations have been recorded within the upper part of the gypsum sections. Considerable scatter of the δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values of these limestones indicates variable diagenetic overprints of marine carbonates, but a marine provenance of the limestones is confirmed by microfacies analysis. Some of the limestones are coeval with an intercalation of gypsarenitic, mostly laminated gypsum occurring in the sabre gypsum unit of zones II and III. Badenian gypsum formed in extremely shallow‐water to subaerial environments on broad, very low relief areas of negligible brine depth, which could be affected by rapid transgressions. Stable isotope (δ³⁴S, δ¹⁸O) studies of the gypsum demonstrate that the sulphate was of sea‐water origin or was derived from dissolution of Miocene marine evaporites. Investigations of individual inclusions in the gypsum indicate decreased water salinity when compared with modern marine‐derived, calcium sulphate‐saturated water. Groundwater influences are indicated by high calcium sulphate contents of the brines in the evaporite basin. The chemical composition of Badenian waters was thus a mixture of relic sea water (depleted in NaCl), groundwater (enriched in calcium sulphate) and surface run‐off.     

The influence of industrial immissions on the magnetic susceptibility of soils in upper Silesia

Summary Samples of metallurgical dusts and fly ashes from coal power plants and iron works in Upper Silesia as well as soil profiles in the close vicinity of these plants and in Ojcow National Park (ca. 25 km east of the industrial area) have been studied magnetically and mineralogically. The metallurgical dusts and fly ashes are highly enriched in ferromagnetic minerals. The topsoils from profiles collected near the plants have very high values of magnetic susceptibility while susceptibility in the fermentation and humic subhorizons in soil profiles from Ojcow National Park is considerably increased. The magnetic properties of the metallurgical dusts and fly ashes such as frequency dependence of susceptibility, saturation remanence or coercivity are similar to those observed in the top horizons of the soils. They are mostly related to the occurrence of large (multidomain) grains of non-stoichiometric magnetite ranging from 1 to 20 μm. The similarity of the magnetic particles in the soils is taken as evidence of an anthropogenic origin. They are responsible for the high soil susceptibilities in Upper Silesia and in adjacent areas. Some of the magnetic particles carry substantial quantitities of trace elements such as Pb, Ni, Zn and Cu. Field and laboratory susceptibility measurements can therefore be used as a simple and costeffective method of detecting the presence of heavy metals in the soils of this area.