Chemistry of sediments from the Dobezyce Reservoir, Poland, and the environmental implications

Sediments samples of the Dobczyce Reservoir(South Poland) were taken in three successive years(2004-06) at 17 points,analyzed for 12 elements by atomic absorption spectrometry.Substantial variations in elemental composition due to hydrological and environmental reasons were found.The use of statistical and chemometric tools enabled objective and effective analysis of the data obtained,both in case of long term observations as well as in terms of interpretation of incidental changes in metal concentrations.T...     

Thermal X-ray emission from hot polar cap in drifting subpulse pulsars

Within the framework of the partially screened inner acceleration region the relationship between the X-ray luminosity and the circulational periodicity of drifting subpulses is derived. This relationship is quite well satisfied in pulsars for which an appropriate radio and X-ray measurements exist. A special case of PSR B0943+10 is presented and discussed. The problem of formation of a partially screened inner acceleration region for all pulsars with drifting subpulses is also considered. It is argued that an efficient inner acceleration region just above the polar cap can be formed in a very strong and curved non-dipolar surface magnetic field. We acknowledge the support of the Polish State Committee for scientific research under Grant P03D 029 26. G.M. was partially supported by Georgian NSF grant ST06/4-096.     

Acceleration time-scale in an ultrarelativistic shock

The acceleration mechanism in ultrarelativistic shocks is investigated using Monte Carlo simulations. We apply a method of discrete small-amplitude particle momentum scattering to reproduce highly anisotropic conditions at the shock and describe the acceleration mechanism carefully. The obtained acceleration time equals 1.0 r _g c if the spectral index reaches the value of 2.2, independent of physical conditions in the shock. Some other parameters of the acceleration process are also provided.     

Error analysis for European IGS stations

Each of the GPS time series that describes the changes of topocentric components consists of a deterministic and a stochastic part, whose character influences the errors of the deterministic parameters. As to the uncertainties of reliable velocities of permanent satellite station systems, surveys that estimate and take into account any dependencies that may affect subsequent operational efficiency are very important. For this analysis, we used 42 stations from the IGS (International GNSS Service) network from Europe, processed at the Military University of Technology EUREF Permanent Network Local Analysis Centre (MUT LAC). The deterministic part of the GPS time series was removed using the least squares method. The seasonal periods in topocentric components were determined assuming the existence of the residual Chandler oscillation (1.67 cpy), as well as the annual tropical (1 cpy) and draconitic (1.04 cpy) oscillations with their harmonics up to 4th. We assumed the character of the residue as a combination of white and powerlaw noise. The obtained results show, that in the case of the European sub-network of IGS stations we are dealing with the coloured noise between white and flicker noise with the amplitudes between 3 to 6 mm/year^-k/4 for horizontal components and between 6 to 15 mm/year^-κ/4 for the vertical ones, where κ is a spectral index. Finally, we showed that the amplitudes and spectral indices of noise are reduced after performing a spatio-temporal filtering. All the elicited results referred to the uncertainties of velocities by estimating them before and after filtration and the simulation of their values for different lengths of the time series.     

Flotation of synthetic zinc carbonate using potassium ethylxanthate

An attempt at flotation of fine grains of zinc carbonate using potassium ethylxanthate as the collector and sulphydryl and copper ions as the activators has been undertaken. Results of the flotation tests have been interpreted in terms of the adsorption of activating agents as well as the grain size effect.     

Identification of stoichiometric iron-phosphorus colloids produced in a eutrophic lake

: Iron-rich colloids formed at the oxic-anoxic interface of a eutrophic lake (Lake Lugano; CH) were characterized by bulk chemical methods and analytical electron microscopy. Fractionation of raw waters showed that non-dissolved iron is particulate above the oxicline and mainly colloidal in the anoxic part of the hypolimnion, while non-dissolved ortho-phosphate is mostly colloidal through the water column. Because of these differences, filtration did not prove helpful for the determination of the role of iron-rich species in the scavenging of ortho-phosphate. On the other hand, analytical electron microscopy revealed that iron-rich nano-granules (ca. 50nm) are associated to the surface of bacterially produced fibrillar polysaccharides. Iron colloids in these complex entities contain important and constant amounts of phosphorus ([PO4]part:[Fe]part = 0.48 - 0.11, n = 1096 Fe-rich entities analyzed by electron microscopy), which suggests that phosphates are stoichiometrically incorporated into the hydrous iron oxide phase, with a tentative composition Fe2[OOH]1-x[(OH)3]x[PO4], during its genesis.     

The Influence of Selected Meteorological Parameters on the Concentration of Surface Ozone in the Central Region of Poland

Abstract?This paper presents the results of measurements of the concentration of surface ozone and concurrent standard meteorological parameters: total solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity, pressure, wind speed, and vertical and horizontal components of the wind. The data were collected from 2005 to 2010 at stations located in central Poland (Mazowieckie voivodeship): Warszawa (urban), Legionowo (suburban), Granica and Belsk (rural). Furthermore, Granica is situated in the forested area of Kampinoski National Park. Continuously measured surface ozone concentrations demonstrated the well-known diurnal cycle of surface ozone concentration with a maximum in the afternoon and a minimum in the early morning hours. The averaged diurnal variations over six years reveal that the highest concentrations appear at rural stations (Belsk: 55?µg?m^?3 and Granica: 50?µg?m^?3) and the lowest at the urban station (Warszawa: 41?µg?m^?3). The threshold for high levels of surface ozone (120?µg?m^?3 per 8?h) was exceeded most often at Granica and Belsk. The occurrence of the ozone “weekend effect,” especially at urban stations, has been identified. The difference between weekend and weekday surface ozone concentrations at urban and rural stations was as high as 6.5?µg?m^?3 and approximately 2?µg?m^?3, respectively. Using appropriate statistical tools, it has been shown that meteorological conditions have a significant influence on ozone concentration. High correlation coefficients were found between ozone concentration and solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. The forward stepwise regression model explains up to 75% of the variations in daily surface ozone concentration in terms of meteorological variability in summer and up to 70% in winter. At the same time, a multilayer perceptron neural network model was used to reconstruct the concentration of surface ozone. High correlation coefficients (up to 0.89) indicate that, on the basis of standard meteorological parameters and NO₂ concentration, we can determine ozone concentration with high accuracy.     

Geology,stratigraphy and palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis-bearing Quaternary palaeolake(s) of Gorzów Wielkopolski (NW Poland,Central Europe)

The sedimentary succession exposed in the Gorzów Wielkopolski area includes Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e) or Early Weichselian (MIS 5d–e) deposits. The sedimentary sequence has been the object of intense interdisciplinary study, which has resulted in the identification of at least two palaeolake horizons. Both yielded fossil remains of large mammals, alongside pollen and plant macrofossils. All these proxies have been used to reconstruct the environmental conditions prevailing at the time of deposition, as well as to define the geological context and the biochronological position of the fauna. Optically stimulated luminescence dating of the glaciofluvial layers of the GS3 succession to 123.6 ± 10.1 (below the lower palaeolake) and 72.0 ± 5.2 ka (above the upper palaeolake) indicate that the site formed during the Middle–Late Pleistocene (MIS 6 – MIS 5). Radiocarbon-dating of the lacustrine organic matter revealed a tight cluster of Middle Pleniglacial Period (MIS 3) ages in the range of ~41–32 ka cal bp (Hengelo – Denekamp Interstadials). Holocene organic layers have also been found, with ¹⁴C ages within a range of 4330–4280 cal bp (Neolithic). Pollen and plant macrofossil records, together with sedimentological and geochemical data, confirm the dating to the Eemian Interglacial.