Spatial distribution of phosphorus forms in sediments in the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic Sea)

The paper analyses the concentrations of total phosphorus and its forms in sediments from the Gulf of Gdańsk on the basis of studies conducted at 25 sampling sites in 2001–05. The phosphorus speciation analysis was performed by sequential extraction. The extensive spatial variability of P_tot concentrations and speciation was found to be dependent on the physicochemical properties of the sediments, the oxygen conditions in the water and sediments, and the depth of the water column above the sediment surface. In the coastal zone, the sedimentation of riverine suspended matter and the sorption and chemisorption processes exert a considerable influence on P speciation. Over 70% of variation of total phosphorus concentration in sediments in the Gulf of Gdańsk could be explained by changes of proportion of fine fraction of sediments (grain size <0.0625 mm). Maximum P_tot concentrations were recorded in clays and silts in the deep water, stratified part of the Gulf of Gdańsk. In the coastal zone, where sandy sediments are dominant, phosphorus concentrations were much lower; this was due to the considerable dynamics of the bottom water and intensive sea floor transport. P_tot concentrations in the Gulf of Gdańsk sediments ranged from 1.75 to 957.17 μmol g⁻¹ d.w. Of all the forms of phosphorus, the highest concentrations were found for organic phosphorus (Org-P). Of its inorganic forms, the highest concentrations were of phosphorus bound to clay minerals and aluminium oxides (NaOH-P), the lowest ones were of loosely bound phosphorus (NaCl-P). On the basis of determinations of total phosphorus concentrations in sediments of a given type and the available data on the seabed areas covered by particular sediment types in the Gulf of Gdańsk, the mass of total phosphorus in the surficial sediment layer (0–2 cm) was estimated at ca. 15.6×10³ tonnes.     

Local‐ and regional‐scale biomorphodynamics due to tree uprooting in semi‐natural and managed montane forests of the Sudetes Mountains,Central Europe

In this work, direct and indirect geomorphic consequences of wind‐related tree uprooting are examined, using an extensive dataset from the mountain range of the Sudetes, Poland. The role of local conditions in influencing the geomorphic efficacy of tree uprooting is examined, as well as issues of upscaling individual observations from experimental sites. This problem is approached at a range of spatial and observational scales, from monitoring of root plate degradation over time through to examination of wind effects at a slope scale and region‐wide analysis. In our study area the mean root plate volume is between 0.4 and 4.2 m³ for spruce and 2.4 m³ for beech, and their degradation may last tens of years. The density of relict pit‐and‐mound microtopography varies from 2.7 up to 40 pairs per hectare and the maximum coverage of terrain is 4.7%. The volume of treethrow mounds varies from 0.5 to 3.1 m³ and mounds seem to outlive the pits formed in the same episode of disturbance. However, in specific lithological and topographic conditions, pit‐and‐mound topography does not form. The maximum biogenic transport attributable to a single windstorm event is c. 80 m³ ha^?1, while soil turnover times are calculated in the order of 1000–10 000 years. Rock fragment ‘mining’ is an important biogeomorphic process, both in terms of impact on hillslope surfaces and on soil properties. Gravel armours and small‐scale stepped topography may form instead of typical pit–mound associations in specific circumstances. Managed forests appear more prone to wind damage and associated geomorphic consequences. In the Sudetes Mountains, the variable role of tree uprooting in local and regional hillslope denudation is governed by forest stand structure, topography and regolith properties, with the former significantly influenced by human activity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of Mössbauer spectroscopy,multidimensional discriminant analysis,and Mahalanobis distance for classification of equilibrated ordinary chondrites

Mössbauer spectra of equilibrated ordinary chondrites consist of two doublets due to paramagnetic iron present in olivines and pyroxenes and two sextets due to magnetically ordered iron present in metallic phases and troilite. The spectral areas of the different mineralogical phases found by Mössbauer spectroscopy in meteorites are proportional to the number of iron atoms in this mineralogical phase. This property of Mössbauer spectra can be the basis for constructing a method for the classification of ordinary chondrites. This idea was first explored at the Mössbauer Laboratory in Kanpur. This group suggested a qualitative method based on 2‐dimensional plots of Mössbauer spectral areas and thus classified properly some meteorites. We constructed a quantitative method using Mössbauer spectral areas, multidimensional discriminant analysis, and Mahalanobis distance (4M method) to determine the probability of a meteorite to be of type H, L, or LL. Based on 59 Mössbauer spectra, we calculated by the 4M method, S _cluster , the level of similarity of the Goronyo meteorite to the clusters. On the plot of ferrosilite versus fayalite, the point representing Goronyo is located on the border between H and L areas. Calculated by the 4M method, the meteorite Goronyo is 32% similar to type H, 75% to type L, and 11% to type LL. Additional mineralogical analyses suggested that the Goronyo meteorite would be classified as type L, although it was originally reported as type H in the Meteoritical Bulletin Database.     

Surface-Layer Flux–Gradient Relationships over Inclined Terrain Derived from a Local Equilibrium,Turbulence Closure Model

Derivation of surface-layer flux–gradient relationships from a local-equilibrium, turbulence-closure model for a forced flow over inclined terrain is presented. Results are shown as a generalization of Monin–Obukhov universal functions respesenting non-dimensional wind and temperature gradients.     

Flow field downstream of individual aquatic plants—Experiments in a natural river with Potamogeton crispus L. and Myriophyllum spicatum L.

Flow disturbances generated by individual patches of submerged, flexible aquatic vegetation were investigated for two naturally growing macrophyte species, Potamogeton crispus L. and Myriophyllum spicatum L., in a sandy lowland river. Through acoustic Doppler velocimetry, 24 vertical profiles of the 3D velocity field were recorded downstream of each of the patches. The morphological features and biomechanical properties of the plants were also evaluated. The experiments showed the relationship between biomechanical characteristics and turbulence statistics. M. spicatum, which was stiffer and therefore less prone to dynamic reconfiguration, showed a greater effect on velocity damping, causing an increase in Reynold stresses, turbulence intensities, and turbulent kinetic energy downstream of the patch. These effects were present in regions both above and below plant height. In contrast for P. crispus, these effects were present only below plant height. The stiffer plant produced a mixing layer in its wake similar to that of dense plant canopies. The patch of less stiff and more streamlined P. crispus with longer leaves presented a much weaker effect on the flow. In contrast to previous studies conducted with rigid plant surrogates, we concluded that reconfiguration of the living flexible plants allows the plants to minimize drag forces, and therefore, their influence on the flow field was weaker than the effects reported for rigid surrogates.     

The quantity of sand fraction sediment in reservoirs as the basis of an assessment of the bedload transport from a reservoir catchment

A knowledge of the quantity of the sand fraction in the sediments deposited in reservoirs makes it easier to determine the bedload transport, which is a rarely measured parameter. The current study discusses the results of investigations into the siltation and physical properties of sediment in two small reservoirs located in the southeastern part of Poland. Also, the quantity of the bedload sand fraction was estimated.The estimation of the reservoir capacity loss after t years of operation was based on hydroacoustic measurements. The sediment density, organic matter content, and granulometric composition were evaluated by means of investigations and analyses of bottom sediment core samples. The interpolation of the parameters describing the sediment properties was done using the Kriging method. The analyses indicate that 10.80 thousand m~3 of sediment were deposited into the Zalew Kielecki Reservoir in the years 2004-2015. Their overall mass was 7320 t, of which sand fraction sediments constituted 39.7%.Between the years 2004 and 2014, the Umer Reservoir retained 11.79 thousand m~3 of sediment having a mass of 7200 t, of which sand fraction constituted 34.6%.     

Effectiveness of Dynamic Point Symbols in Quantitative Mapping

The main focus of this paper is the effectiveness of dynamic point symbols in the presentation of quantitative data. Such symbols are of particular use in the design of animated maps and computer games. The authors examine three existing techniques of using dynamic point symbols to present quantitative data: blinking, pulsation, and rotation. The aim of the study is to compare their effectiveness with that of classical cartographic animation techniques. The results of the study show that in animated map design, dynamic point symbols might be used to present not only qualitative but also quantitative data with comparable effectiveness. The results may serve as the basis for designing dynamic point symbols to be as effective as the classical techniques used in animated cartography.