Atmospheric pollutants total and wet deposition in the Kampinos Base Integrated Monitoring Station in years 2011 and 2012

Atmospheric pollutants total and wet deposition in the Kampinos Base Integrated Monitoring Station in years 2011 and 2012

Tomasz Śnieżek, Adam Olszewski

 

The pollution emitted into the atmosphere in anthropogenic processes is then transported and reaches ecosystems often distant from the sources of emission. Such emissions are one of the reasons for changes, and often degradation, of the natural environment. Research into this phenomenon is one of the ways to try and fnd measures to improve the condition of the environment in which we all live. Background Stations of the Integrated Environmental Monitoring System, operated as the Nature Protection subsystem of the State Environment Monitoring Program (ZMŚP), are used to measure the concentration levels and pollution loads that reach the ground. This paper contains an analysis and summary of the results of total and wet deposition of selected pollutants in atmospheric precipitation collected at the Kampinos Base Station in 2011–2013. The precipitation during that period was collected simultaneously in the total precipitation collector and the wet precipitation collector. The amount of precipitation was measured twofold: with a standard Hellmann rain gauge and on the basis of a sample collected in the wet precipitation collector.

 

The monitoring of nature and environmental restoration projects as the basis for effective conservation and performance of natural systems

The monitoring of nature and environmental restoration projects as the basis for effective conservation and performance of natural systems

Wojciech Puchalski

 

Summary

This paper describes the conditions, concepts and demands of monitoring actions designed for the purpose of ecological restoration projects. Such a monitoring should provide necessary input and feedback for the purpose of adaptive project management, should document ecological results (which, however, usually will be evident much later after the project end), and should provide the scientifc evidence for conservation actions on similar objects elsewhere. It is argued, that the monitoring of restoration projects should be applied more to dynamic processes and functions, than to the biotic structures, as it usually is done in the standardised procedures of monitoring of ecological/conservation statuses. As each restoration action made in natural or seminatural ecosystems is unique at least to some extent, the essential primary monitoring effort is to construct an ecological model (conceptual, qualitative, or quantitative, depending on data availability and the specifc objectives of a project), considering the direct and indirect predicted effects of measures provided, and then to fnd the best available, rapid and cost-effcient indicators for checking eco-evolutionary trajectories of
targeted populations and ecosystems. Three monitoring phases are distinguished: initial (pre-investment, with feasibility evaluation of the proposed actions, building a functional model and indicator systems), during restoration actions (feedback, adaptation and minimizing unwanted side effects), and post restoration (the evidence of results and providing the background for post-project maintenance). Some important general concepts and methodologies for the design of a project monitoring are described, based mostly on the most recent literature sources. As most desirable ecological restoration objectives usually are described in structural terms (indicators of
good ecological/conservation status), there is a need to translate them into dynamic and functional objectives and processes. This should serve the most appropriate
monitoring design and evaluation of results before the improvement of structural parameters, expected in some future. Also, it is important to adequately relate the specifc functional project monitoring to standard biological monitoring programmes, integrated ecological monitoring, and scientifc research in the felds of general, conservation and restoration ecology.

 

Satellite monitoring of the environment on a regional scale: Western Pomerania in the years 2000–2015

Satellite monitoring of the environment on a regional scale: Western Pomerania in the years 2000–2015

Alfred Stach

 

Summary

Satellite remote sensing for many years has been the most important source of knowledge about the state and trends of environmental changes on Earth. However,
the use of recording made from satellites to monitor the environment on a local or regional scale was limited. The situation has changed signifcantly by entering
into service in 2000 and 2002 of two satellites Terra and Aqua equipped with MODIS spectroradiometer. It allows to record the characteristics of the surface of the planet twice a day in 36 spectral channels with a resolution of 0.25–1 km. The aim was the assessment of trends in the environment of Western Pomerania in the years 2000–2015 on the basis of data from the MODIS sensor. This area is highly diverse both in natural and economic conditions, including large urban areas, areas
intensively used for agriculture, forest plantations as well as valuable, legally protected natural objects: national parks, lakes, protected landscape areas, etc.
In this work we used land surface temperature (LST), and the state of vegetation indexes NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation) and EVI (Enhanced Vegetation
Index). We analyzed trends in both long-term average values, as well as the characteristics of seasonal cycle. The study was based on the 8 days average values of LST
for the day and the night, and the 16 days average value of NDVI and EVI from March 2000 to February 2016. The analysis covered an area of approximately 35.500
km
2. The novelty was the use of so-called contextual Mann-Kendall test. It is based on the assumption that the trends between adjacent pixels should exhibit autocorrelation and reduces false detection of trends and increase the confdence of the results when trends are spatially coherent. Analysis of seasonal trends consist of two stages. In the frst the annual and shorter components of the seasonal cycle was ftted using harmonic regression. In the second stage by means of non-parametric technique of median slope were determined parameters trends of cycles (amplitude and phase). This methodology effectively eliminates high frequency noise that occurs in the scale of a single year and it is resistant to short-term variability between years. Also in this procedure the contextual Mann-Kendall test was used. The calculations showed the presence in the analyzed period and analyzed area of signifcant trends in both LST, and NDVI / EVI indicators of biomass. That concern both the averages and seasonal cycle parameters. Spatial distribution of trends shows variability in two spatial scales: local and regional. Multi-annual LST trends were recorded surprisingly only for the night measurements. They are only increase. They include over 56% of the study area and their spatial distribution is not random. On a regional scale they primarily include higher-lying moraine areas. Much less frequently they are listed in the Noteć and Odra valleys and the lowlands along the shore of the Baltic Sea. It has been found both increments (approx. 28% of the area) and decreases (approx. 10%) of the average values of plant biomass (NDVI and EVI). About 70% of the high increases of the two indicators is shared, indicating both an increase in the amount of chlorophyll (NDVI), leaf area, and changes in the type and physiognomy of plant community (EVI). The spatial distribution trends of biomass indicators also showed regional variation, but it is more complicated than in the case of LST. Analysis of the seasonal cycles characteristics showed that on the areas of statistically signifcant changes, they relates to both the decrease in the annual amplitude and phase shift – a faster onset of the growing season in the spring. Identifcation of the relationship between the characteristics of the surface, LST changes and indicators of biomass enables the identifcation of areas that should be subjected to a more elaborate test – hotspots of environmental imbalance.

 

Natural environment pollution of Gardno Lake catchment (Woliński National Park) based on biotic monitoring research of Integrated Monitoring of the Natural Environment programme

Natural environment pollution of Gardno Lake catchment (Woliński National Park) based on biotic monitoring research of Integrated Monitoring of the Natural Environment programme

Mariusz Samołyk, Paweł Czyryca

 

Summary

Based on the results of eight years (2009–2016) of monitoring studies conducted in the catchment area of Gardno Lake, the measure of pollution of Woliński National Park the natural environment was rated. An important indicator in determining the state of the natural environment is the extent and causes of damage to trees and tree stands. The dynamics and chemistry of the organic fall was checked. Using bioindication properties of lichenes the measurements of thalli area and health of Hypogymnia physodes, Melanelixia fuliginosa, Parmelia sulcata, Pertusaria amara, Phlyctis argena were conducted. In Hypogymnia physodes the concentration of heavy metals and sulfur was checked. Biocenotic indicators (eg Simpson dominance index and Shanonna-Weaver diversity index) were determined on the basis of quantitative and qualitative changes taking place in the structures of invertebrate assemblages. Detailed inventory of Gardno Lake cachment revealed the presence of five invasive plants species: Impatiens parviflora, Padus serotina, Reynoutria japonica, Quercus rubra, Rosa rugosa.

Possibility of nitrate monitoring in water based on mollusc bioindicative reaction

Possibility of nitrate monitoring in water based on mollusc bioindicative reaction

Joanna Chmist, Krzysztof Szoszkiewicz

 

Summary

The most municipal waterworks in Poland utilise surface water resources which requires precise monitoring of its quality. An effcient pollution removal is still a common problem causing delivery of water of inadequate quality parameters. The periodic control of water parameters does not eliminate all of possible risks and only the use of continuous monitoring system of water adequately protected against possible distribution of contaminated water. For several years, the instrumental methods of water quality monitoring are often supported biological monitoring and the most common are systems using mollusc. The paper presents results of experiment utilising the Unio tumidus species, whose natural reaction to sudden changes of environment parameters is shell closing. The impact of nitrate pollution was tested, and the four different
concentrations of nitrates was applied: 4, 10, 50 and 100 mg/l. The degree of shells opening was controlled as well as the average time of complete closure caused
by pollution was estimated. It has been shown that animal reaction is strong and distinct, and Unio tumidus resistance to short-term high nitrate concentrations proves that they are a very good indicator species.