scholarly journals Application of timberline morphometric analysis for detecting snow avalanche paths: A case study of the Tatra Mountains

2016 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Spyt ◽  
Ryszard J. Kaczka ◽  
Michał Lempa ◽  
Zofia Rączkowska
Keyword(s):  
Morphometric Analysis ◽  
Snow Avalanche ◽  
Tatra Mountains ◽  
The Tatra Mountains

Geomorphological conditions of snow avalanches in the Tatra Mountains

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zofia Rączkowska ◽  
Michał Długosz ◽  
Elżbieta Rojan
Keyword(s):  
Digital Terrain Model ◽  
Snow Avalanche ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Snow Avalanches ◽  
Tatra Mountains ◽  
Aerial Photos ◽  
Slope Inclination ◽  
Terrain Model ◽  
The Tatra Mountains ◽  
The High Tatras

Snow avalanches are substantial processes of the natural environment and the denudation system in high mountains, with their activity depending on topoclimate, relief and snow conditions. The aim of the present research was to recognise the geomorphological conditions for snow avalanche activity in the Tatra Mountains by analysing the relationship between relief and avalanche path features for the area encompassing the whole of the massif – both the Polish and Slovak parts of the Tatras. Maps of snow avalanches that occurred in the recent past, aerial photos and a digital terrain model were used to make a map of avalanche paths, with the starting zone, avalanche track and accumulation zone specified within each snow avalanche path. For each type of designated unit of snow avalanche track, a morphometric analysis was performed, taking into account slope aspect and inclination. More than 3,770 avalanche paths were identified whose number, morphometric features and altitudinal range differ between individual parts of the Tatra Mountains, corresponding to relief. The length of avalanche paths reaches up to 3,138 m, with paths located about 200 m higher in the High Tatras than in other parts of the massif. The average area of the starting zone in the High Tatras is half the size of that in the Western Tatras, while the number of accumulation zones is double the size. Based on a statistical analysis, the interrelations between slope exposure, slope inclination and length of avalanche path, as well as size of starting zones, were established. It was found that the length of avalanche tracks and the size of avalanche starting zones both decrease with increasing slope inclination.

scholarly journals Land use effects on soil organic carbon sequestration in calcareous leptosols in former pastureland – a case study from the Tatra Mountains (Poland)

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1577-1610 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Wasak ◽  
M. Drewnik
Keyword(s):  
Larch Forest ◽  
Tatra Mountains ◽  
Grassland Soil ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Tatra Mts ◽  
Land Use Effects ◽  
Soc Stock ◽  
Shallow Soils ◽  
The Tatra Mountains

Abstract. The purpose of the paper is to show SOC sequestration rates in calcareous shallow soils in reforested areas in Tatra Mts. with a particular focus on the different forms of organic matter (OM) storage. Three plant communities creating a mosaic on the slopes of the valley were taken into account. After 50 years since the conversion of pastureland to grassland, dwarf pine shrub, and larch forest on soils, the development of genetic soil horizons as well as SOC sequestration in soil occur despite the steepness of slopes. SOC stock is the highest in soils under larch forest (63.5 mg ha−1, SD 16.3), while in soil under grassland and under dwarf pine shrub, this value is smaller (47.5 mg ha−1, SD 13.3 and 42.9 mg ha−1, SD 22.0 respectively). The highest amount of mineral-associated OM inside stable microaggregates (MOM FF3) is found in grassland soil (21.9–27.1% of SOC), less under dwarf pine shrub (16.3–19.3% of SOC) and larch forest (15.3–17.7% of SOC). The pool of mineral-associated OM inside transitional macroaggregates (MOM FF2) is found in soil under dwarf pine shrub (39.2–59.2% of SOC), with less under larch forest (43.8–44.7% of SOC) and the least in grassland soil (37.9–41.6% of SOC). The highest amount of the free light particulate fraction (POM LF1) is found in soil under dwarf pine shrub (6.6–10.3% of SOC), with less under larch forest (2.6–6.2% of SOC) and the least in grassland soil (1.7–4.8% of SOC).

scholarly journals Variability of the snow avalanche danger in the Tatra Mountains during the past nine decades

2016 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Gądek ◽  
Mariusz Grabiec ◽  
Zofia Rączkowska ◽  
Andrzej Maciata
Keyword(s):  
Snow Avalanche ◽  
Tatra Mountains ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Tatra Mountains ◽  
Avalanche Danger

scholarly journals Land use effects on soil organic carbon sequestration in calcareous Leptosols in former pastureland – a case study from the Tatra Mountains (Poland)

Solid Earth ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 1103-1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Wasak ◽  
M. Drewnik
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Larch Forest ◽  
Tatra Mountains ◽  
Grassland Soil ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Land Use Effects ◽  
Shallow Soils ◽  
The Tatra Mountains

Abstract. The purpose of the paper is to describe soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rates in calcareous shallow soils in reforested areas in the Tatra Mountains with a particular focus on different forms of organic matter (OM) storage. Three plant communities creating a mosaic on the slopes of the studied valley were taken into account. Fifty years since the conversion of pastureland to unused grassland, dwarf pine shrub and larch forest have emerged in the study area, along with the development of genetic soil horizons as well as SOC sequestration in the soil despite the steepness of slopes. SOC stock was measured to be the highest in soils under larch forest (63.5 Mg ha−1), while in soil under grassland and under dwarf pine shrub, this value was found to be smaller (47.5 and 42.9 Mg ha−1, respectively). The highest amount of mineral-associated OM inside stable microaggregates (MOM FF3) was found in grassland soil (21.9–27.1 % of SOC) and less under dwarf pine shrub (16.3–19.3 % of SOC) and larch forest (15.3–17.7 % of SOC). A pool of mineral-associated OM inside transitional macroaggregates (MOM FF2) was found in soil under dwarf pine shrub (39.2–59.2 % of SOC), with less under larch forest (43.8–44.7 % of SOC) and the least in grassland soil (37.9–41.6 % of SOC). The highest amount of the free light particulate fraction (POM LF1) was found in soil under dwarf pine shrub (6.6–10.3 % of SOC), with less under larch forest (2.6–6.2 % of SOC) and the least in grassland soil (1.7–4.8 % of SOC).

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