Planning for Sustainable Development of Tourism in the Tatra National Park Buffer Zone Using the MCDA Approach

This study aims to develop practice guidelines for the preparation of local regulations promoting sustainable tourism planning for the area located at the entrance to the Tatra National Park, Poland. Included in the study was a set of tourism activities put forward by the local community. These activities were divided into two priorities: sustainable tourist activities (hiking and walking, cycling, horseback riding) and investments that would have an environmental impact (downhill skiing, recreational infrastructure, commerce, catering). The analysis criteria covered the tourist attractiveness of the area and its suitability for a given activity (benefit), as well as requirements concerning the protection of nature, topographical relief, landscape, and traditional land use (cost). These criteria were evaluated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and summarized using the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC). The results showed the high attractiveness of the area for both priorities. However, due to the area's unique nature, investments having an environmental impact must be limited to the vicinity of the existing built-up areas. The use of MCDA supports decision-making at the local scale, significantly enhances the transparency of the results, and facilitates communication with local communities. The comparison with the current local law provisions showed the shortcomings of the methods used to date when preparing planning instruments.

Progress in the Reconstruction of Terrain Relief Before Extraction of Rock Materials—The Case of Liban Quarry, Poland

Open pit mining leads to irreversible changes in topographical relief, which makes a return to the original morphology virtually impossible. This is important for quarries that were part of former mining areas. This research presents an innovative approach to the reconstruction of the relief of anthropogenically transformed land on the example of Liban Quarry in Cracow, where operations began before 1873 to 1986. The basis for the reconstructed area was a Topographic Map of Poland with a scale 1:10,000 from 1997, from which a set of data was obtained to perform spatial analyses. The estimation was conducted using the ordinary kriging method, enabling a reconstruction of the morphology of the studied area and presenting it in the form of a hypsometric map and a digital elevation model. The correctness of the modelling was verified by cross-validation and a kriging standard deviation map (SDOK). These revealed low values of estimation errors in the places without contour lines on the base map. The comparison of the obtained maps and model with a Tactical Map of Poland with a scale 1:100,000 from 1934 indicated great similarities. The highest interpolation error value was recorded in the part of the pit where the difference between the actual and reconstructed elevation was about 30 m on average. In the exploited part, the SDOK did not exceed 0.52 m, and in the entire studied area, it reached a maximum of 0.56 m. The proposed approach fulfilled the assumptions of reconstruction, as the analysis revealed elements matching the historic relief in both forms of presentation of the topography of the quarry, on the obtained hypsometric map and on the tactical map. Our study is among the very few in the world concerning the application of geostatistics in the restoration of the relief of land transformed by open pit mining activities.

Characteristics of spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii, aggregations in exposed reef and sandy areas

The behaviour and characteristics of J. edwardsii within offshore aggregations in northern New Zealand are described. Groups of up to 200 lobsters were found aggregating beyond the coastal reefs by day, on open sand, amongst beds of the emergent bivalve Atrina zelandica, and around low-lying patch reefs which had little topographical relief. Lobsters within the aggregations displayed behaviour consistent with the use of mutual defence. In areas of open sand, aggregations were circular, with individuals on the perimeter always facing outwards. These lobsters held their stout, spiny antennae upright and used them to fend off potential threats. On patch reefs and around Atrina beds, aggregations were less uniform in shape, and lobsters increased their level of physical protection by clustering against irregularities in the substratum. Offshore aggregations were found over 7 months of the year, but the size and sex ratio of aggregating lobsters varied considerably between seasons. Seasonal peaks in the proportion of male lobsters within the aggregations coincided with peak feeding rates in captive males. The presence of females was not as clearly related to their feeding patterns and probably also reflected behavioural adaptations associated with the carrying of eggs and release of larvae.

On-target deposit and vertical distribution of aerially released herbicides

As a component of the Fallingsnow Ecosystem Project, glyphosate and triclopyr herbicides (Vision®, Release®) were each applied to four experimental spray plots at nominal rates of 1.5 and 1.9 kg a.e. ha−1 respectively. Empirical studies were undertaken on these plots with the objectives of; a) quantifying mean on-target deposit and variability b) assessing the vertical distribution of active ingredient deposits through the vegetative complex and c) comparing herbicide deposit estimates on excised natural foliage with those on proximal 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) collectors. Experimental conditions were representative of difficult aerial application scenarios since the spray plots were small (4.9 to 10.4 ha), with irregular boundaries of mature timber, and in some cases substantial topographical relief. Deposit analysis confirmed that, in some circumstances, locations well within target areas were missed completely owing to inappropriate track spacing or swath offset. Excluding these points from the data analysis, results demonstrated overall mean deposition (mean ± SE) of glyphosate and triclopyr on aspen foliage equating to 68.45 ± 6.13 and 50.28 ± 6.01% of the nominal application rates (1.5 and 1.9 kg ha−1), respectively. A high degree of variation in deposit both within and between plots demonstrate that variation in operational parameters (e.g. track spacing, offset, release height and aircraft speed) as influenced by local site factors (e.g. proximity of standing timber, topographical relief) can be important determinants in uniformity and accuracy of herbicide deposit. A consistent trend (P < 0.001) in the deposition profile through tiered vegetative canopies was observed, with greatest impingement of the spray in the upper target canopy as noted above, and average 25% and 12% in the shrub and ground-level tiers respectively. Results suggest that for sites characterized by complex canopies, differential vertical deposition may be an important factor constraining the potential use of lower herbicide application rates, particularly where shrub or groundcover species are important competitors. In contrast, given that only a small proportion of the spray cloud penetrates and impinges in the lower vegetative tiers, animals foraging or living therein may receive substantially reduced exposures, mitigating against any potential direct effects. In general, poor correlations (r = 0.22 to 0.78) in deposit estimates based on either two-dimensional or three-dimensional artificial collectors as compared to excised natural foliage were observed. Significant differences (P < 0.05) also were detected among deposit estimates with no consistent trend in relation to herbicide treatment, sampler type or sampling height. These comparisons suggest that none of the artificial collector types tested accurately or consistently estimated true foliar deposit. Key words: alternative conifer release treatments, Fallingsnow Ecosystem Project, glyphosate, herbicides, herbicide deposit, tending, triclopyr, vegetation management, vertical distribution

An array study of the effects of a known local scatterer on regional phases

F-k analyses of NORESS array recordings of teleseismic events have indicated a prominent secondary source about 25 to 30 km southwest of the array, in the region of Lake Mjosa with large topographical relief. Residual seismograms derived by subtracting the beamed record from each array channel are used to investigate the effects of this scatterer on the regional phases Pn, Pg, and Lg from several events at regional distances. The beamed record for each regional phase is obtained by incorporating steering delays based on the known azimuth and phase velocity from the f-k analysis of raw data. Both explosion and earthquake sources along several different azimuths to NORESS provide evidence for scattered arrivals Pn-to-Rg, Pg-to-Rg, and Lg-to-Rg, originating from the same region of Lake Mjosa. These scattered arrivals are observed with remarkable clarity and closeness to the expected arrival times and are rich in low frequencies, as expected for Rg. Their presence in various regional phases indicates that near-receiver scattering plays an important role in the composition of regional phases.

An outline of avalanches in the southeastern Tibet Plateau, China

Avalanches are a widespread hazard that cause serious damage in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Abundant solid precipitation and high relief are favourable for avalanche occurrence. The monsoon climate brings a lot of precipitation which, however, is not well distributed. Avalanches are most common around the margins of the plateau. Wet snow avalanches occur most frequently. Based on data on precipitation and topographical relief, a map is drawn showing the areal distribution of avalanche hazards.

An outline of avalanches in the southeastern Tibet Plateau, China

Avalanches are a widespread hazard that cause serious damage in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Abundant solid precipitation and high relief are favourable for avalanche occurrence. The monsoon climate brings a lot of precipitation which, however, is not well distributed. Avalanches are most common around the margins of the plateau. Wet snow avalanches occur most frequently. Based on data on precipitation and topographical relief, a map is drawn showing the areal distribution of avalanche hazards.