Główne kierunki oraz historyczne i krajobrazowe uwarunkowania przemian pokrycia terenu okolic Pińczowa w latach 1839–2000

The transformations of cultural landscapes are related to and result from environmental conditions and human impacts. The article describes the main directions of land cover changes in the vicinity of Pińczów in the years 1839–2000. The identified land use patterns were shown and discussed against the background of natural landscape characteristics, and anthropogenic influences associated with socio-political and economic situation of the region in the analyzed period.

Czasowa zmienność i przestrzenne zróżnicowanie ewapotranspiracji w zlewni nizinnej rzeki Łasicy

Accurate quantification of evapotranspiration is necessary for understanding the water cycle at a local scale. At catchment scale, evapotranspiration might be approximated using remote sensing data useful in spatialtemporal analyses. In this study, the long-term and seasonal variability of evapotranspiration in the Łasica River catchment in the years 2003–2020 was assessed on the basis of data acquired from the SSEBop project (Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance). Additionally, using the index of precipitation utilization (WWO), the degree of precipitation consumption for the water demands of plants was determined. The highest evapotranspiration occurs in forest areas, slightly lower in marshy belts covered with meadow vegetation, and the lowest in agricultural areas and anthropogenically transformed areas. The spatial differentiation of evapotranspiration is particularly marked during the growing season, from April to October. Mean annual evapotranspiration sum is 403 mm, of which 96% falls on the growing season. Extremely low annual ET sums occurred in 2015 (329 mm), 2019 (342 mm) and 2003 (384 mm), while particularly high – in 2010 (455 mm) and 2013 (447 mm). In dry years, WWO is even 71–77%, while in particularly wet years, WWO is much lower and amounts to 54–58%.

Przekształcenie obszaru wysoczyzny lessowej pod wpływem gospodarczej działalności człowieka w neoholocenie (na wybranych przykładach z okolic Mozgawy, Ponidzie Pińczowskie)

The Mozgawa area, located in the Ponidzie Pińczowskie Region (SE part of the Nida River Basin), is a very good example of response of the natural environment to the progressive human impact. The research conducted there indicates that before the appearance of the first Neolithic farmers, the relief of the area was different to the modern one. Constant and intensive agricultural use of the loess plateau and the adjacent slopes (started in the Neolithic period some 5890±100 BP) led to the filling of the valley bottoms and local depressions with deluvial deposits, the thickness of which reaches up to 12 m. The deposition of these sediments and elevation of the surface level in the subordinate areas resulted in the creation of the Mozgawka River channel since the begining of the Roman Period. Formerly it was impossible (as it was within the depression) and the runoff was only through the karst system. Since that moment it has also started the accumulation of the alluvial fan, the progradation of which leads to the pushing of the Nida River channel towards the East.

Przyrodnicze i antropogeniczne uwarunkowania funkcjonowania krajobrazu równiny łowicko-błońskiej na przykładzie fragmentu Gongolina-Pawłowice

The Łowicz-Błonie Plain is a flat and monotonous part of the late-glacial landscape. The parent material is dominated by loam, silt and clay covered with sand of various thickness. The main aim of the study was to indicate the natural and anthropogenic determinants of the fertile plain landscape’s functions, which has been intensively used for agriculture. Natural environmental conditions are determined by the vicinity of contrasting in humidity and trophism areas. The current state of the natural environment is the result of both the natural basis and anthropogenic transformations. The biggest changes in expanding the possibilities of using the trophic potential are related to artificial water drainage system.

Antropogeniczne przekształcenie rzek na Ponidziu Pińczowskim

One of the three basic components of assessing ecological state is the determination of hydromorphological conditions occurring in river channels and valleys. In this paper an effort has been taken to check usefulness for such evaluations River Habitat Survey (RHS) – British research method, which is used in Poland for classification of ecological quality of surface waters from the view-point of their actual hydromorphological state. The possibilities of using this method in field teaching of geography students were checked. For this purpose, the RHS method was modified and adapted to the needs of field exercises. Research was conducted in Nida Riverside region, near Pińczów (świętokrzyskie voivodeship, Poland). Collected material makes it possible to calculate synthetic indicator HMS (Habitat Modification Score) which allow the hydromorphological state of a river to be presented in numerical form and assessing river modification by human activities. The research released advantages of the RHS in field teaching of students. The method can also be used in field exercises with secondary school students.

Funkcjonowanie strefy krajobrazowej tundry na półkuli północnej na początku XXI wieku

The tundra biome is considered as sensitive to the climate change. Observed climate changes contributes to the significant transformation of landscape functioning. The aim of the study was to analyze selected climate condition and their impact on vegetation and soil cover in the tundra biome of the northern hemisphere. The increase in annual temperature and humidity contributes to the colonization of new areas by tundra vegetation and an increase in the thickness of active layer in the soil.

Piętra krajobrazowo-geochemiczne południowych stoków Kilimandżaro, Tanzania

The aim of this paper is to identify and describe the landscape and geochemical zones on the southern slopes of Kilimanjaro. Characterization of individual zones was carried out based on a literature synthesis and author own study. The article contains description of four main zones and eight subzones. The Kilimanjaro’s altitudinal vegetation zones have proper description, but this overview provides a holistic description of the structure and functioning of the landscape.

Degradacja próchnicy czarnoziemów ornych na przykładzie Ponidzia

The paper presents the results of research on the degradation of chernozems in part of the Proszowice lobe (near Pińczów). The currently progressing process of degradation of chernozems is showed in the decline of their physical and chemical properties (among others increased predisposition to soaking, changes in the content of organic carbon and nitrogen). The results were analyzed in the context of changes in the technology of farming. For the analysis, samples from areas with different types of use and different history of use (including archaeological sites) were collected. A significant decline of soil properties was found. They were expressed by destruction of the soil structure of humus horizon. It starts increase in the susceptibility of the soil clumping, soaking and erosion. The humus contents in researched samples are low (as content for Chernozem), but there is no different in this parameter determined half century ago. Currently, low values of the C/N coefficient indicate the impact of mineral fertilization (increasing the nitrogen content) and are part of the anthropogenic degradation of the analyzed Chernozems.

Influence of selected factors on the repeat purchase of the a package tour – case study from tourism of the Moravian-Silesian Region

The aim of this paper is to identify influence of selected factors on the repeat purchase of a package tour based on the responses of the selected customers in the Moravian-Silesian Region. The main factors are divided into three main groups as staff, environment and offer and each of these groups consists of other selected factors. Analyses of frequency responses and frequency distribution of data were used. Statistical hypotheses were formed, reflecting the relationship between the difference in responses from the customers’ and selected quality factors, that may affect the repeated purchase of the package tour. Most customers of repeat purchase of the package tour are affected by professional behaviour, sufficient space, cleanliness, tidiness of company premises and corresponding ratio of price / quality. This study is important not only for the marketers’ but also for all employees in services. Knowledge of the consumer buying behaviour leads to huge long term benefits to the businesses in various regions not only in Europe.

Ocena zakresu treści baz danych oraz map średnioskalowych wybranych agencji kartograficznych

Topographic databases and general geographic maps are essential components of geographic information systems and the primary and rich spatial information source at general scales. The article presents qualitative and quantitative analyses based on the content of general geographic maps and topographic databases carried out on the example of products of selected national mapping agencies (NMAs). This research aims to verify whether the data contained in the analyzed databases and the information presented on general maps constitute the rich source of geographical and spatial information, as well as to examine how the analyzed General Geographic Objects Database (BDOO) developed in Poland differs from the selected databases of similar level of details. The results of qualitative and quantitative analyses are presented in comprehensive charts and tables, which show the obtained results in a synthetic and complex manner.