Geology, Geophysics & Environment
Loading...
ISSN 2299-8004
e-ISSN: 2353-0790
Issue Date
2025
Volume
Vol. 51
Number
No. 4
Description
Journal Volume
Geology, Geophysics & Environment
Vol. 51 (2025)
Projects
Pages
Articles
Vertical variations in the concentration of traffic-related pollutants PM in a selected area along a transport corridor
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2025) Jaroń, Agata; Borucka, Anna
Profiling pollutant distributions contributes to a deeper understanding of the diffusion of traffic air pollution, with road transport being a significant source of air pollution. The available literature presents numerous methods for analyzing air pollution distributions resulting from vehicular transport. However, these studies primarily focus on simulated conditions rather than real-world field measurements. This study examines real-world field measurements of air pollution near a highway in Poland using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platform across different seasons. The UAV platform was equipped with a semiconductor laser sensor for measuring air pollutants such as $SO_2$, $CO_2$, $N_{x}O_{y}$, $O_3$ and $PM_{10}$, $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_1$. Although there are many works on profiling pollutants, this is the first such attempt to visualize pollutants in Poland, along with comparing the indications to the National Air Pollution Monitoring. By applying Spearman’s correlation coefficient, the study assesses the correlation of pollutant concentrations within the vertical profile from a street canyon and conducts pollution mapping. Observations indicate that in spring, summer, and autumn, pollutant concentrations decrease with altitude. However, in winter, a »pollution cloud« was detected at an altitude of 20–30 m, while concentrations above this threshold declined. The findings provide valuable insights for developing recommendations to protect public health. In the future, they may be used to properly manage urban infrastructure in order to protect the population from the negative effects of air pollution.
Assessment of the geogenic salinity conditions in the hyporheic zone of the Moszczenica River in the Rogóźno salt dome zone (Zgierz district) based on radium isotopes
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2025) Ziułkiewicz, Maciej; Grabowski, Paweł; Długosz-Lisiecka, Magdalena
On the border of the Kujavian Anticlinorium and the Łódź Synclinorium, the Rogóźno salt dome was formed and broke through the overburden of Mesozoic formations. The groundwater circulating around them leaches the salt body and, being saline, is subject to drainage in the Moszczenica valley. Previous measurements of vertical hydraulic gradients and physicochemical analyses showed conditions favorable for the penetration of aqueous solutions of Zechstein salt into the riverbed, which is particularly intensified at low surface water levels. The main objective of this publication is to determine the origin of groundwater flowing into the hyporheic zone (HZ) of Moszczenica using radium isotopes. Hydrochemical studies were carried out on deep groundwater in the supply area, flow and drainage zones of the Groundwater Body, within the boundaries of which the salt dome is located. The preliminary assessment of the hydrochemical specificity of HZ waters, carried out using the EMMA method, showed that these are waters which, as a mixture, cannot be related to any of the end member elements selected from the set of local groundwaters. Based on previous hydrochemical studies, the share of deep groundwaters in the HZ was determined to be 22–33%. On this basis, the reconstruction of the sought mixing end element was performed with the isotopic signature of the river water and the mixture of HZ waters. Using several computational scenarios, it was indicated that these may be waters from deep parts adjacent to the salt diapir of Cretaceous aquifers from the southwest.
A record of Eocene subaqueous large-scale mass movements in the external Tethys Ocean (Skyba Nappe, Outer Carpathians, Ukraine)
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2025) Waśkowska, Anna; Hnylko, Svitlana; Kowal-Kasprzyk, Justyna; Golonka, Jan; Słomka, Tadeusz; Hnylko, Oleh; Heneralova, Larysa; Pilarz, Monika
Studies were carried out on the Popeli Beds, which were mainly deposited by mass movements along the northern slope of the Tethys Ocean and form an olistostrome sequence occurring within Paleogene deposits. The analysis focuses on the deposits exposed in the northern limb of the Pobuk Syncline – the structural element of the Oriv Skyba – in the external zones of the Skyba (Skole) Nappe. Structural, lithological, sedimentological and paleontological studies allowed for the identification and characterisation of the olistostrome sequence and revealed its structure. Six individual olistostrome complexes were distinguished and described in detail. Five of these are gravelly mudstoneswith oversized clasts, overlain by medium-bedded mudstones and sandstones, the last one consists of deformed packages of thin bedded mudstones and sandstones. The olistostrome sequence is composed of a wide range of lithological and stratigraphic components, including Tithonian – Berriasian shallow- water limestones (so-called Štramberk-type limestones), Upper Cretaceous limestones, sandstones, and siliceous rocks, as well as Paleogene mudstones, sandstones, limestones, and marls. Biostratigraphic analysis of foraminifera indicates the Bartonian as the time of displacement. The olistostrome niche migrated downslope from a lower shelf-upper slope position characterized by marl sedimentation, to slope areas dominated by turbidite sedimentation.
Trace elements and rare earth elements in post-mining pit lakes of the Muskau Arch (Poland): AMD-related enrichment and toxicity assessment
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2025) Śniady, Igor; Machowska, Aleksandra; Dysierowicz, Maciej; Siepak, Marcin
This study presents results for trace elements (TEs) and rare earth elements (REEs) in five pit lakes located within the Muskau Arch, one of the largest regions in Central and Eastern Europe affected by acid mine drainage (AMD). Concentrations of TEs (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Th, Tl, U, V, Zn) and REEs (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) were determined using inductively coupled plasma triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQ-MS). The highest concentrations were recorded for Fe (0.14–156.9 mg/L), which was the dominant TE in all pit lakes except MA1, where Al was dominant. PCA indicated that TEs such as Al, Be, Co, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Rb, Sc, Th, and Zn were strongly associated with pit lakes affected by AMD. Two subgroups were identified: (1) Be, Co, Ni, and Zn, which correlated with Al and low pH, and (2) Fe, Mn, Li, Rb, and Th, which correlated with slightly higher pH and anoxic and more reducing conditions. The toxicity analysis of TEs revealed substantial variation among the pit lakes (from extreme to low toxicity) and indicated that the most important TEs contributing to water toxicity were Al, Mn, Zn, and Ba. Total REE concentrations ranged from 0.15 µg/L to 149.3 µg/L, with by far the highest values recorded in MA2, and their concentrations were strongly influenced by pH. The pit lakes generally exhibited LREE (including La to Eu) enrichment, as well as a weaker MREE (including Sm to Dy) enrichment. Positive Gd anomalies were identified at all sampling points. Additionally, positive Eu anomalies were observed in all pit lakes except MA2, which was the most strongly affected by AMD, and positive Tb anomalies were recorded primarily in samples influenced by AMD.
Exploratory analysis of elements in incineration bottom ash with numerous values below the detection limit using selected substitution methods
(Wydawnictwa AGH, 2025) Chuchro, Monika; Zaręba, Mateusz; Jędrusiak, Radosław
This study investigates the influence of substitution methods for left-censored values on exploratory data analysis (EDA) of the incineration bottom ash (IBA). IBA, a by-product of municipal solid waste incineration, contains a wide range of economically valuable elements, many of which are frequently reported below detection limits due to analytical constraints. The study aims to evaluate the impact of different substitution methods on descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression modeling outcomes.Four widely used substitution approaches were compared: (i) replacement with half of the detection limit, (ii) random values from a uniform distribution, (iii) robust regression on order statistics (ROS), and (iv) tobit regression (applied in both small and large variants). Five trace elements with different proportions of censored values (13–67%) were analyzed using a dataset of 52 weekly samples collected throughout 2021 at the Krakow Thermal Waste Treatment Plant. The impact of each method was assessed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation matrices, and multiple linear regression models. Additional analyses incorporated 11 auxiliary elements to enhance correlation and regression model robustness. The results show that substitution methods significantly affect data distributions, particularly for elements with high censoring rates. ROS and tobit regression produced more stable statistical outputs and narrower histograms compared to simpler methods. Furthermore, regression model performance improved with substitution compared to raw data, with tobit methods demonstrating the highest accuracy for elements with strong inter-element correlations. The findings provide methodological guidance for reliable data handling in IBA analysis and recovery assessments.