Piotr Zagórski

Maria Curie-Skłodowska University · Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management

The widespread retreat of Svalbard glaciers has been frequently interrupted by short-lived surge advances. In the case of marine-terminating glaciers this is often expressed in the remodelling of coastal zones. Here, we analyzed the coastal zone changes in front of the recently surging Recherchebreen. The glacier advanced ca 1200 m since 2018 and s...

The main component of microfossils in the bottom sediments of Reindeer Lake from Spitsbergen, documenting the almost 8,000-year history of this water body, are algae representing colonies of a very rare species Pediastrum orientale (Skuja) Jankovská et Komárek 1995 with only a very small (lower than 1%) admixture of other green algae species. It ha...

As a direct consequence of the ongoing glacial recession forced by climate change, glacial forelands are developing. A common feature of proglacial changes is the emergence of glacial lake systems, which act as reservoirs for meltwater and sediment, thus creating new landforms in paraglacial landscapes. The work presented here shows the geomorpholo...

The widespread retreat of Svalbard glaciers has been frequently interrupted by short-lived surge advances. In the case of marine-terminating glaciers this is often expressed in the remodelling of coastal zones. We analyzed the coastal zone changes in front of the recently surging Recherchebreen. The glacier advanced ca 1200 m and suddenly stopped i...

Progressive climate change may have unpredictable consequences for the Arctic environment. Permafrost catchments off the west coast of Svalbard, described as “thin” and “warm,” are particularly sensitive to climate change. The interdisciplinary research on the hydrochemical response of surface and underground water functioning within a small permaf...

The shores of Recherchefjorden in western Spitsbergen have undergone significant changes during the 20th and early 21st centuries, resulting from the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) and climate warming. In areas exposed by retreating glaciers, paraglacial processes have had an impact, leading to the development of forms such as spits, lagoons and b...

Multi-proxy analyses of two twin sediment cores from Reindeer Lake were performed to reconstruct Holocene environmental conditions in this eastern branch of Bellsund region (Western Spitsbergen). The basal sediment was AMS-dated to 8.4-8.2 ka cal BP. The low thickness of the sediments in the profile, with a good correlation of dates with their dept...

The results of previous researches conducted across the upland territories of Central Europe reflect a considerably close correlation between the settlement by prehistoric agricultural societies and the ranges of the local loess covers. This correspondence – caused mainly by the high utility value of the territories in question, especially the pres...

Ground temperature measurements are crucial for a better understanding of changes in the natural environment, especially in the Arctic. Previous measurement systems provided accurate measurements; however, their most significant disadvantage was the relatively low spatial resolution, including in the vertical profile. The aim of this work was to de...

Surge-type glaciers in Svalbard are common and have been studied extensively. Whereas active phases of surges were observed and thoroughly investigated recently, data on surges in the past are limited. They are essential, however, to assess the duration of the surge cycle, to determine relation to climatic impulses, and to better understand trigger...

Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago (Norway) that has been permanently populated. The harsh Arctic climate prevents development of large vascular plants such as trees. A two-year aerobiological survey was conducted within the framework of two consecutive polar expeditions (2014 and 2015) in Spitsbergen (Calypsobyen, Bellsu...

The retreat of glaciers in response to climate warming leads to substantial changes not only in their mass balance, size and runoff but it also impacts their proglacial zones. A common characteristic of these proglacial changes is the development of glacial lake systems, which serve as meltwater and sediment reservoirs and become new elements in Ar...

Glacial lakes are an increasingly common feature of the polar landscape and high mountains. Mostly we can see them in the foreground of glaciers, dammed by moraines, other glaciers or landslides, for example. As glaciers continue to ablate, these lakes evolve from those that are in direct contact with the glacier front to lakes located in the glaci...

Progressing climate changes and declining ice cover (glacial) are accompanied by an increase in the length of paraglacial coasts. Therefore, issues related to the development and transformation of such areas attract increasing interest. No complex classification of paraglacial coasts has been presented so far. The main aim of this study was the det...

Essay: https://arctic.noaa.gov/Report-Card/Report-Card-2020/ArtMID/7975/ArticleID/904/Coastal-Permafrost-Erosion

The research was focused on the level and distribution of 90 Sr in various parts of the terrestrial environment of Spitsbergen. The mean activity concentrations were noted lower in peats and soils than in cryoconite. Analysis of vertical variation of 90 Sr for soils and peats as well as isotopic ratios of 137 Cs/ 90 Sr and 239+240 Pu/ 90 Sr for cry...

Changes in the properties and dynamics of tidewater glacier systems are key indicators of the state of Arctic climate and environment. Calving of tidewater glacier fronts is currently the dominant form of ice mass loss and a major contributor to global sea‐level rise. An important yet under studied aspect of this process is transformation of Arctic...

Arctic coasts are sensitive indicators of polar environment change. Here we present the results of a study that examines the coastal morphodynamics of the Calypsostranda coastline in Svalbard (High Arctic) between 2007 to 2017 and compare these short-term changes to previous studies for the period 1936–2007. During the 2007-2017 study period, the s...

The objective of this research is to determine the impact of waves on the segregation of sediment within the area of its supply in the context of meteorological conditions. The research was conducted on a 4 km section of the shore of Calypsostranda (Bellsund, West Spitsbergen), shaped by waves such as swell, wind waves, and tides. Particular attent...

Aims The aim of this study was to cross correlate data on physico-chemical parameters of soil with rhizosphere microorganisms and plant species in order to gain more knowledge about formation of soil and development of plants in the face of the changing climate on Spitsbergen and relations between them. Methods We investigated physico-chemical par...

Tidewater glaciers supply large amounts of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and freshwater to fjords and affect oceanographic, sedimentological and biological processes. Our understanding of these processes, is usually limited to the short summer season. Here, we present the results of a one-year-long monitoring of the spatial variability in SPM...

Most of the historical sites of the Svalbard Archipelago comprise remains of whaling stations, trappers' huts and mining activities. Although most parts of Svalbard lie within the boundaries of national parks, not all cultural remains have been thoroughly documented and catalogued. The rapid development of modelling software allows for (re-)creatin...

Recherchefjorden is one of the fjords of the western coast of Spitsbergen. This small water body with S-N orientation, length of 7 km, and width of 4-5 km is located 20 km from open sea. The fjord is open northwards, where it is connected with the Bellsund. The depth of the fjord is varied, but not exceeding 100 m. The prolongation of the fjord tow...

Based on the results of geoarchaeological investigations carried out at the Czermno site (eastern Poland), which is associated with Cherven, i.e. the mediaeval capital of the Cherven Towns, we reconstructed the main stages of environmental changes and human impact in the surroundings of the site. The site is of great archaeological importance due t...

Beach pollution is one of the most common hazards in present-day anthro-pogenic environments. Even in the remote Svalbard Archipelago, pollution impacts the beach system and can pose environmental threats. The significant increase in human activity observed in Svalbard over the last 20-30 years has resulted in a visible change in the amount of coas...

In Svalbard, the rapid glacier retreat observed since the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) has transformed the geomorphology and sediment budgets of glacial forelands, river valleys and slope systems. To date, relatively little information exists regarding the impact of such a profound glacial landscape degradation on the evolution of coastal enviro...

Geomorphological research based on geomorphological mapping seeks to identify the origins and age of forms as well as to describe the process that created or transformed a particular form. One of the most important aspects of this study is the morphometry and morphology of the landscape. This also applies to the submarine areas, and issues related...

Asection of a gravel−dominated coast in Isbjørnhamna (Hornsund, Svalbard) was analysed to calculate the rate of shoreline changes and explain processes controlling coastal zone development over last 50 years. Between 1960 and 2011, coastal landscape of Isbjørn− hamna experienced a significant shift from dominated by influence of tide−water glacier...

The rapid climate warming being observed in the Svalbard is leading to an increase in human activities in the coastal zone, leading to an increased need for coastal hazard assessment. Present-day Svalbard coastal landscapes are modified by increased degradation of permafrost accelerated sediment supply from deglaciated catchments, and prolonged per...

A section of a gravel-dominated coast in Isbjørnhamna (Hornsund, Svalbard) was analysed to calculate the rate of shoreline changes and explain processes controlling coastal zone development over last 50 years. Between 1960 and 2011, coastal landscape of Isbjørnhamna experienced a significant shift from dominated by influence of tide-water glacier a...

Hillfort complex at Czermno - geoarchaeological studies

Southern Bellsund is characterised by one of the most diverse coastal geomorphology in the entire Svalbard. Coastal environments range from vast tidal flats, wide gravel-dominated beaches, lagoons, migrating spits and both rocky and ice cliffs. In this paper we summarise the geomorphological investigations carried out along selected coastal section...

W opracowaniu scharakteryzowano przebieg warunków pogodowych podczas XXVI Wyprawy Polarnej Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej na Spitsbergen. Pomiary wykonywano od 8 lipca do 1 września 2014 roku za pomocą automatycznej stacji meteorologicznej zainstalowanej w Calypsobyen (Bellsund, Svalbard). Analizie poddano temperaturę i wilgotność względną p...

70| Czermno is the small village in the eastern part of Lublin Voivodship, but it is very important archaeological site. According to historians in the early Middle Ages, Czerwien/Czermno was one of the largest and most important centre (capitol) of Cherven Towns region. The area of the entire complex is estimated between approximately 75 and 150 h...

The pristine coasts of Spitsbergen, major island of Svalbard Archipelago provide a superb opportunity to quantify how High Arctic coasts are responding to glacier retreat and associated intensified sediment flux to the fjord and shelf zones. This study focuses on the mechanisms controlling the recent coastal evolution (1990–2009) in Northern Petuni...

The application of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) for precise modelling of land relief and quantitative estimation of spatial and temporal transformations can contribute to better understanding of catchment-forming processes. Experimental field measurements utilising the 3D laser scanning technology were carried out within the Scott River catchme...

W pracy przedstawiono rozwój niewielkiego, śródpolnego wąwozu drogowego na Płaskowyżu Nałęczowskim, formującego się w ciągu kilkudziesięciu lat. Rozcinająca zbocze lessowej dolinki forma ma 80 m długości i do 2 m głębokości. Rozwój wąwozu ukazano na tle zmian ukształtowania powierzchni sąsiednich pól, spowodowanych erozją gleb uprawnych. Współczesn...

The glacial history of the Svalbard archipelago is often a hot topic for researches, but the articles usually refer to a particular piece of Svalbard. The authors of this work studied many scientific articles based on the researches to find and collect this history. Svalbard archipelago is located in the Arctic, at the edge of the continental shelf...

Since the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) Svalbard landscape has been undergoing rapid environmental change and experiencing paraglacial readjustment transforming formerly glacial environments into non-glacial systems. In recent years the geomorphological research on Svalbard has focused on the paraglacial processes operating in proglacial zones an...

Paper described geomorphological characteristics of landform sets which occur on research areas investigated by Polish geomorphologists on Spitsbergen. These area involve four areas along the western coast of Spitsbergen, i.e. vicinities of the Kaffiøyra, the Werenskioldbreen, the Calyp-sostranda, and the Hornsund, as wel as one area located in the...

Downloads All chapters available on the website: http://geografia.umcs.lublin.pl/wyprawy/ http://geografia.umcs.lublin.pl/wyprawy/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=78&lang=pl In 2013 we celebrate the 27th anniversary of the 1st Polar Expedition to Spits-bergen organised by the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in 1986....

The archaeological site in Klementowice is the north-easternmost settlement point of the Magdalenian technocomplex in Europe. The paper presents the results of geoarchaeological investigations focused on recognition, identification, and interpretation of environmental determinants of the site location. The specific and favourable geographical posit...

The functioning of the polar catchment is reflected in changes (geosuccession) of the structure of the natural environment (changes in the landscape). In the case of polar catchments, sediments can be transported and deposited in the coastal zone by glaciers (moraine sediments) or proglacial water in the area of outwash plains, deltaic fans or tida...

Wiśniewski T.1, Mroczek P.2, Rodzik J. 2, Zagórski P. 2 Paleopedology of loess-soil sequence at the Magdalenian camp in Klementowice (Nałęczów Plateau, Lublin Upland, E Poland) – selected aspects 1 Institute of Archaeology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland, email: krzem7@o2.pl 2 Earth Sciences Institute, Maria Curie-Skłodowska Univ...

Shoreline dynamics of Calypsostranda (NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land, Svalbard) during the last century A 6 km long stretch of the coast of Calypsostranda between Skilvika and Joseph-bukta, situated on the western side of Recherchefjorden, was investigated. It is made of an accumulative marine terrace at a height of 2-8 m a.s.l. (terrace 1) and width of 4...

W artykule zaprezentowano sposoby wykorzystania analiz przestrzennych w badaniach wczesnośredniowiecznych stanowisk archeologicznych z terenu Ziemi Chełmskiej (Busówno, Stołpie, Horodysko). Analizy te objęły procedury pozyskiwania danych oraz ich przetwarzanie z użyciem oprogramowania GIS. Obejmowały one: pozyskanie i cyfrowe przetworzenie danych a...

The archaeological site ar Klememowice has been known since the early 8os of rhe 20,hcentury. In 2007, excavations were resumed there and a new, previously unknown concemrarion of artitacts was discovered. New dara from several rhousands of Hinr artifacrs and me firsr discovery of faunal remains indicate a long-rerm and rnulri-season hunring camp....

The article presents the development of a small, midfield form of road, which cuts the side of a loessic valley. The contemporary shape of the surface was determined by GPS measurements (Leica System 500), set together in ArcView and ArcGIS. Changing of its position was determined by a field analysis of the construction of 50 profiles of the Luviso...