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150-year daily data (1870–2021) in lakes and rivers reveals intensifying surface water warming and heatwaves in the Pannonian Ecoregion (Hungary)
Effect of Hydraulic Structure on Mitigating Extreme Hydrological Conditions of a Small River in the Temperate Zone (Główna River, Central Europe)
Water resources are of elementary economic and environmental importance, and the observed global transformations as well as regional environmental conditions necessitate activities aimed at providing an optimal amount of water at different levels. One such solution is hydrotechnical infrastructure that permits the precise control of the amount of water in the catchment. This paper presents results concerning changes in the water flow in the Główna River in Poland before (1955–1983) and after (1984–2021) the construction of the Kowalski Reservoir. In the former period, there were no changes in water flow, and the obtained results were not statistically significant (p 0.05). In the period after the construction of the reservoir, a decreasing trend in monthly flow was observed in December, April, July, September, and October. Moreover, a decrease in 1, 3, 7, and 90 day maximum flow was observed. For maximum 30 day flow, the changes were below the threshold of the adopted significance level. Moreover, minimum flow in the period after the construction of the reservoir showed no significant decreasing trend. In hydrological terms, the reservoir served its purpose by contributing to the stabilisation of the water flow. This information is important from the point of view of an increase in retention and corresponds with a broader programme conducted in the territory of Poland. In the context of the construction of further reservoirs, it is important to investigate the current range of changes in water circulation for objects of the type already functioning in the environment, constituting an actual point of reference.
Opłacalność systemu pobierania wody deszczowej na działce : Co oznacza dla nas zmiana klimatu?, cz. 5
Long-Term Changes in the Thermal and Ice Regime of the Biebrza River (Northeastern Poland) in the Era of Global Warming
In the context of ongoing environmental changes, particularly against the backdrop of global warming, significant attention is being given to areas of exceptional natural value that, in many aspects, retain a pristine character. One such area is the Biebrza River in northeastern Poland, which, together with the wetlands in its basin, forms one of the most valuable ecosystems of its kind in Europe. This study analyses the changes in the thermal and ice regime for two hydrological stations, Sztabin and Burzyn, in the period from 1959 to 2023. It was found that the average annual water temperature in this period for the Biebrza River increased by 0.28 °C/decade, and in the case of ice phenomena, statistically significant changes for both stations showed a decline, with an acceleration of the ice cover disappearance by an average of 3 days/decade. These recorded changes should be considered unfavourable, as they will affect the transformation of both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the river itself, as well as the natural elements associated with it.
Ecological and Health Risk Assessments of Heavy Metals Contained in Sediments of Polish Dam Reservoirs
This study aimed at investigating the distribution of heavy metals (HMs: Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr, and Cu) in the bottom sediments of 28 reservoirs covered area of Poland. The paper evaluates the pollution of sediments with HMs and their potential toxic effects on aquatic organisms and human health on the basis of results provided by the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Poland. The average concentrations of HMs in the bottom sediments of the reservoirs were as follows: Cd < Ni < Cr < Cu < Pb < Zn. (0.187, 7.30, 7.74, 10.62, 12.47, and 52.67 mg∙dm−3). The pollution load index values were from 0.05 to 2.45. They indicate contamination of the bottom sediments in seven reservoirs. The contamination-factor values suggest pollution with individual HMs in 19 reservoirs, primarily Cr, Ni, Cu, and Pb. The analysis showed that only two reservoirs had the potential for toxic effects on aquatic organisms due to high concentrations of Cd and Pb. The hazard index values for all the analyzed HMs were less than one. Therefore, there was no non-carcinogenic risk for dredging workers. The reservoirs were divided into two groups in terms of composition and concentration values. Reservoirs with higher concentrations of HMs in bottom sediments are dispersed, suggesting local pollution sources. For the second group of reservoirs, HMs’ concentrations may be determined by regional pollution sources. The analysis showed that Pb, Zn, and Cd concentrations are higher in older reservoirs and those with higher proportions of artificial areas in their catchments. Concentrations of Ni, Cu, and Cr are higher in reservoirs in south Poland and those with higher Schindler’s ratios.
The Relationship between Mortality from Cardiovascular Diseases and Total Drinking Water Hardness: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
Background: Interest in water chemical activity, its content, and its impact on human health has greatly increased throughout the last decade. Some studies suggest that drinking water with high hardness may have preventative effects on cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the association between drinking water hardness and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Methods: The study selection process was designed to find the association between drinking water hardness and CVDs mortality. The search included both qualitative and quantitative research and was performed in three databases: Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics, Ann Arbor, MI, USA), PubMed (National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MA, USA), and Scopus (Elsevier, RELX Group plc, London, UK). The project was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), registration number: CRD42020213102. Results: Seventeen studies out of a total of twenty-five studies qualitatively analyzed indicated a significant relation between total water hardness and protection from CVD mortality. The quantitative analysis concluded that high drinking water hardness has a significantly lowering effect on mortality from CVDs, however, the heterogeneity was high. Conclusions: This systematic literature review shows that total water hardness could affect CVD prevention and mortality. Due to the many confounding factors in the studies, more research is needed.
Trace Elements in Sediments of Rivers Affected by Brown Coal Mining: A Potential Environmental Hazard
Brown coal remains an important energy source in Europe, including countries such as Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Greece. Open-pit mines disturb the environment in terms of air quality, hydrology, and chemical and biological transformations in rivers receiving mine waters. In the present study, we assessed the impact of mine waters from four brown coal open-pit mines on the contamination of river sediments. Chemical analysis included the quantification of 62 elements, including heavy metals (HMs) and rare earth elements (REEs). The contamination of sediments by HMs was evaluated using the contamination factor (CF), the pollution load index (PLI), and the Nemerow multi-factor index (PI). The potential toxic effects of HMs on aquatic organisms were assessed using the potential ecological risk index (PERI). Detailed analysis of chondrite-standardized concentrations of REEs was performed to describe the effects of mine water on their pattern in sediments. Cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to divide study sites into groups and to evaluate the combined effect of sediment texture and site location on HMs and REEs in sediments. The study showed that after mine water discharge, there is a decrease in HM and REE concentrations in sediments. The decrease in each element’s concentration in sites located 100 m downstream of the discharge was caused by washing out of the finest fractions of sediments by mine waters.
Three Environments, One Problem: Forecasting Water Temperature in Central Europe in Response to Climate Change
Water temperature is a fundamental parameter influencing a range of biotic and abiotic processes occurring within various components of the hydrosphere. This study presents a multi-step, data-driven predictive modeling framework to estimate water temperatures for the period 2021–2100 in three aquatic environments in Central Europe: the Odra River, the Szczecin Lagoon, and the Baltic Sea. The framework integrates Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA), Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) regression, Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR), and Random Forest (RF) machine learning models. To assess the performance of the models, the coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE) were used. The results showed that the application of statistical downscaling methods improved the prediction of air temperatures with respect to the BMA. Moreover, the RF method was used to predict water temperature. The best model performance was obtained for the Baltic Sea and the lowest for the Odra River. Under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenario-based simulations, projected air temperature increases in the period 2021–2100 could range from 1.5 °C to 1.7 °C and 4.7 to 5.1 °C. In contrast, the increase in water temperatures by 2100 will be between 1.2 °C and 1.6 °C (SSP2-4.5 scenario) and between 3.5 °C and 4.9 °C (SSP5-8.5).
Assessing the sensitivity of urban aquatic nature-based solutions to hydroclimate variability using stable water isotopes
Abstract Natural and engineered water features, or blue infrastructure are increasingly implemented in cities as a form of water-related nature-based solutions (aquaNBS), to address ecological and hydrological challenges that threaten urban biodiversity and water security. Nevertheless, the combination of impacts from climate change, multi-faceted consequences of past management, current urban expansion, population growth, and overall urban ecosystem complexity makes it challenging to evaluate the hydrological function of these aquaNBS, and their sensitivity to hydroclimatic and other environmental changes. To enhance adaptation capacity of aquaNBS towards multiple urban and climatic stressors, it is crucial to understand the main hydrologic processes, as well as hydroclimate influences, that determine the functioning of aquaNBS. Stable water isotopes have proven to be a valuable tool in providing integrated understanding of hydrologic functioning over extended spatial scales. While higher frequency isotope data is usually most informative, even limited isotopic data can aid hydrological characterization. We conducted seasonal sampling over the period of one year in 2023/2024, across a major hydroclimate gradient across four European cities (Poznań, Berlin, Antwerp, Lisbon). The goal was to identify the dominant physical processes (in terms of water sources, dominant flow paths, and age proxies) linked to the main hydroclimate factors along a continental climate gradient. Comparative analyses of local stable water isotope signatures from different aquaNBS types (i.e., streams, ponds) revealed the strong influence of local hydroclimate, as well as varying water source contributions and mixing processes. The application of transit time proxies, such as tracer damping and young water fraction estimations, suggests ponds to be more sensitive to hydroclimate changes, as evidenced by the strong seasonality in evaporative enrichment and high fractions of young water contributions. In contrast, most streams indicated greater mixing of water sources and longer transit times, suggesting greater resilience to hydroclimate variability. In addition, a comparison between seasonally sampled data and monthly sampling for selected locations in Berlin showed that even relatively coarse temporal data collection, but with more extensive spatial coverage, can be sufficient and still insightful for broader hydrologic characterizations of aquaNBS at larger scales.
Impact of Water Meadow Restoration on Forage Hay Production in Different Hydro-Meteorological Conditions: A Case Study of Racot, Central Poland
Water meadows in river valleys are a source of very valuable forage. Due to their specificity, an appropriate approach to water management is required. This study assessed the impact of the reclamation of a traditional gravity irrigation system, aimed at saving and reducing water loss from meadows through controlled drainage. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the investment in drainage system restoration in the context of improving the yield of fodder hay in water meadows under changing hydrometeorological conditions. The analysis was performed on the basis of meteorological and hydrological data from 30 years in the period 1989–2018. The research was conducted on the basis of two assumptions. The first concerned management of meadows without the use of subsoil irrigation based only on the amount of water supplied from rainfall. The second variant assumed deficit irrigation based on periodic water meadows with systems of ditches and drainage channels that supplied water depending on the currently available amount of water in a nearby river. The field research was performed during the crop season of 2019 and 2020. Drainage restoration investment allowed the amount of water supplied to the meadows to be increased. In the analysed period, on average, almost 30 mm of water was delivered through the ditch system. There was also an increase in hay yields of 32%. However, the investment costs, which amounted to EUR 23,382.48, were too high for this type of farm production. A positive net present value (NPV) was obtained only for 25% of cases of hydrometeorological conditions (first quartile). For the other years, the investment was not profitable.
Innowacje technologiczne oraz system monitoringu, prognozowania i operacyjnego planowania działań melioracyjnych, dla precyzyjnego gospodarowania wodą w skali obiektu melioracyjnego
Seven Decades of Surface Temperature Changes in Central European Lakes: What Is Next?
Lakes are vital components of the hydrosphere, holding both environmental and economic significance. In recent times, they have undergone transformations in one of their key characteristics—water temperature. Assessing the scale and pace of these changes depends on the length and accuracy of the available data. This study focuses on the two lakes in Poland (Białe Augustowskie and Studzieniczne) with the longest continuous water temperature records, ranging from 1954 to 2023. The results reveal a relatively stable thermal regime until the late 1980s (with changes that were statistically insignificant) and a significant shift over the past three decades, during which the water temperature increased at a rate of 0.5 °C per decade. Importantly, simulations indicate further warming of the water by the end of the 21st century. Depending on the chosen climate change scenario, the warming of both lakes is expected to continue, with the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP585) scenario projecting a steady increase of 0.5 °C per decade. Given the fundamental importance of water temperature in determining factors such as water quality, these future changes present a significant challenge for water management authorities in terms of maintaining and managing these ecosystems.
Assessment of spatial distribution of sediment contamination with heavy metals in the two biggest rivers in Poland
Air and Water Temperature Relationships in Major Polish Rivers and Their Long-Term Changes
Large rivers are crucial for the functioning of individual regions and entire countries. However, despite their importance, relevant data allowing for a full assessment of the processes and phenomena occurring within them are often lacking. In the contemporary context, climate change has become a key factor affecting river ecosystems, leading to transformations in one of their fundamental characteristics—thermal conditions. This study analyzes the relationships between air temperature and water temperature in the four largest rivers in Poland, using a diversified methodological approach (wavelet analysis, lag non-linear models, copula), which broadens the current understanding of rivers in Central Europe. All three analytical paths confirmed a strong relationship between the two media, forming a basis for further research aimed at addressing data gaps and determining the direction and rate of changes over the period 1965–2024. All cases showed a statistically significant positive trend, with rates varying slightly from 0.32 to 0.38 °C · decade−1 (an average increase of 0.35 °C · decade−1). The ongoing transformation of the thermal regime—its scale and rate—should be taken into account in interdisciplinary studies of river ecosystems, as well as by agencies responsible for water resource management. This issue is particularly important in the context of sustainable development, where the economic use and ecological condition of river systems are closely linked to water temperature.
Application of Multi-Criteria Analytic Methods in the Assessment of the Technical Conditions of Small Hydraulic Structures
Increasing water demand, combined with unfavourable climate change, creates a need for well-thought-out water management. Such goals are realised thanks to appropriate hydrotechnical infrastructure, the efficiency and functionality of which depend on its technical condition. In the literature, there is no method for the assessment of the technical condition of small damming structures, including sluice gates. The aim of this article was to present the possibility of using the multi-criteria AHP decision support method to assess the technical condition of small damming structures. The assessment included both concrete elements (spillways, abutments, and apron) and steel elements (gates and hoisting equipment). The analyses considered the effects of growing vegetation, the condition of concrete surfaces (e.g., cracks, cavities, exposed rebar) and steel elements (corrosion, deterioration). A hybrid method was used to study the assessment of the technical condition of water structures. It consisted of a modified Zawadzki’s method and weights which were determined by different groups of respondents with industry backgrounds (university students and experts) using the AHP method. The obtained results show that the factors related to the holes and corrosion of the gate elements had the highest value of the matrix solution vector. The last level of the tree structure indicated that the condition of the spillway and gate is the most important factor in the technical condition assessment. As the assessment considers commonly available parameters, the proposed method is universal and can be used in the assessment of other structures of this type in different regions of the world, which is important in terms of their functioning, planned repairs, and optimal use in water resource management.
A hybrid model for the forecasting of sea surface water temperature using the information of air temperature: a case study of the Baltic Sea
How Climate Change Affects River and Lake Water Temperature in Central-West Poland—A Case Study of the Warta River Catchment
Climate change has a significant impact on the abiotic and biotic environment. An increase in air temperatures translates into higher temperatures of water constituting the habitat of a wide range of species. The purpose of this study is to present the direction and extent of water temperature increases in eight rivers and three lakes on a monthly and annual basis. The analysis of river water temperatures used both measured data and data reconstructed using artificial neural networks from the period of 1984–2020. The analysis of the direction and extent of changes in air and water temperatures was performed using Mann-Kandall tests and a modified Sen test. The analysis of water temperature changes was conducted against the background of climatic conditions and catchment characteristics. The results indicate that in the Warta River basin in the period of 1984–2020, the average annual temperature rise reached 0.51 °C decade−1, ranging from 0.43 to 0.61 °C decade−1. This translated into an increase in mean annual water temperatures in lakes in a range from 0.14 to 0.58 °C decade−1, and for rivers in a range from 0.10 to 0.54 °C decade−1. The greatest changes in air temperature occurred in April, June, August, September, and November. It was reflected in an increase in water temperature in lakes and rivers. However, these changes did not occur in all rivers and lakes, suggesting the role of local factors that modify the effect of climate change. The study showed that the extent of air temperature changes was significantly higher than the extent of water temperature changes in rivers.
