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1

Participation of Employees and Students of the Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography in Polar Research

Pasik M., Adamek A., Rajner M., Kurczyński Z., Pachuta A., Woźniak M., Bylina P., Próchniewicz D.

Reports on Geodesy and Geoinformatics

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2016

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Vol. 100

235--252

EN

This year the Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography, Warsaw University of Technology celebrates its 95th jubilee, which provides an opportunity to present the Faculty’s rich traditions in polar research. Employees and students of the faculty for almost 60 years have taken part in research expeditions to the polar circle. The article presents various studies typical of geodesy and cartography, as well as miscellany of possible measurement applications and geodetic techniques used to support interdisciplinary research. Wide range of geodetic techniques used in polar studies includes classic angular and linear surveys, photogrammetric techniques, gravimetric measurements, GNSS satellite techniques and satellite imaging. Those measurements were applied in glaciological, geological, geodynamic, botanical researches as well as in cartographic studies. Often they were used in activities aiming to ensure continuous functioning of Polish research stations on both hemispheres. This study is a short overview of thematic scope and selected research results conducted by our employees and students.

2

Geochronologia skał wulkanicznych centralnej i południowej części Wyspy Króla Jerzego (Szetlandy Południowe, Zachodnia Antarktyka)

Pańczyk M.

Przegląd Geologiczny

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2013

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Vol. 61, nr 2

117--119

EN

New isotopic and paleomagnetic studies of volcanic rocks from the central and southern part of the King George Island and Penguin Island were carried out. The combination of three dating methods: single grain U-Pb dating of separated zircons, whole-rock 40Ar-39Ar dating and magnetostratigraphy allow distinguishing five magmatic activity phases: the oldest, late Cretaceous (Campanian), early to middle Eocene (about 53–43 Ma), late Eocene (about 37–35 Ma), late Oligocene (about 28–25 Ma) and, the youngest, late Pliocene to Holocene.

3

Warunki meteorologiczne na Stacji Arctowskiego (Wyspa Króla Jerzego, Antarktyka) w 2012 roku

Kejna M., Araźny A., Sobota I., Piszczek J., Łabno R.

Problemy Klimatologii Polarnej

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2013

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Nr 23

43--56

PL

W artykule przedstawiono przebieg warunków meteorologicznych na Stacji H. Arctowskiego (Wyspa Króla Jerzego, Szetlandy Pd., Antarktyka) w 2012 roku. Pomiary prowadzono za pomocą automatycznej stacji meteorologicznej Davis Vantage Pro+ w interwale godzinnym. Przeanalizowano zmienność ciśnienia atmosferycznego, promieniowania słonecznego, temperatury i wilgotności powietrza oraz kierunku i prędkości wiatru w cyklu rocznym i dobowym. Uzyskane wyniki porównano z dłuższym okresem pomiarowym (1977-1999) oraz z równoległymi danymi z innych stacji prowadzących pomiary meteorologiczne na Wyspie Króla Jerzego.

EN

This paper presents the meteorological conditions at the Arctowski Station (King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica) in 2012. Measurements were carried out using an automatic weather station Davis Vantage Pro+. At the Arctowski Station the global solar radiation in the period from January 19 to December 31, 2012 amounted to 2985.3 MJ.m-2 (8.60 MJ.m-2.day-1). Taking into account the full year from 1 February 2012 to 31 January 2013, this totaled to 2909.6 MJ.m-2 (7.97 MJ.m-2.day-1). The highest monthly value of solar radiation occurred in December, 567.8 MJ.m-2 (18.32 MJ.m-2.day-1) and the lowest in June, 10.4 MJ.m-2 (0.35 MJ.m-2.day-1). The average annual air temperature was –1.5°C, with the highest monthly average in January (2.4°C) and lowest in June (–5.6°C). The maximum of air temperature was 9.6°C, and the minimum –17.2°C. In 2012 the average atmospheric pressure at sea level was 989.0 hPa, with a characteristic semi-annual oscillation of pressure with two minima: in summer (January 985.3 hPa) and winter (June 979.4 hPa) and two maxima: in autumn (April 996.7 hPa) and spring (September 994.9 hPa). The lowest pressure was 946.8 hPa and the highest 1020.7 hPa. At the Arctowski Station SW, NE, E and SE winds dominate in accordance with gradient of air pressure and the local orography. The average wind speed at 2 m above the ground was 4.8 ms-1, with maximum in winter (June 6.1 ms-1) and minimum in summer (December 3.1 ms-1). The maximum wind speed exceeded 40 ms-1. Relative air humidity was 83%. There is less humidity in summer (January 78%) than in winter (July, 87%). In the course of humidity indicate the day with low humidity during foehn winds. Arctowski Station area is warmer to other regions of King George Island (about 1°C in summer and 1.5°C in winter). On the King George Island and Antarctic Peninsula area occurred increase of air temperature. At the neighboring station Bellingshausen in the years 1968-2012 air temperature rise by 0.17°C/10 years.

4

Eocene sedimentary facies in volcanogenic succession on King George Island, South Shetland Islands : a record of pre-ice sheet terrestrial environments in West Antarctica

Mozer A.

Geological Quarterly

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2013

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Vol. 57, No. 3

385--394

EN

About 34 Ma ago there was a radical change of climate that led to the formation of Antarctic ice sheet. King George Island, located in the South Shetland Islands volcanic arc (northern Antarctic Peninsula region), is one of a few places in West Antarctica which shows a geological record of sedimentary environments preceding development of the ice sheet. The Eocene sedimentary facies occur in the dominantly volcanogenic succession of King George Island. They have been recognized in the Arctowski Cove and Point Thomas formations (Ezcurra Inlet Group) and in the Mount Wawel Formation (Point Hennequin Group) in Admiralty Bay, and in the Mazurek Point Formation (Chopin Ridge Group) and Lions Cove Formation (Polonia Glacier group) in King George Bay. They record a cooling trend in terrestrial environments that began at termination of the Early/Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum, and was followed by a significant deterioration of climate during Late Eocene and earliest Oligocene, directly preceding glacial conditions in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region. The ongoing research confirms the existence of three preglacial climatic stages (PGS-1 – PGS-3) during Eocene – earliest Oligocene, from humid, warm to moderate climate (PGS-1), through cool and dry climate (PGS-2), up to cold and humid conditions (PGS-3). Studies were carried out on usually fine-grained volcanoclastic sediments, containing Podocarpaceae–Araucaria–Nothofagus plant fossils assembly. Beds of reworked pyroclastic material alternate with lava flows or volcanic agglomerates, as well as ex situ blocks of Eocene volcanogenic sediments on a moraine. Calculated geochemical indices of weathering (CIA, PIA and CIW) confirm moderate to high chemical weathering under warm and humid climate conditions at the beginning and deterioration of conditions in the end of Eocene.

5

Dzieje polskich badań botanicznych i mykologicznych lądowych obszarów Antarktyki i Subantarktyki

Köhler P., Olech M.

Kwartalnik Historii Nauki i Techniki

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2011

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R. 56, nr 1

67-109

EN

The work includes a description of the period from the moment of setting up Polish Polar Station on King George Island (1977) to the end of International Polar Year IV in 2009. Researches on flower plants focused, among others, on plants' morphology, morphological composition of the pollen and anatomical ultra-structure of the leaves. There were also carried out biochemical and other searches for the internal mutability. Within physiological studies one concentrated on the problem of reaction to temperature stress. Biological researches focused mainly on solving taxonomic and bio-geographic problems. Finally, were published several monographs and, among others, the first in history complete description of moss` flora of the whole of Antarctic (2008). Research works over algae included also such issues as floristics, bio-geography, taxonomy and ecology (for instance, (the rookery's impact on distribution of algae, or the influence of inanimate factors on dynamics of condensing the Diatoma in different water and soil-bound tanks). Up till now, within mycological investigations has been identified a variety of lichen fungi that for the most part of Antarctic are a novelty. There were scientifically described new for science genera and species of Western Antarctic. Lichenological studies were made in the field of taxonomy, geography, lichenometry, biochemistry of lichens, lichenoindication, ecophysiology and from the point of analysis of base metals' content. There were also described new for science species. Since 1991, were published the results of searches for the base metals' content and vestigial chemical elements in lichens' thallus. Ecophysiological researches concerned both micro-climatic conditions' impact on primary production and lichens' adaptation to a very cold climate. One discovered a mechanism of two-phase hydratization/dehydratization of lichens' thallus. On the ground of palaeobotanical analyzes was reconstructed a development of flora in Western Antarctic from the late Cretaceous period to the beginning of Melville's continental glaciation. One singled out three floristic stages and were reconstructed their peculiarities in the development of flora. There was also described an early Jurassic flora of Hope Bay (Półwysep Antarktyczny - Antarctic Peninsula) that turned out to be the richest Jurassic flora in the world. From that point of view were analyzed new species of mineral plants. Ecological researches concentrated on the problems connected with several issues and, among others, with the processes of settlement and succession, distribution and ecology of land biotopes, changes in their spatial structure, and state of biotopes' biological mass. The second group of issues concerned the anthropogenous impacts. One also analyzed early stages of synanthropization of flora. Another important issue was recognizing an extent of the pollution of the environment, particularly with base metals. In the years 1977-2009 were published, at least, 426 notes, articles and monographs that were a result of botanical and mycological researches on sheets of land of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic,

6

Isotopic ages of selected magmatic rocks from King George Island (West Antarctica ) controlled by magnetostratigraphy

Nawrocki J., Pańczyk M., Williams I.

Geological Quarterly

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2011

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Vol. 55, No. 4

301-322

EN

Isotopic and palaeomagnetic studies were carried out in the central part of King George Island. Selected mafic to intermediate igneous rocks were sampled for this purpose. Single-grain U-Pb dating of zircons from basalts to dacites was controlled by a whole rock 40Ar-39Ar data and the magnetostratigraphy. Five magmatic activity phases were distinguished in the SE coast of King George Island. The oldest, late Cretaceous (Campanian) phase represented by basalts of the Uchatka Point Formation are followed by the early to middle Eocene (~53–43 Ma) phase documented by the lava flows whose ages decrease from SW to NE. Next younger magmatic activity phases were recorded by the lava flows or vertical intrusions emplaced in the late Eocene (~37–35 Ma), late Oligocene (~~28-25 Ma) and late Pliocene to Holocene. The early to middle Eocene magmatic activity phase was the most extensive, producing the largest volume of magma in the study area. The new age determinations allow a more precise and credible stratigraphic correlation of the interbeds of sedimentary rocks observed in some places within the magmatic succession. The glacial provenance of the Herv' Cove diamictite is not obvious. It might represent a mountain river environment. Intense volcanic activity could be additional factor modelling the climate conditions of Antarctica in Paleogene

7

Wiatry huraganowe w 2008 roku w Zatoce Admiralicji, Wyspa Króla Jerzego, Antarktyda Zachodnia

Wierzbicki G.

Przegląd Naukowy Inżynieria i Kształtowanie Środowiska

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2009

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Vol. 18, No. 2

47--55

PL

Na podstawie obserwacji meteorologicznych prowadzonych przez autora na Polskiej Stacji Antarktycznej Arctowski w okresie od 22 marca do 31 grudnia 2008 stwierdzono zjawisko wiatrów huraganowych, które zostały zanotowane we wszystkich miesiącach badanego okresu - łącznie w ciągu 72 dni. Porównanie ze starszymi danymi meteorologicznymi ze stacji Arctowski i z brazylijskiej stacji Ferraz pozwoliło na stwierdzenie, że sytuacja taka pojawiła się trzeci raz w historii obserwacji meteorologicznych w Zatoce Admiralicji. Wiatry we wrześniu 2008 roku osiągnęły najwyższą prędkość zanotowaną kiedykolwiek w tym rejonie: prędkość maksymalna 80 m/s, prędkość średnia w terminie obserwacji 32 m/s. Analiza map synoptycznych dowiodła, że 49% przypadków wiatrów huraganowych było związane z przejściem frontu chłodnego, a 29% przypadków z wysokim gradientem ciśnienia w układzie niżowym. Porównanie maksymalnych prędkości wiatru na stacji Arctowski i Ferraz uwypukla istotną rolę rzeźby Wyspy Króla Jerzego i lokalizacji punktów pomiarowych dla struktury wiatrów wewnątrz Zatoki Admiralicji. Wiatry huraganowe w 2008 roku utrudniały utrzymanie stacji badawczych w Zatoce Admiralicji i stanowiły istotny czynnik przyspieszający ablację lodowców Antarktyki Zachodniej.

EN

Meteorological data collected by the author at Arctowski station from March to December 2008 revealed 72 days with hurricane winds in the Admiralty Bay. The results were compared with synoptic maps, wind data from Ferraz station and older data from Arctowski station. Winds in September 2008 reached the highest velocities (mean 32.0 m·s-1, gusts 80 m·s-1) ever measured in Admiralty Bay. 49% events of hurricane winds occurred while cold fronts were passing. Topography of King George Island affects winds distribution inside the bay. Hurricane winds accelerate ablation of glaciers on King George Island and cause serious problems for fieldwork and maintaining of research stations in Antarctica.

8

Trace elements concentrations in selected moss and lichen species collected within Antarctic research stations

Osyczka Piotr, Dutkiewicz Erazm M., Olech Maria

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2007

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Vol. 55, nr 1

39-48

EN

The Antarctic region has been considered as a region the least exposed to the pollution. However, increase of human activities at the research stations, transportation and tourism threaten the natural environment of this region. The paper reports the contents of selected trace elements in lichen and moss samples collected in the interior parts of several Antarctic research stations located on King George Island (South Shetlands, maritime Antarctica). Lichens and mosses are particularly sensitive to anthropogenic environmental changes, especially to air pollution. Moss Sanionia uncinata and lichens - Usnea antarctica and Usnea aurantiaco-atra were chosen as bioindicators. The amount of ten trace metals (vanadium, chromium, manganese, copper, zinc, lead, rubidium, strontium, yttrium, and cadmium) and bromine was measured in thalli using the analytical PIXE (Particle Induced X-ray Emission) method. The results obtained for the samples originating from research stations were compared with the data obtained for the samples of same species collected in the area distant from any human activities. For the samples from Antarctic stations the average contents of trace elements (in [micro]g g[^-1] d.w., mean [plus or minus] SD) were as follows: S. uncinata - V 27 [plus or minus] 22, Cr 7 [plus or minus] 2, Mn 256 [plus or minus] 95, Cu 11 [plus or minus] 3, Zn 33 [plus or minus] 4, Pb 9 [plus or minus] 6, Br 40 [plus or minus] 22, Rb 14 [plus or minus] 11, Sr 69 [plus or minus] 25; U. antarctica - V 28 [plus or minus] 31, Cr 3 [plus or minus] 1, Mn 53 [plus or minus] 18, Cu 10 [plus or minus] 4, Zn 30 [plus or minus] 1, Pb 2 [plus or minus] 1, Br 40 [plus or minus] 16, Sr 18 [plus or minus] 4, Y 4 [plus or minus] 2; U. aurantiaco-atra - V 7 [plus or minus] 6, Cr 6 [plus or minus] 3, Mn 59 [plus or minus] 35, Cu 66 [plus or minus] 33, Zn 27 [plus or minus] 5, Pb 5 [plus or minus] 1, Br 30 [plus or minus] 15, Sr 32 [plus or minus] 20, Y 3 [plus or minus]3. The average concentrations of Cr, Mn and Pb in all samples from research stations demonstrated significant differences in relation to the reference material. The maximal concentrations of measured elements obtained in the samples from potentially polluted areas were as a rule much higher ([similar to] 120-3800%) in comparison with the concentrations in the control group. This observation is especially worrying. These results point out that the human influence on the Antarctic environment may be negative and indicate the necessity for pollution monitoring programmes in the region. This research is a part of biomonitoring recommended by SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research).

9

The geoecosystem of polar oases within the ice drainage basin of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica

Zwoliński Z.

Landform Analysis

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2007

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Vol. 5

107--112

10

Diatom communities in Moss Creek (King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica) in two summer seasons: 1995/96 and 2001/02

Noga T., Olech M. A.

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

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2004

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Vol. 33, No. 4

103--120

EN

This paper focuses on the diatom flora of Moss Creek in Antarctica that was collected during two summer (1995/96 and 2001/02) seasons. Of the 95 taxa identified in Moss Creek, two groups of diatom communities were distinguished. Achnanthes germainii, Eucocconeis ninckei, and Nitzschia homburgiensis, taxa indicative of unpolluted waters, dominated in the upper course of the creek. The other group was found in the lower reaches of the creek and included taxa indicative of eutrophic environments. In this part of the creek Mayamaea atomus associated with Nitzschia gracilis and Planothidium lanceolatum were dominant. In both sampling periods the species composition of the dominant taxa was similar with the distinct predomination of Mayamaea atomus. During the 1995/96 season, Nitzschia gracilis, N. homburgiensis, and Planothidium lanceolatum also occurred abundantly, whereas in 2001/02 the proportions of Nitzschia gracilis and Planothidium lanceolatum showed a slight increase.

11

Uwarunkowania klimatyczne aktywności geomorficznej, Wyspa Króla Jerzego, Szetlandy Południowe

Zwoliński Z.

Problemy Klimatologii Polarnej

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2002

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nr 12

33-63

EN

The paper presents the proposal of a method for an indirect evaluation of geomorphic activity on ice-free areas on King George Island (South Shetlands, West Antarctica) through analysis of climatic conditions affecting the mobility of mineral matter. It was assumed that weather conditions affected the movement of mineral matter, which in turn determined geomorphic activity on ice-free areas, which currently occupy over 25 km2 of Admiralty Bay. On the basis of encoded values of six variables: air temperature, wind speed, rainfall, sunshine, ground temperature, and thickness of snow cover, diurnal types of the efficiency of mineral matter circulation were determined which were then clustered using the k-means method. After the cumulation of results for 7-day periods, a total of 59 homogeneous periods were obtained characterised by diurnal types of geomorphic activity (1, 2 and 3) in the observation period from April 10, 1990 to January 13, 1994. The summer season is a period with a high efficiency of mineral matter circulation and geomorphic activity, while winter time is one with a low efficiency of mineral matter circulation and geomorphic activity. Periods with an average efficiency of mineral matter circulation and geomorphic activity correspond to ascending and descending transition times. It is possible to associate the descending period with the autumn season in the temperate zone, while the ascending period, with spring-time.

12

Retreat of Ecology Glacier, Admiralty Bay, King George Island (South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica), 1956-2001

Birkenmajer K.

Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Earth Sciences

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2002

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Vol. 50, nr 1

15-29

EN

Ecology Glacier at Admiralty Bay (South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica) has been in a state of continuous retreat at least since 1956/7. The retreat was slow between 1956/7 and 1988/9, amounting to 4-4.5 m/yr it rapidly accelerated in the past decade (1989-1999) - up to 30 m/yr; a semi-enclosed lagoon opened in front of the retreating glacier. Retreat of the glacier's northern lobe between 1978/9 and 2000/l, bas exposed its bottom moraine (boulder clay), occasionally with fluted pattern, and numerous striated roches moutonnees, moreover kame fields that once formed in open ice crevasses. At the beginning, the north-easternmost part of this ice lobe retreated stepwise, leaving behind five successive push-moraine ridges.

13

Zjawiska lodowe na Zatoce Admiralicji w roku 1999 (Wyspa Króla Jerzego, Szetlandy Południowe)

Zblewski S.

Problemy Klimatologii Polarnej

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2001

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nr 11

113-120

EN

In 1999 hydrometeorological observations were carried out at H. Arctowski Station. Ice phenomena in the Admiralty Bay and in the visible neighbouring area of the Bransfield Strait were, among others, the subject of these observations. The Admiralty Bay is a typical fjord and is the biggest bay in the Southern Shetlands archipelago, covering 122.08 km2. Winter ice cover formation of this area varies in different years. Once every 4-5 years the waters of the Bay do not freeze and the ice observed there originates from the Bransfield Strait. During the whole year glacial ice (brash ice, growlers, bergy bits and icebergs) originating from local sources and from other sea areas can be observed in the Admiralty Bay. In 1999 the process of the ice cover formation was characterised by variability both in time and space. During the observational period floating ice formed ice fields of different shapes and concentration. Brash ice and growlers often covered the weatter shore during high tidal waters. The icebergs in the said period are mainly observed at the entrance of the Bay (in the region of the Syrezol Rocks) less frequently inside the Bay. They usually drifted in the axial part of the Bay hardly ever reaching its central part. The autochthonous sea ice formed only near the shore and during the whole year it was the inflowing ice which was predominant. First forms of new ice in the waters of the Admiralty Bay occurred in the second decade of June. These forms were initial stage forms (frazil ice and grease ice) which never changed into more advanced form of sea ice. At the end of June the process of ice inflow from the Bransfield Strait started. The allochthonous ice reached mainly the axial and central parts of the Bay, however there were few cases noted in which the ice reached the auxiliary bays. The observations showed that the character of the main features of the winter sea ice cover of the Admiralty Bay was predominantly influenced by wind and ice conditions of the Bransfield Strait. In 1999 the Admiralty Bay was not covered by consolidated ice but by drifting ice which changed its position and edge very quickly. The course of ice phenomena in winter season 1999 had a mild character and according to Kruszewski's categories (1999) defining the ice conditions in the Admiralty Bay may be classed as number one.

14

Procesy deglacjacji na obszarze SSSI No. 8 i ich uwarunkowania klimatyczne oraz hydrologiczne (Zatoka Admiracji, Wyspa Króla Jerzego, Szetlandy Południowe)

Battke Z., Marsz A. A., Pudełko R.

Problemy Klimatologii Polarnej

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2001

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nr 11

121-135

EN

This work deals with the processes of deglaciation occurring in the region of SSSI No 8 (Site of Special Scientific Interests No 8) located on the western coast of the in the vicinity of Polish H. Arctowski Station over the period 1979-1999. The location of the SSSI is shown in Fig. 1. The basis of this work is comparison between the category of the surface of the area on the charts from 1979 (Furmańczyk & Marsz, 1980) and on the chart from 1986 (Battke, 1990) and the ground measurements carried out in that area in 1999 (Battke & Pudełko, unpubl.). The categories of area were computed on maps with the help of a planimeter: - glaciated areas, - non-glaciated areas (formed by mineral grounds), - sea areas. The accuracy of total measurements of the area is not lower than about 0.2 km2. The results of cartometric measurements are given in Table 1. Over the period 1979-1999 the area of SSSI decreased by 0.86 km2 as an effect of regression of icy cliffs both of Ecology and Baranowski Glaciers and due to accompanied abrasion process. At the same time the glaciated area within the borders of SSSI decreased by 6.93 km2 and the ice free area increased by 6.08 km2. In this way the mean rate of deglaciation of the 21-year period reaches about 0.33 km2 per year. Over the 21-year period the ice free area within the borders of SSSI incresed three times (from 2.98 km2 to 9.06 km2) which results in various consequences on the physico-geographical and biological prosesses in the region of the Admiralty Bay. In the period 1978-1986 the processes of deglaciation observed north of SSSI in the region of Ecology Glacier were faster than in other regions. Over the period 1986-1999 much faster decrease in the glaciated area was noted in the south of the area, in the region of Baranowski Glacier and Tower Glacier spatial changes are presented in Fig. 2. The analysis of reasons having influence on so advance processes of deglaciation indicated to two factors i.e. climatic and hydrological that are both responsible for the process. Over the period 1978-1998 in region of the Admiralty Bay the increase in air temperature during the Antarctic summer (period December - February; trend +0.022°C/year, statistically not significant) was noted. At the same time the period in which ablation was observed (warmer November and March) was longer. The annual sums of precipitation in the same period indicate to the presence of statistically significant negative trend (-5.7 mm/year, p < 0.005). This resulted in the change in the glacier mass balance at the level 2 m. above sea level: from -115 g/cm2/year in 1979 to -146 g/cm2/year in 1998 (Fig. 3). The evaluated trend of change in mass balance is -1.56 g/cm2/year and is not statistically significant. The period during which sea ice cover is not observed also lasts longer and the ice conditions there became visibly milder. This enables the thermal abrasion to last longer and causes more active regression of ice cliffs. On the shore of the Bransfield Strait, between the Admiralty Bay and the Maxwell Bay entrance a deep cove was formed in the ice coast over the period 1985-1988. This resulted in the increase in inclination of the southern slopes of ice forming the Warszawa Ice cap and forced the volume of ice flowing towards the Bransfield Strait to increase. In this way the volume of ice flowing down the Warszawa Ice Cap eastward, to SSSI No. 8 area, decreased. The explanation of reasons responsible for the ice conditions becoming milder can be found in large scale changes in sea surface temperature of the Southern Ocean of the sea area located West of the Antarctic Peninsula (a strong positive trend SST is marked in the period from October to January; in December +0.058°C/year) and in changes in atmospheric circulation. Both these factors, i.e. the increase in the negative values of the ice masses balance and the decrease in the volume of ice flowing down on the SSSI No. 8 area act in the same direction, causing that the deglaciation process in that region occurs in an exceptionally intensive way. Due to such great intensity of the deglaciation processes occurring on the surface of SSSI in that area, this area can be regarded as a unique object of ecological and environmental research.

15

Quaternary geology at Potter Peninsula, King George Island (South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica)

Birkenmajer K.

Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Earth Sciences

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1998

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Vol. 46, nr 1

9-20

EN

The succession of Quaternary deposits and morphological forms at Potter Peninsula. Maxwell Bay, King George Island (South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica) includes: (1) raised residual gravel and remains of marine abrasion surfaces, 97-118 m a.s.l. (Pleistocene); (2) marine (fjord-bottom) silty and sandy beds with bivalve shells (radiocarbon-dated at early Holocene); (3) highest raised marine terraces, 40-50 m a.s.l. (early Holocene); (4) older moraines - the Punta Batiza glaceir advance stage (mid-Holocene); (5) high raised marine terraces, 22-25 m a.s.l. (late Holocene); (6) low raised marine terraces, 7.5-12 m a.s.l., and raised marine beaches, 2-16 m a.s.l. (late Holocene); (7) younger moraines, outwash cones, kame terraces etc. - the Potter Cove glacier advance and retreat stages (latest Holocene). The Holocene isostatic land uplift at Potter Peninsula, is calculated at about 50 m.

16

Geology of Volcanic Rocks (?Upper Cretaceous-Lower Tertiary) at Potter Peninsula, King George Island (South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica.

Birkenmajer K.

Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Earth Sciences

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1998

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Vol. 46, nr 2

147-155

EN

Stratiform basaltic/basaltic-andesite lavas (a minimum 50m thick), with red agglomerate and tuff interlayers (up to 10m thick), are the oldest rocks recognized at Potter Peninsula, King George Island (South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica). They resemble volcanic-volcaniclastic rocks of the Paradise Cove Group (King George Island Supergroup) from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, K-Ar-dated at Upper Cretaceous. Hypabyssal intrusions of basalt and andesite at Potter Peninsula represent two hases: (1) plugs and stills at Stranger Point are closely interrelated with the stratiform volcanic complex, and could be of Cretaceous age; (2) a large basalt (resp. hypersthene-augite andesite) plug of Three Brothers Hill, K-Ar-dated at Lower Tertiary, and two systems of vertical basaltic/andesitic dykes (Admiralty Bay Gp), cut the stratiform volcanic complex. The older dykes strike NW-SE. The younger dykes, striking NNE-SSW to N-S, often follow vertical Tertiary faults transversal to the island axis. These transversal faults cut also the Three Brothers Hill plug.

17

Geology of tertiary volcanic rocks at Turred Point and Mersey Spit, King George Island (South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica)

Birkenmajer K.

Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Earth Sciences

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1998

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Vol. 46, nr 3-4

223-234

EN

Three Lower Tertiary volcanic complexes occur at the Turred Point-Mersey Spit promotory on King George Island (South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica. The first complexis represented by a pile of thick andesitic-basaltic lava flows attributed to the Mazurek Point Formation. The second complex consist of andesite breccias which from vertical cutting the lavas. The third complex is represented by vertical andesite plugs and dykes cutting the lavas and the vent braccias.