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Ruiz-Villanueva V, Piégay H, Scorpio V, Bachmann A, Brousse G, Cavalli M, Comiti F, Crema S, Fernández E, Furdada G, Hajdukiewicz H, Hunzinger L, Lucía A, Marchi L, Moraru A, Piton G, Rickenmann D, Righini M, Surian N, Yassine R, Wyżga B. River widening in mountain and foothill areas during floods: Insights from a meta-analysis of 51 European Rivers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166103. [PMID: 37558069 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
River widening, defined as a lateral expansion of the channel, is a critical process that maintains fluvial ecosystems and is part of the regular functioning of rivers. However, in areas with high population density, channel widening can cause damage during floods. Therefore, for effective flood risk management it is essential to identify river reaches where abrupt channel widening may occur. Despite numerous efforts to predict channel widening, most studies have been limited to single rivers and single flood events, which may not be representative of other conditions. Moreover, a multi-catchment scale approach that covers various settings and flood magnitudes has been lacking. In this study, we fill this gap by compiling a large database comprising 1564 river reaches in several mountain regions in Europe affected by floods of varying magnitudes in the last six decades. By applying a meta-analysis, we aimed to identify the types of floods responsible for more extensive widening, the river reach types where intense widening is more likely to occur, and the hydraulic and morphological variables that explain widening and can aid in predicting widening. Our analysis revealed seven groups of reaches with significantly different responses to floods regarding width ratios (i.e., the ratio between channel width after and before a flood). Among these groups, the river reaches located in the Mediterranean region and affected by extreme floods triggered by short and intense precipitation events showed significantly larger widening than other river reaches in other regions. Additionally, the meta-analysis confirmed valley confinement as a critical morphological variable that controls channel widening but showed that it is not the only controlling factor. We proposed new statistical models to identify river reaches prone to widening, estimate potential channel width after a flood, and compute upper bound width ratios. These findings can inform flood hazard evaluations and the design of mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Ruiz-Villanueva
- University of Lausanne, Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST), Geopolis, UNIL-Mouline, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - H Piégay
- École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, (ENS), France, Environment City Society (EVS) Research unit, UMR 5600, 15 parvis René Descartes, 69342 Lyon, France
| | - Vittoria Scorpio
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Guillaume Brousse
- EDF - R&D - LNHE - 6 Quai Watier, Chatou/Laboratoire d'Hydraulique Saint-Venant - 6 Quai Watier, 78400 Chatou, France
| | - Marco Cavalli
- National Research Council, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (CNR IRPI), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Comiti
- Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Stefano Crema
- National Research Council, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (CNR IRPI), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Fernández
- INDUROT, University of Oviedo, 33600 Mieres, Asturias, Spain
| | - Glòria Furdada
- RISKNAT Research group, Geomodels Research Institute, Universitat de Barcelona, UB (Spain), Departament de Dinàmica de la Terra i de l'Oceà, Facultat de Ciències de la Terra, c/Martí i Franquès s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hanna Hajdukiewicz
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Lukas Hunzinger
- Flussbau AG SAH, Schwarztorstrasse 7, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ana Lucía
- Geological and Mining Institute of Spain, National Research Council (IGME-CSIC), Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Marchi
- National Research Council, Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (CNR IRPI), Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Adina Moraru
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology, (NTNU) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, S.P. Andersens veg 5, 7031 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Guillaume Piton
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Dieter Rickenmann
- Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicola Surian
- University of Padova, Department of Geosciences, Via G. Gradenigo 6, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Rabab Yassine
- EGIS 889 rue de la Vielle Poste CS, Montpellier 34965, France
| | - Bartłomiej Wyżga
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
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Jiang C, Wang Y, Yang Z, Zhao Y. Do adaptive policy adjustments deliver ecosystem-agriculture-economy co-benefits in land degradation neutrality efforts? Evidence from southeast coast of China. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1215. [PMID: 37713117 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11821-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystem restoration projects (ERPs) facilitate land degradation neutrality (LDN). However, the response dynamics and interactions of sectors within ecosystem-agriculture-economy nexus (EAEN) have not been sufficiently explored, which constrains the coordinated efficacy of LDN efforts. To bridge the knowledge gaps, the present study selected a land restoration hotspot in southeastern China as a case to investigate the simultaneous responses of the EAEN sectors to ERPs from a novel social-ecological system (SES)-based LDN perspective. Various biophysical models and Manne-Kendall trend test as well as multi-source spatially explicit data and socioeconomic statistics were applied to quantify the co-evolution of natural and socioeconomic indicators. ERPs converting cropland to woodland and grassland promoted vegetation restoration, reduced soil erosion, and enhanced carbon sequestration. However, cropland loss initially resulted in a decline in grain productivity. Policy adjustments and improvements in ecosystem restoration efforts and agricultural production conditions improved food security and increased agricultural production capacity. Effective policymaking and favorable resident engagement accelerated the transformation from a grain-production-based agriculture to diversified industries and, by extension, economic output, income, and population. The success of socioeconomic development under the SES framework for LDN demonstrated that this strategy could achieve the desired environmental, agricultural, and economic targets. EAEN under the SES conceptual framework provides an inclusive, comprehensive LDN perspective and improves ERP efficacy. The findings of the present work might be applicable to other land restoration areas challenged by the complex interactions among multidimensional factors. Comparably successful implementation of these ERPs could be realized if individual environmental and socioeconomic conditions are thoroughly considered during the formulation of coordinated development policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Coupling Process and Effect of Natural Resources Elements, Beijing, 100055, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 511458, China.
- Changsha Comprehensive Survey Center of Natural Resources, China Geological Survey, Changsha, 410600, China.
- Dongying Base of Integration Between Industry and Education for High-Quality Development of Modern Agriculture, Ludong University, Dongying, 257509, China.
- Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China.
| | - Yixin Wang
- Research Institute of Management Science, Hohai University, Nanjing, 211100, China
| | - Zhiyuan Yang
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ying Zhao
- Dongying Base of Integration Between Industry and Education for High-Quality Development of Modern Agriculture, Ludong University, Dongying, 257509, China.
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Yu Y, Zhao W, Martinez-Murillo JF, Pereira P. Loess Plateau: from degradation to restoration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 738:140206. [PMID: 32660774 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
United Nations established 2021-2030 as the decade for ecosystem restoration and "prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide". Ecosystem and land degradation are a global phenomenon. As a consequence of land degradation, in the late 1990s, the "Grain for Green Program" (GFGP) was established in Loess Plateau (China). It converted slope farmlands to forest or grassland over the, resulting in a visible "greening" trend. Other effects of GFGP on soil properties, land production, hydrological conditions, ecosystem services, and policy implications are the topics of this Special Issue. This Special Issue includes 17 contributions that cover recent research carried out in Loess Plateau in the mentioned topics at different spatial and temporal scales. The collection of papers presented in this Special Issue discusses critical issues in vegetation restoration and sustainable land management in the region. This Special Issue will contribute to United Nations strategy for ecosystems restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yu
- College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Soil and Water Conservation & Desertification Combating, State Forestry and Grassland Administration, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Jixian National Forest Ecosystem Research Network Station, CNERN, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China; Department of Sediment Research, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Wenwu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Juan F Martinez-Murillo
- Departamento de Geografía, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, Málaga 29071, Spain; Instituto de Geomorfología y Suelos, Universidad de Málaga, Ampliación Campus de Teatinos, Málaga 29071, Spain
| | - Paulo Pereira
- Environmental Management Laboratory, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Ludwiczak E, Nietupski M, Kosewska A. Ground beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae) as an indicator of ongoing changes in forest habitats due to increased water retention. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9815. [PMID: 32983638 PMCID: PMC7500325 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study, concerning the epigeic fauna of carabid beetles (Coleoptera; Carabidae), was conducted in the north-east of Poland, in an area which is part of the Dąbrówka Forest Subdistrict and has been included in the “Small water retention program for the Province of Warmia and Mazury in 2006–2015”. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of the water retention implemented within the framework of the above program on assemblages of ground beetles. These insects are highly sensitive to any anthropogenically induced transformations. This analysis was based on the interactions among the analyzed insects caused by changes occurring in their habitat. During the 3-year study, 5,807 specimens representing 84 species were captured. The water storage had a significant influence on the structure of the Carabidae assemblages. Before the earthworks were constructed for the project, the beetle assemblages had comprised a large group of xerophilous species, whereas after the small retention reservoirs had been created, an increase in the contribution of hygrophilous species was noticed. The results indicate that the retention works cause alterations in the water and environmental conditions of the habitats, and thereby effect changes in the composition of Carabidae assemblages. Moreover, modification in water relations within a habitat causes long-term changes in the structural and functional diversity of the beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Ludwiczak
- Department of Entomology, Phytopathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Mariusz Nietupski
- Department of Entomology, Phytopathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Kosewska
- Department of Entomology, Phytopathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
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Wang K, Yuan X, Zhang G, Liu S, Wang F, Liu H, Zhang M, Zhou L. Diversity and Distribution of Riparian Arthropods in the Drawdown Zone of China's Three Gorges Reservoir. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 48:1340-1348. [PMID: 31568549 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvz104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Riparian zones are interesting habitats as they are important transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, but highly threatened by human disturbances. They support a high arthropod diversity as they experience periodic flooding disturbance and sharp environmental gradients. Their associated arthropod fauna are of high conservation value. Nevertheless, their arthropod diversity remains largely unknown, and its distribution pattern along elevational gradients is poorly understood. Few data are available on the effects of flood regimes and other factors in determining riparian arthropod communities. In this study, we investigated the diversity and distribution of riparian arthropods along an elevational gradient and determined the major factors structuring the arthropod communities in the drawdown zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Significant compositional and structural changes of riparian arthropod communities were observed along the test elevational gradient. The abundance and richness of riparian arthropods increased with elevation. The relative abundance of predators decreased with elevation, whereas the saprovores and omnivores showed an upward trend along the elevational gradient. Redundancy analysis showed that there were significant interactions between the flood regimes, plant communities, and soil conditions. Among these environmental factors studied, flood duration was the main factor in structuring the riparian arthropod communities. Conservation and restoration strategies should consider flood duration in the operation of large reservoirs because riparian arthropods are particularly sensitive to flood regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kehong Wang
- Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xingzhong Yuan
- Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guanxiong Zhang
- Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuangshuang Liu
- Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Key Laboratory of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mengjie Zhang
- Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lilei Zhou
- Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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Mikuś P, Wyżga B, Walusiak E, Radecki-Pawlik A, Liro M, Hajdukiewicz H, Zawiejska J. Island development in a mountain river subjected to passive restoration: The Raba River, Polish Carpathians. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 660:406-420. [PMID: 30640109 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In the twentieth century the heavily channelized Raba River incised deeply in its mountain course. Abandonment of channelization structures in a 2.3-km-long reach within a forested corridor was followed by considerable channel widening during floods of 30- and 35-year recurrence interval, re-establishment of a multi-thread channel pattern and island development. Morphological and botanical surveys were conducted annually between 2011 and 2017 to determine the processes and patterns governing development of islands and their floristic complexity. Hydraulic conditions promoting establishment and persistence of islands were determined with one-dimensional hydraulic modelling of flood flows for 8 unmanaged river cross-sections with islands and 8 cross-sections in the adjacent channelized reaches. Average age, number of islands and their average and total area in the reach markedly increased over the study period. However, the increase was not steady but moderated by island erosion by flood flows, island establishment shortly after major floods and island coalescence in the years without such floods. Hydraulic modelling indicated that river cross-sections with islands are typified by significantly lower values of mean water depth, flow velocity, unit stream power and bed shear stress at flood flows than cross-sections in the adjacent, channelized reaches. Such conditions promote deposition of living driftwood on channel bars, initiating island development, and reduce the probability of erosion of existing islands. The total number of plant species on islands varied highly and either exceeded or was similar to that recorded on riparian forest plots in particular years. This study indicates that (i) island re-establishment in the river was initiated by substantial channel widening, (ii) variation in flood magnitudes exerts a considerable influence on the trajectory of island development, and (iii) the contribution of islands to the overall species richness of plant communities in the river corridor at early stages of island re-establishment may be highly varied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Mikuś
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Bartłomiej Wyżga
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Edward Walusiak
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Artur Radecki-Pawlik
- Faculty of Civil Engineering, Cracow University of Technology, ul. Warszawska 24, 31-155 Kraków, Poland
| | - Maciej Liro
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Hanna Hajdukiewicz
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Zawiejska
- Institute of Geography, Pedagogical University of Cracow, ul. Podchorążych 2, 30-084 Kraków, Poland
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Hajdukiewicz H, Wyżga B. Aerial photo-based analysis of the hydromorphological changes of a mountain river over the last six decades: The Czarny Dunajec, Polish Carpathians. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 648:1598-1613. [PMID: 30340304 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Changes in hydromorphological conditions in the mountainous Czarny Dunajec River over the last six decades were investigated through the analysis of archival aerial photos and contemporary orthophotos. The aerial images from 7 dates between 1954 and 2009 were used to evaluate changes in selected hydromorphological parameters in six reaches delimited along the river course. As a result of channelization works and in-stream gravel mining, most of the analysed river course experienced dramatic hydromorphological alterations in the active river zone: change from the multi-thread to a single-thread channel, river narrowing associated with a reduced occurrence or elimination of channel bars and islands, transformation of the gravelly bed to a bedrock-alluvial or bedrock bed, stabilization of river banks with engineering structures, and disruption of longitudinal river continuity by transverse hydraulic structures. These changes largely reduced habitat heterogeneity in the river and disrupted or limited three-dimensional connectivity of the river ecosystem. However, in the reach that had generally avoided these human pressures, such negative changes did not occur and the number of low-flow channels and the proportion of islands in the active river zone increased during the study period. In all study reaches, positive changes occurred in the riparian and floodplain areas: the proportion of wooded channel banks and forest cover in the floodplain area increased over the last six decades. The degradation of hydromorphological conditions in the active river zone was reflected in a significant impoverishment of fish and benthic invertebrate communities as well as of ground beetles inhabiting low river benches. The study confirmed the usefulness of archival aerial photos in reconstructing temporal changes in river hydromorphology. The number of features that can be evaluated with this approach is smaller than in field-based assessments of contemporary rivers but larger than in studies based on historical maps or paleohydrological analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Hajdukiewicz
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Bartłomiej Wyżga
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
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Wyżga B, Zawiejska J, Gurnell AM. Effects and persistence of river restoration measures: Ecological, management and research implications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 628-629:1098-1100. [PMID: 30045532 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- B Wyżga
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, al. Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland.
| | - J Zawiejska
- Institute of Geography, Pedagogical University of Cracow, ul. Podchorążych 2, 30-084 Kraków, Poland
| | - A M Gurnell
- School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
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