Current European flood-rich period exceptional compared with past 500 years.

There are concerns that recent climate change is altering the frequency and magnitude of river floods in an unprecedented way. Historical studies have identified flood-rich periods in the past half millennium in various regions of Europe. However, because of the low temporal resolution of existing datasets and the relatively low number of series, it has remained unclear whether Europe is currently in a flood-rich period from a long-term perspective.

Anthropogenic radioactive isotopes in Actiniaria from the Svalbard archipelago.

The abundance of radionuclides in the Arctic Actiniaria has limited study despite their environmental importance in coastal food chains. Although the Arctic has incurred relatively little contamination by anthropogenic radionuclides as a result of nuclear weapons tests, there are still detectable levels of radionuclide activity observed in marine species. In this study of anthropogenic radionuclide activity in Actiniaria from Spitsbergen we observed levels of Sr from 0.

Impact of distance from the glacier on the content of Cs and Sr in the lichen Cetrariella delisei.

The Arctic region is substantially a pristine area, but this unique part of the globe has also been contaminated by anthropogenic radioactive nuclides, and now there is still measurable activity of anthropogenic isotopes, even though more than 50 years have passed since the main source. Radionuclides in the Arctic, especially Sr have seldom been studied despite their considerable environmental importance. This manuscript covers the results of Sr and Cs measurements in soil and lichen Cetrariella delisei collected from the Svalbard in 2012.

Cs, K, and K in raw and stir-fried mushrooms from the Boletaceae family from the Midu region in Yunnan, Southwest China.

The parallel batches of the same species and geographical origin mushrooms both raw and stir-fried were investigated to get an insight into the content and intake of Cs, K, and K from mushroom meals. The Boletaceae family species (Baorangia bicolor, Boletus bainiugan, Butyriboletus roseoflavus, Retiboletus griseus, Rugiboletus extremiorientalis, and Sutorius magnificus) were collected from the Midu County (Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture) in 2018. The activity concentrations of Cs in the caps of dried raw mushrooms were in the range 14 ± 1 Bq kg dry biomass (db) (R.

The impact of long-term changes in air temperature on renewable energy in Poland.

This paper analysed from the statistical point of view the trends in observed air temperature in major Polish cities and presented a qualitative analysis of their potential impact on the operation of the selected renewable energy sources. It also reviews the relation between the air temperature and observed electrical load as well as changing numbers of cooling and heating degree days. The method involved a statistical analysis of historical mean daily temperature observed in 19 major Polish cities over the 1968-2018 period.

Artificial (Cs) and natural (K) radioactivity and total potassium in medicinal fungi from Yunnan in China.

Evaluated has been radioactive contamination with Cs in parallel to occurrence of K and total K in 31 species of medicinal mushrooms from Yunnan, China. We chose species that were not previously studied. The activity concentrations of Cs in the medicinal fungi in this study were low.

Meteorological phenomenon as a key factor controlling variability of labile particulate mercury in rivers and its inflow into coastal zone of the sea.

Mercury (Hg) is recognized as a global pollutant, which can be transported to the sea by suspended particulate matter (SPM) via rivers constituting the main source of mercury in the southern Baltic sea. The aim of the present study was to characterize the mercury fractions in suspended particulate matter, as well as the transformations of Hg during its riverine transportation into the sea. The thermo-desorption method was used to determine the labile and stable mercury fractions in SPM of rivers (Reda, Zagórska Struga, Gizdepka, Płutnica) within the Baltic Sea basin.

Seasonality of mean flows as a potential tool for the assessment of ecological processes: Mountain rivers, Polish Carpathians.

The classification of river catchments according to their hydrological regime is crucial elements of regionalisation. In absence of hydrological data, the regionalisation of catchment method may be used to asses many flows characteristics like regime or design flow and thus provide help in the analysis of hydrological and ecological processes and also in the management of water resources. Correct clarification of catchments requires knowledge about the main factors that influence on river regime, like meteorologic conditions, land cover/land use, geology, soil properties terrain features, human activities.

Cs and K in Cortinarius caperatus mushrooms (1996-2016) in Poland - Bioconcentration and estimated intake: Cs in Cortinarius spp. from the Northern Hemisphere from 1974 to 2016.

Cortinarius caperatus grows in the northern regions of Europe, North America and Asia and is widely collected by mushroom foragers across Europe. This study shows that in the last three decades since the Chernobyl nuclear accident, C. caperatus collected across much of Northern Poland exhibited high activity concentrations of radiocaesium (Cs) - a long-lived radionuclide.

Non-indigenous species refined national baseline inventories: A synthesis in the context of the European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Refined baseline inventories of non-indigenous species (NIS) are set per European Union Member State (MS), in the context of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The inventories are based on the initial assessment of the MSFD (2012) and the updated data of the European Alien Species Information Network, in collaboration with NIS experts appointed by the MSs. The analysis revealed that a large number of NIS was not reported from the initial assessments.

Airborne concentrations and chemical considerations of radioactive ruthenium from an undeclared major nuclear release in 2017.

In October 2017, most European countries reported unique atmospheric detections of aerosol-bound radioruthenium (Ru). The range of concentrations varied from some tenths of µBq·m to more than 150 mBq·m The widespread detection at such considerable (yet innocuous) levels suggested a considerable release. To compare activity reports of airborne Ru with different sampling periods, concentrations were reconstructed based on the most probable plume presence duration at each location.

Radiocaesium pollution of fly agaric Amanita muscaria in fruiting bodies decreases with developmental stage.

Amanita muscaria collected from a forested area in northern Poland in 2015 were analysed for activity concentrations of Cs and K. Total K concentration values were calculated from K data. Mushrooms were grouped in six fruiting bodies size classes regarding to their developmental stage.

Cs and K in gray seals Halichoerus grypus in the southern Baltic Sea.

This study presents levels of Cs and K concentrations in the placentas of seals gathered in the period 2007-2015. The mean activity of Cs and K was 5.49 Bq kgw.

Climate conditions and work-related fatigue among professional drivers.

The possible associations between climate parameters and drivers' fatigue have not been subject to specific studies thus far. We have undertaken a study to investigate whether the particular climate parameters are related to fatigue perception by motor vehicle drivers. The study was performed from July to October.

Comprehensive approach to the reduction of river flood risk: Case study of the Upper Vistula Basin.

The paper examines options for river flood risk reduction in the Upper Vistula Basin located partly in the Carpathian Mountains in Poland. Projections of high-flow indices for the periods 2021-2050 and 2071-2100 generally indicate small future increases, although the projected flow changes vary highly both across the study basin as well as among climate models. An overview of twentieth-century catchment and channel changes indicates that some of them decreased and others increased the rapidity of runoff but they largely reduced availability of sediment for fluvial transport, hence inducing bed incision and bank erosion that create risk to roads and bridges.

Geological setting control of flood dynamics in lowland rivers (Poland).

We aim to answer a question: how does the geological setting affect flood dynamics in lowland alluvial rivers? The study area covers three river reaches: not trained, relatively large on the European scale, flowing in broad valleys cut in the landscape of old glacial plains. We focus on the locations where levees [both: a) natural or b) artificial] were breached during flood. In these locations we identify (1) the erosional traces of flood (crevasse channels) on the floodplain displayed on DEM derived from ALS LIDAR.

Machine learning modeling of plant phenology based on coupling satellite and gridded meteorological dataset.

Changes in the timing of plant phenological phases are important proxies in contemporary climate research. However, most of the commonly used traditional phenological observations do not give any coherent spatial information. While consistent spatial data can be obtained from airborne sensors and preprocessed gridded meteorological data, not many studies robustly benefit from these data sources.

A Predictive Model Has Identified Tick-Borne Encephalitis High-Risk Areas in Regions Where No Cases Were Reported Previously, Poland, 1999-2012.

During 1999–2012, 77% of the cases of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) were recorded in two out of 16 Polish provinces. However, historical data, mostly from national serosurveys, suggest that the disease could be undetected in many areas. The aim of this study was to identify which routinely-measured meteorological, environmental, and socio-economic factors are associated to TBE human risk across Poland, with a particular focus on areas reporting few cases, but where serosurveys suggest higher incidence.

Impact of intense rains and flooding on mercury riverine input to the coastal zone.

The aim of the present research was to determine the impact of intense rains and flooding on mercury riverine input to the coastal zone. This study focused on four small rivers (Reda, Zagórska Struga, Płutnica, Gizdepka), typical of the Southern Baltic region, with no significant mercury sources. Samples were collected for 16months during average flow conditions and during selected meteorological events: floods, downpours, thaws and droughts.

Influence of technical maintenance measures on ecological status of agricultural lowland rivers - Systematic review and implications for river management.

Intensification of agriculture and ongoing urban sprawl exacerbate pressures on rivers. Small rivers in agricultural landscapes are especially exposed to excessive technical actions implemented in order to allow for harvesting river water for irrigation, draining agricultural water and receiving sewage. Regular dredging and macrophyte removal strongly interfere with the global need for preserving river biodiversity that allows agricultural lowland rivers to remain refuges for a variety of species, and-accordingly-to keep water bodies resilient for the benefit of society.

Artificial Cs and natural K in mushrooms from the subalpine region of the Minya Konka summit and Yunnan Province in China.

A study on Cs pollution and activity concentrations of K in mushrooms of the genera Cortinarius, Leccinum, Russula, Tricholoma, Tylopilus, and Xerocomus from two neighboring regions in southwest China in 2010-2013 revealed different patterns of pollution with Cs, which seemed to be highly dependent on climate conditions. Tricholoma matsutake was collected in Yunnan before and after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident and showed similar contamination with Cs. Mushrooms from the elevation of 2800-3480 m above sea level on the east slope of Minya Konka and forest topsoil showed higher contamination with Cs than mushrooms from the highlands of Yunnan.

Sr and Cs in Arctic echinoderms.

Radionuclides in the Arctic echinoderms have seldom been studied despite their considerable environmental importance. This manuscript covers the results of Sr and Cs measurements in common echinoderm taxa collected from the Svalbard Bank in the Barents Sea and from two High-Arctic fjords (Isfjorden and Magdalenefjorden). We focused on the echinoid, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis, the asteroid, Henricia sanguinolenta, and the ophiuroid, Ophiopolis aculeata.

Radioactive caesium (Cs and Cs) in mushrooms of the genus Boletus from the Reggio Emilia in Italy and Pomerania in Poland.

Activity concentrations of Cs and Cs were determined in mushrooms of the Boletus species B. aereus, B. reticulatus, B.