Abstract
Complex studies were carried out to recognize the fen structure and peat properties in the Całowanie Fen area, belonging to the Natura 2000 network. The studies were conducted in two study areas that differ significantly in terms of peat thickness. Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) was used to identify the properties of the peat and its substrate, such as thickness and electrical resistivity. Comparison of the field studies with the laboratory tests has shown that the ash content rises electrical resistivity in peat. In addition, the study has shown that the application of non-invasive geophysical methods in protected areas is justified. The fen, as a medium containing mostly water, was a proper test area for the ERI measurements.
Highlights
Incomplete decomposition of plant debris under the influence of strong hydration results in peat formation
The Całowanie Fen is located in the Vistula River Valley in close proximity to a postglacial upland and it is an interesting object of study because of its geomorphological conditions
The thickness, type and physical properties of the peat from the Całowanie Fen are known from drilling surveys performed by BorowkoDłuz_akowa (1961) (1 borehole), Oswit and Dembek (1984) (90 boreholes), Kowalczyk et al (2014) (7 boreholes), and. As it was mentioned in the Geological survey results section, peat in the Całowanie Fen is characterized by a high taxonomic diversity and variation in the basic physical parameters such as ash content (Table 2) and degree of decomposition
Summary
Incomplete decomposition of plant debris under the influence of strong hydration results in peat formation. The fen location within the Mazowiecki Landscape Park and its inclusion within the Natura 2000 Network forced us to use non-invasive research methods that would not affect the environment significantly. In this case, the selected geophysical methods, beside geological drillings, are an excellent tool to study areas sensitive to human interference. Variation in the physical parameters of the peat and its substrate allow to apply several geophysical methods in the investigation of the vertical succession and recognition of hydrogeological conditions. A few researchers (e.g., Slater and Reeve 2002; Comas et al 2015; Walter et al 2016) have applied induced polarization imaging, electromagnetic terrain conductivity and electrical resistivity imaging, apart from the GPR method, as alternative tools to determine the peatland thickness
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