Physical geographic conditions in the Gardno Lake catchment (Wolin Island)

Abstract

The Gardno Lake catchment on Wolin Island is located within the Wolin Range micro-region. Its coastal location and early glacial terrain within the temperate climate zone are the distinguishing features of this catchment. The catchment is non-run-off in character, and its area is dominated by beech forests and affected by a small degree of human impact. In the Gardno Lake catchment, atmospheric precipitation undergoes both physical and chemical conversion during its permeation in the beech forest zone, and then during infiltration through the slope cover, percolation to aquifers and subsequent drainage down towards the lake. A pattern of increased mineral content and higher pH at subsequent stages of water circulation were also identified. In the period 2010 – 2014, on a monthly basis, waters at the atmospheric stage ( precipitation, throughfall, stemflow ), transitional stage ( throughflow ), and lithospheric stage ( groundwaters, lake waters ) were examined in the Gardno Lake catchment. The research study described herein allowed to determine changes in water physical and chemical characteristics at individual stages of its cycle and discrete solute loads reaching the studied catchment area. The annual variability of water mineral content circulating in the Gardno Lake geoecosystem – presented in the paper – was calculated via the total concentration of biogenic ions (NO 3 – , NH 4 + , K +), denudation-originated ions ( SO4 2– , Ca 2+, Mg 2+), and ions resulting from a large supply of marine aerosols ( Cl –– Na + ).