<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Despite the rapid development of geoinformation technology and GIS - a classic cartogram is still widely used method for presenting geographic features and phenomena, especially with regard to the relative values connected with the basic fields. The aim of this article was to investigate how the size and shape of the different basic fields influence the results of the phenomenon presentation (in this case anthropogenic line forms). In the experiment were used fields in the shape of: square, hexagon, circle and triangle with different sizes: 1 km, 2 km, 4 km, 8 km and 10 km. Different field areas with the same height, but of a different shape affected to varied quantitative characteristics within them. However, different field heights have caused an obvious increase or decrease the detail of the results. To take a look at the image of the spatial distribution of line forms compared cartograms with another, independent method - kernel density analysis. After setting kernel density image with cartograms one turned out that basic fields shape did not change the image of spatial relations significantly and wellcharacterized them in general. For this study area the best results obtained after the application fields with heights of 2 km and 4 km in the shape of squares and hexagons. It appears that the hexagons better than squares reflect the spatial image of the forms (hexagons allow better representation of the directions and shapes of the studied phenomena), however, they are less common in a geostatistical researches, and that's why they are more difficult to use, especially for comparative analysis.</abstract>

Spatial distribution and statistic analysis of the anthropogenic line forms on the different basic fields

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The Ust-Ilimsk water reservoir is located in the taiga zone in the Central-Siberian Upland. It was created between 1975-1977 as a result of storage of flood waters and water from the higher located Bratsk Reservoir. With an area of 1873 km2 and a water capacity amounting to 59.4 km3 it belongs to the group of largest water reservoirs in the world. It is the third level of the Angara cascade, projected as a multifunctional object - for the efficient functioning of the Ust-Ilimsk Hydroelectric Power Station, to streamline navigation on the lower Angara, to fulfil municipal and industrial water needs and also for floating timber. On the basis of the author’s own investigations and source materials obtained from the Irkutskgidromet and the Institute of the Earth’s Crust in Irkutsk, the fluctuations of the water level and the volumes of water outflow in the period 1975-2007 and the volume of processed material at the selected water shores in the period 1977-1990 were analysed. In addition, the data of seismic events in the region of the Ust-Ilimsk water reservoir were compiled. During this period the functioning changes of the reservoir in terms of the capacity of the water mass occurred under the influence of both natural and anthropogenic factors. It was determined that the creation of this natural-technical water object activated two geological processes in its shore zone - abrasion and induced seismicity. It was stated that the especially large transformations of the reservoir shore zone by these dangerous processes occurred in the first years of its intensive exploitation, in the period of small water resources in the drainage basin of Yenisei - Angara, which forced specific conditions of reservoir functioning. At rocky shores the predominating process is abrasion of their waterside parts, whereas at shores built of loose deposits the complete transformation of underwater parts of shallows takes place.</abstract>

The influence of water level fluctuations in the Ust-Ilimsk water reservoir in Russia on the action of some geological processes

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The occurrence of mountain plant species in the Polish lowlands has been at the centre of attention of many botanists. In 2008-2011 we carried out field studies aimed at describing a new lowland population of White Twisted-stalk S. amplexifolius discovered in 2008. We focused on the following aims: to determine the current status of the lowland population of S. amplexifolius; to characterize phytocenoses and habitat conditions in which the species occur; to identify factors that can potentially pose a threat on the population and to propose guidelines for its protection. The newly discovered population is located in the Trójca Forest District (50º 38.737’ N; 18º 48.945’ E), forest department 61L. The main part of the population (ca. 70%) occupies an area of approximately 100 m2. Currently, to protect the population from grazing, the whole area (about 0.25 ha) has been surrounded by metal mesh fence. The population occurs within a poorly developed patch of Fraxino- Alnetum. It contains 107 branched and fruiting individuals of S. amplexifolius and 83 smaller plants (branchless and sporadically fruiting). The number of fruits per plant varies between 6 and 20. One fruit contains an average of 5 seeds (a maximum of 12 seeds and a minimum of 3 seeds per fruit). The occurrence of numerous Padus serotina seedlings and young plants is recorded within the site. Human-related factors have caused substantial changes in the water relations and, subsequently, also in the species composition of these plant communities. The population of S. amplexifolius within the described site seems to be in good condition and develops normally.</abstract>

Department of Plant Systematics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia Jagiellońska Str. 28, 41-200 Katowice, Poland

Forest Inspectorate Koszęcin, Regional Direction Katowice, Sobieskiego Str. 1, 42-286 Koszęcin, Poland

A new lowland locality for the mountain plant <italic>Streptopus amfexifolius</italic> (L.) DC. (Silesian voivodeship, Southern Poland)

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Developing of large-scale lignite excavation can often generate socio-environmental conflicts between mining-energy companies and various stakeholders, such as local communities or ecological organizations. In this context indication of potential channels of communication with local communities’ is needed to increase the level of their satisfaction with own knowledge and to optimize the social dialogue. The paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey conducted in selected communities of the Łódź voivodeship where surface mining exists at present (Kleszczów) or will be developed soon (Złoczew). They were realized with the Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing on the representative groups of adults. The paper contains analysis of two selected closed-type questions: the first one concerned self-assessment of knowledge level of lignite mining, the second one - sources of information on mining activity. Previous media reports on mining activity in the examined areas were analysed, too. As it seems, various means of social communication should be used: television and radio are the major source of information for local communities, printing press and the Internet are important as well. A detailed set of communication channels and the content of individual messages should be carefully selected for specific target groups (depending on gender, age and education). It should be emphasized that a properly conducted public debate may prove to be one of the factors determining the success of mining-energy investments and sustainable development of some regions.</abstract>

Local communities' knowledge of lignite surface mining – sources and level of satisfaction: examples from central Poland

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The Katowice conurbation comprises of towns which have developed because of the mining of metal ores, coal and raw rock materials. The development of mining and industry which have lasted for centuries has resulted in the specific character of the landscape of the area with its typical indicators such as housing estates built for the working class, winding towers, chimneys of steelworks, coking plants, power stations, drifts, quarries, etc. The residents of mining communities, and local governments within the conurbation, which have developed owing to mining, are aware of the impending economic slowdown after liquidation of coal mines. Therefore, development of the service sector, including tourism, based on postindustrial facilities can become an important factor in restructuring the economy. This article presents a classification of post-industrial cultural heritage sites prepared for the purpose of geotourism. Several categories of such sites have been distinguished: 1) historic mining landscapes, 2) places adapted for recreation, 3) places documenting changes in the groundwater environment, 4) characteristic Silesian landscapes, places commemorating stages of development of the mining industry, 5) post-mining sites adapted for service, commercial or residential purposes, 6) mining museums and open-air museums. The described post-mining sites occur in different parts of the Katowice conurbation; therefore, linking them by a system of tourist trails and surrounding them by zones of protected landscape will be an important task for the future. Material remains of the industrial culture preserved within the Katowice conurbation, despite their diversity, form complexes of monuments complementary to those that can be found in the entire industrialized Europe. Therefore, the industrial heritage in the area of the Katowice conurbation is an important part of the European, supranational heritage.</abstract>

Post-industrial Cultural Heritage Sites in the Katowice conurbation, Poland

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> Towns are of particular interest to geography which examines them in various objective and theoretical aspects. The concept of function is associated with the role which a particular town plays in the area, and this function is the entirety of socio-economic activity carried out in the town. The concept of the economic base of towns, which is used in this paper, distinguishes two groups of town inhabitants, namely such whose work directly contributes to the development of the town, the so-called primary builders (exogenous), and secondary builders (endogenous) who support the first group. This article presents the results of the study of changes in the function of 30 towns in the Silesian voivodeship in which coal mining is still carried out or has ended (18 mining towns and 12 post-mining towns). These towns have different sizes: small ones (up to 20,000 inhabitants; n=6), medium (20 to 100 thousand inhabitants; n=15), and large (with population of over 100,000 inhabitants; n=9). The study was conducted with the use of the indirect measurement of economic base method based on the location ratio, but in a modified form - i.e. the employee surplus rate. The analysis of functional changes in the mining towns of the Silesian voivodeship was performed in five aspects, in relation to: 1) the opening of the economy indicator, with the use of data concerning employment in the exogenous and endogenous group; 2) the employee surplus rate, determining the functional type of towns according to the dominant PKD [Polish Classification of Business Activities] section on the basis of the exogenous group; 3) the structure of exogenous functions of towns; 4) change of the exogenous function of towns; 5) the employee surplus rate, determining the share of section C (mining) in the exogenous function of towns. The analysis showed that in the period of 1996-2009 there has been a change in the functional type, from industrial to service type, in 8 towns; however, mining is still the primary branch of business activity in 11 towns studied, especially in small ones. Today, many service-based towns specialise in trade (n=7), and a small group of towns specialises in non-market services (n=4), which shows that the process of changes in this respect is still ongoing and the towns studied cannot be regarded as towns having a substantial share of higher-order services.</abstract>

Exogenous and endogenous functions of mining towns of the Silesian voivodeship, Poland

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Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

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