Fluvial transport, its dynamics and structure, constitute a good indicator of the condition of the natural environment in various climatic zones. Analysis of fluvial transport components allows for precise determination of the rate and directions of transformations of geosystems of any importance. In the polar zone, very sensitive to global changes, it seems expedient to identify the mechanisms and structure of fluvial transport, particularly in the conditions of the observed glacier retreat, the main alimentation source of proglacial rivers. Studies carried out in the zone revealed difficulties in determination of fluvial transport structure, particularly the actual bedload of gravel-bed rivers based on direct measurements, resulting from: short measurement series, lack of standardization of research methods and measurement equipment, and strategy of selection of study objects and sampling. The research project presented concerns determination of mechanisms of fluvial transport and sediment supply to Arctic gravel-bed river channels. The mechanisms reflect the processes of adaptation of proglacial rivers of the Arctic zone to changing environmental conditions, and indicate the dominant directions of transformations of paraglacial geosystems of various importance. For studies on Arctic geosystems, the region of the south Bellsund (SW Spitsbergen) was selected due to extensive knowledge on its hydro-meteorological and glacial-geomorphological conditions, and long-term measurement series carried out by the research station of the MCSU, among others within the framework of the international monitoring network: SEDIBUD (IAG) and Small-CATCHMENT program. For detailed studies, rivers with various hydrological regimes were selected, functioning at the forefield of the Scott and Renard Glaciers. The Scott River glacial catchment and glacier-free catchments of the Reindeer Stream and the Wydrzyca Stream (with a snow-permafrost hydrological regime) meet the selection criteria for representative test catchments analyzed for the following programs: SEDIFLUX, SEDIBUD, and POP.
Dr. Waldemar Kociuba
Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
Al. Kraśnicka 2 CD
20-718 Lublin
Poland
The experimental field study was carried out in the gravel-bed Scott River with glacial alimentation regime, located in the NW part of the Wedel-Jarlsberg Land (Spitsbergen), in the vicinity of Calypsobyen. The first-order catchment area is about 10 km2, with almost 40% covered with intensively melting valley-type Scott Glacier. Rapid changes in the location of the glacier terminus have been observed since the end of the Little Ice Age. The currently observed recession and downwearing of the glacier terminus were interrupted in the 1960’s, when a rapid surge of the glacier was recorded in the form of push moraines.
Journal articles:
Rachlewicz, G., Zwoliński, Z., Kociuba, W., Stawska, M., in press 2016. Field testing of three bedload samplers’ efficiency in a gravel-bed river, Spitsbergen, Geomorphology,
doi: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.06.001
Kociuba W., Krząstek P., Superson J., PrePub2016. Combining GPS-RTK and rephotographic methodologies for the assessment of transformations of the ephemeral landforms of the near foreland of a valley glacier (Scottbreen, Svalbard), Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie, DOI: 10.1127/zfg_suppl/2016/00231
Kociuba W., Janicki G., 2015. Changeability of movable bed-surface particles in natural, gravel-bed channels and its relation to bedload grain size distribution (Scott River, Svalbard). Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 97 (3), 507–521. doi:10.1111/geoa.12090.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/geoa.12090/full
Kociuba W., Janicki G., 2014. Continuous measurements of bedload transport rates in a small glacial river catchment in the summer season (Spitsbergen). Geomorphology, 212, 58-71.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X13002626
Kociuba W., Kubisz W., Zagórski P., 2014. Use of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) for monitoring and modelling of geomorphic processes and phenomena at a small and medium spatial scale in Polar environment (Scott River — Spitsbergen). Geomorphology, 212, 84-96.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X13000755
Kociuba, W., 2014. Application of Terrestrial Laser Scanning in the assessment of the role of small debris flow in river sediment supply in the cold climate environment. Annales UMCS B 69, 1, 79-91.
Kociuba W., Janicki G., Siwek K., 2014. Variability of sediment transport in the Scott River catchment (Svalbard) during the hydrologically active season of 2009, Quaestiones Geographicae 33, 1, 39-49.
Lehmann S., Kociuba W., Franczak Ł., Gajek G., Łęczyński L., Kozak K., Szopińska M., Ruman M., Polkowska Ż., 2014. Studies on the presence and spatial distribution of anthropogenic pollutants in the glacial basin of Scott Glacier in the face of climate change (Fiord Bellsund, Spitsbergen) [in:] AIP Conference Proceedings 1618, 301 (2014), doi: 10.1063/1.4897733
http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/proceeding/aipcp/10.1063/1.4897733
Monography:
Waldemar Kociuba, 2015. Mechanizm i dynamika dostawy rumowiska oraz transportu fluwialnego w zlewni glacjalnej [The mechanism and dynamics of sediment supply and fluvial transport in a glacial catchment]. Wydawnictwo UMCS, Lublin: 151 pp. ISBN 978-83-7784-769-5
Chapters:
Kociuba, W., in press 2016. Measurements of bedload flux in a high Arctic environment [in:] A.A. Beylich, J.C. Dixon, Z. Zwoliński (Eds.), Source-to-sink-fluxes in undisturbed cold environments. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. pp. 116-132
Kociuba, W., 2016. Effective Method for Continuous Measurement of Bedload Transport Rates by Means of River Bedload Trap (RBT) in a Small Glacial High Arctic Gravel-Bed River. [in:] GeoPlanet: Earth Planetary Scien., P. Rowiński, A. Marion (Eds): Hydrodynamic and Mass Transport at Freshwater Aquatic Interfaces, Springer. pp. 279-292. ISBN 978-3-319-27749-3
Kociuba W., 2015. Geometrical parameters of TLS-based DEM acquisition for a small Arctic catchment (Svalbard SW) [in:] Geomorphometry for Geosciences, Jasiewicz J., Zwoliński Zb., Mitasova H., Hengl T. (eds), 2015. Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań - Institute of Geoecology and Geoinformation, International Society for Geomorphometry, Poznań, 61-64. ISBN ISBN 978-83-7986-059-3
Kociuba, W., Janicki, G., 2015. Spatiotemporal variability of the channel pattern of High Arctic proglacial rivers. In: Duncan N. (ed.): Fluvial Geomorphology and Riparian Vegetation: Environmental Importance, Functions and Effects on Climate Change. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York, pp. 53-80. ISBN: 978-1-63482-462-0
Kociuba W., 2014. Bedload transport in a High Arctic gravel-bed river (Scott River, Svalbard SW) [in:] K. Migała, P. Owczarek, M. Kasprzak, M.C. Strzelecki (eds.), New perspectives in polar research. Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław, Wyd. I-BiS, Wrocław: 231-246.(2015) ISBN 978−83−62673−47−6
Lehmann S., Kociuba W., Gajek G., Franczak Ł., Polkowska Ż., 2014. Dynamics of changes in the concentration levels of organic pollutants in the proglacial waters of the Scott River (Spitsbergen, SW Svalbard). [in:] K. Migała, P. Owczarek, M. Kasprzak, M.C. Strzelecki (eds.), New perspectives in polar research. Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław, I-BiS, Wrocław: 111-121. (2015) ISBN 978−83−62673−47−6
Kosek K., Lehmann S., Gajek G., Kociuba W., Franczak Ł., Polkowska Ż., 2014. Morphometric parameters of the Renardbrenn as an important factors determining the spatial distribution of chemical compounds on the glacier surface. [in:] K. Migała, P. Owczarek, M. Kasprzak, M.C. Strzelecki (eds.), New perspectives in polar research, Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław, I-BiS, Wrocław: 97-109. (2015) ISBN 978−83−62673−47−6
Kociuba W., Janicki G., 2013. Fluvial Processes, [in:] P. Zagórski, M. Harasimiuk, J. Rodzik (eds.), The Geographical Environment of NW Part of Wedel Jarlsberg Land (Spitsbergen, Svalbard), Wydawnictwo UMCS, Lublin, 192-211.
http://geografia.umcs.lublin.pl/wyprawy/publikacje/monografia/chapter_5_4.pdf
Kociuba W., Janicki G., Siwek K. Gluza A., 2012. Bedload transport as an indicator of contemporary transformations of arctic fluvial systems [in:] D. de Wrachien, C.A. Brebbia, S. Mambretti (Eds.), Monitoring, Simulation, Prevention and Remediation of Dense and Debris Flows IV. WIT Press Southampton, Boston: 125-135. ISBN: 978-1-84564-586-1
https://www.witpress.com/elibrary/wit-transactions-on-engineering-sciences/73/23345
Kociuba W., Janicki G., Siwek K., 2010: Dynamics of changes of bed load outflow from a small glacial catchment (West Spitsbergen). [W:] D. de Wrachien, C.A. Brebbia (eds.), Monitoring, Simulation, Prevention and Remediation of Dense and Debris Flows III. University of Milan, Italy: 261-270.
https://www.witpress.com/elibrary/wit-transactions-on-engineering-sciences/67/21014
Abstracts:
Kociuba W., 2014. Bedload flux changeability in the proglacial river catchment (Scott River, Svalbard SW) [in:] D. Morche, M. Krautblatter, A. Beylich & T. Heckmann (eds.) Proceedings of the 8th I.A.G./A.I.G. working group SEDIBUD (Sediment Budgets in Cold Environments) Workshop “Sediment Cascades in Cold Climate Geosystems” Zugspitze/Reintal, Bavaria/Germany, September 1-3/4, 2014, 22.
Kociuba W., 2014. Terrestrial Laser Scanning as a tool to measurement transformations of fluvial forms and processes in the Arctic environment [in:] D. Morche, M. Krautblatter, A. Beylich & T. Heckmann (eds.) Proceedings of the 8th I.A.G./A.I.G. working group SEDIBUD (Sediment Budgets in Cold Environments) Workshop “Sediment Cascades in Cold Climate Geosystems” Zugspitze/Reintal, Bavaria/Germany, September 1-3/4, 2014, 23.
Kociuba W., 2014: Terrestrial Laser Scanning as a tool of monitoring rapid transformations of fluvial forms and processes. [in:] Gonçalo Vieira, Pedro Pina, Carla Mora and António Correia (eds.), EUCOP 4 - Book of Abstracts. Published by the University of Lisbon and the University of Évora: 381.
Franczak Ł., Kociuba W., Gajek G., 2014: Effect of climate drivers on extreme Arctic river flows during floods (melt season 2013). [in:] K. Migała, M. C. Strzelecki, P. Owczarek, T. Sawiński, M. Korzystka-Muskała, P. Muskała, M. Kasprzak(eds.) Book of Abstracts 35th Polar Symposium. Diversity and state of polar ecosystems, 34.
Gajek G., Kociuba W., Franczak Ł., 2014: Changes in Scottbreen geometry in the light of archival cartographic materials and the latest TLS measurements. [in:] K. Migała, M. C. Strzelecki, P. Owczarek, T. Sawiński, M. Korzystka-Muskała, P. Muskała, M. Kasprzak(eds.) Book of Abstracts 35th Polar Symposium. Diversity and state of polar ecosystems, 35.
Kociuba W., 2014: Bedload transport in a High Arctic gravel-bed river (Scott River, Svalbard SW) [in:] K. Migała, M. C. Strzelecki, P. Owczarek, T. Sawiński, M. Korzystka-Muskała, P. Muskała, M. Kasprzak(eds.) Book of Abstracts 35th Polar Symposium. Diversity and state of polar ecosystems, 60.
Kociuba W., Gajek G., Franczak Ł., Lehmann S., Polkowska Ż., 2014: The distribution and changeability of sediment yield and its delivery at the small glacial catchment (Scott River, Svalbard SW), [in:] K. Migała, M. C. Strzelecki, P. Owczarek, T. Sawiński, M. Korzystka-Muskała, P. Muskała, M. Kasprzak(eds.) Book of Abstracts 35th Polar Symposium. Diversity and state of polar ecosystems, 61.
Lehmann S., Kociuba W., Gajek G., Franczak Ł., Kozak K., Namieśnik, J., Polkowska Ż., 2014: Organic compounds of anthropogenic origin present in a small glaciated catchment of Scott Glacier. [in:] K. Migała, M. C. Strzelecki, P. Owczarek, T. Sawiński, M. Korzystka-Muskała, P. Muskała, M. Kasprzak(eds.) Book of Abstracts 35th Polar Symposium. Diversity and state of polar ecosystems, 72.
Lehmann S., Gajek G., Franczak Ł., Kociuba W., Łęczyński L., Chmiel S., Kozak K., Polkowska Ż., 2014: Spatial distribution of metals present on the surface of Scott and Blomli glaciers (Bellsund, SW Spitsbergen). [in:] K. Migała, M. C. Strzelecki, P. Owczarek, T. Sawiński, M. Korzystka-Muskała, P. Muskała, M. Kasprzak (eds.) Book of Abstracts 35th Polar Symposium. Diversity and state of polar ecosystems, 73.
Janicki G., Kociuba W., Rodzik J., 2013. Application of the terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) for assessing development of a forested loess gully. [in:] Gully Erosion in a Changing World (6th ISGE) 06-12 May 2013, Iasi, Romania, Book of abstracts, 60.
Kociuba W., 2012: Changeability of bedload transport rate in the gravel-bed channel of the Scott River (Svalbard SW), Monitoring bedload and debris flows in mountain basins, Bozen-Bolzano (Italy), 10-12 October 2012.
Kociuba W., Janicki G., 2012: Contemporary transformations of a braided gravel-bed river (Svalbard), New insight on the Qaternary evolution of the Mosele River and its tributaries (Luxembourg, France, Germany), Abstract book, pp.39
Kociuba W., Seul C., 2012. Variability of measured bedload flux in a small glacial river catchment (Scott River, Svalbard SW). The Arctic Science Summit Week 2013. The Arctic Hub Regional and Global Perspectives, Kraków 13 - 19 April 2013, http://www.assw2013.us.edu.pl/pdf/Pendrive/ABSTRACT_T_3395.pdf
Lehmann S., Kociuba W., Gajek G., Franczak Ł., Łęczyński L., Polkowska Ż., 2012. Dynamics and spatial distribution of changes in the concentration levels of anthropogenic pollutants in the proglacial waters of the Scott River. The Arctic Science Summit Week 2013. The Arctic Hub Regional and Global Perspectives, Kraków 13 - 19 April 2013, http://www.assw2013.us.edu.pl/pdf/Pendrive/ABSTRACT_T_3255.pdf
Lehmann S., Kociuba W., Gajek G., Franczak Ł., Łęczyński L., Polkowska Ż., 2012. Environmental conditions of differentiation of anthropogenic pollutants concentrations present in the water bodies of small catchments of the Svalbard. The Arctic Science Summit Week 2013. The Arctic Hub Regional and Global Perspectives, Kraków 13 - 19 April 2013, http://www.assw2013.us.edu.pl/pdf/Pendrive/ABSTRACT_T_4155.pdf
The studies was carried out based on an integrated monitoring program of sediment transport. The study was focused on identification of patterns of channel development of rivers analyzed, tendencies of changes in the morphology of river beds and valley bottoms, as well as identification of their transportation regime, and determination of modern sedimentation (sub)environments. Water discharge intensity and fluvial transport volume was analyzed in selected hydrometric cross-sections closing subcatchments. Individual components of sediment transported, their spatial differentiation, and variability at various time scales (diurnal, seasonal, long-term) will be identified. Flow rate was determined with the application of an current meter, and water levels in the river bed – by means of pressure limnigraphs. Measurements of dissolved and suspended material was carried out with the application of the conductometric and gravimetric method. Bedload material was measured based on an innovative methodology with the application of River Bedload Traps – RBT, constructed by W. Kociuba. Material sampled was subjected to field granulometric analyses for the purpose of determination of statistical parameters of granulation distribution. The analyses planned was supplemented by meteorological measurements carried out in the ‘Calypsobyen’ and glaciological measurements (based on a network of ablation stakes and GPS measurements) of the Scott Glacier, allowing for determination of the effect of meteorological conditions and glacier ablation rate on the dynamics of fluvial processes.
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (MCSU) Polar Expedition
The field research was performed during the 24th and 25th Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (MCSU) Polar Expeditions. This study was supported by the scientific project of the Polish National Science Centre 2011/01/B/ST10/06996 ‘Mechanisms of fluvial transport and sediment supply to channels of Arctic rivers with various hydrological regimes (SW Spitsbergen)’. The results was prepared in the scope of promotion of the project POIG.01.03.02-00-082/10, co-financed from the resources of the EU in the scope of the Operational Programme Innovative Economy, 2007-2013, Priority 1. ‘Research and development of modern technologies’.
The study involved a comparison of the results of field measurements from 2012 and 2013 performed in the Scott Glacier catchment (10.1 km2) located in NW Wedel Jarlsberg Land (Spitsbergen). The variability of bedload transport rates and its relation to the dissolved and suspended load was analysed in two cross-sections located in the mouth section of a proglacial gravel-bed river. Bedload flux was measured by means of two 4-module sets of River Bedload Traps (RBT) constructed by the author. Over the research period, a total of 487 samples of material transported on the channel bed were collected, as well as 482 water samples for the determination of dissolved and suspended load. The measurements showed spatial and temporal variability of bedload flux and the remaining components (solutions, suspensions) corresponding to changes in water discharge. The assessment of sediment supply to a proglacial river was performed by means of a Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) survey. The paper compares results of field surveys (from 2010 and 2013). In both cases, the measurements involved the application of the 3D laser scanning technology. The measurements were performed by means of a medium-range stationary Leica Scan Station C10 laser scanner. Complex measurements of the valley bottom were performed from interrelated measurement sites. At each of the sites, a point cloud was obtained constituting a model space composed of 5 M pt. Their integration resulted in obtaining a Digital Surface Model (DSM) with an accuracy of ± 0.9 cm. The accuracy of the model permitted precise measurements of parameters of the discussed landforms. The paper presents a comparison of high accuracy TLS-based DEM's aimed at the evaluation of current changes in the morphology of selected subsystems of a glacial catchment through (i) the identification of the primary sources of sediment distribution, (ii) assessment of the spatiotemporal variability of land relief and sediment volume, and (iii) assessment of the role of particular subsystems in sediment distribution. It permitted balancing spatial quantitative and qualitative changes in nine square-shaped test areas (100 m2) located within two subsystems of the catchment in cascade arrangement. In the valley floor subsystem, the survey covered: 1) the marginal zone, 2) glacier terminus, 3) intramarginal outwash plain, 4) extramarginal outwash plain, 5) alluvial fan (mainstream) and 6) alluvial fan (distribution channels). In the slope subsystem, the survey covered: 7) the erosional-depositional slope in the gorge through terminal moraines, and 8) solifluction slope. One additional test field covering both subsystems was located in the vicinity of the mouth of the main right-bank tributary – 9) the Reindeer Stream. Three zones differing in terms of spatiotemporal dynamics of geomorphic processes were distinguished within the two analysed catchment subsystems. In the valley floor subsystem, these included: (i) the zone of basic supply (distribution throughout the melting season) and (ii) the redeposition zone (distribution particularly during floods), and in the slope subsystem: (iii) zone of periodical supply (distribution mainly in periods of increased precipitation and rapid increases in temperature in summer and during snow avalanches in winter). The glacier and the landforms of the channel and valley floor, as well as slope sediments transported as a result of mass wasting processes and activity of the active permafrost layer, constitute important sources of sediment supply.