Abstract:We present the variability of the thermal state and thickness of permafrost active layer at the raised marine beaches in Svalbard. The investigations were carried out using di− rect probing, thaw tube, ground temperature and radar soundings at Holocene strand plains 10-20 m a.s.l. in Fuglebergsletta (SW Spitsbergen) and at the shore of Kinnvika Bay (Nordaustlandet). Their results were compared to those obtained at other coastal sites in Svalbard. The ground temperature measurements were conducted in 2009 on August, recog− nized as the standard month for the maximum thawing during the last decade. The studied sites are typical for close to extreme active layer conditions on Svalbard. In Hornsund, the thawing depth exceeded 2 m, while in Kinnvika the active layer was thinner than 1 m. In Svalbard, the depth of thawing decreases generally from south to north and from the open sea coast to the central parts of islands. These differences are the consequence of diverse climatic conditions strongly determined by the radiation balance modified by a number of regional (e.g. ocean circulation) and local (e.g. duration of snow deposition) conditions.

Arctic tourism develops very quickly and requires both changing of legal regulations and considering environmental issues. The developing branch of services (significantly tourism) has became an important sector in the shaping of the budget of numerous countries worldwide. Worldwide climate changes provide new possibilities of visiting remote countries with severe climate conditions. Global warming is particularly intense in the Arctic, where mean temperatures have recently risen twice as fast as in the rest of the world. A comprehensive set of regulations was recently developed to protect the wilderness of Arctic environment from the negative impact of tourism. The purpose of the paper is to present legal and organizational regulations connected with organization of tourist trips in the Arctic, based on the example of Svalbard area, American Arctic and Russian Arctic. There are described particularly legal regulations that concern cruise operators. These issues have been described based on literature studies, analysis of legal regulations and statistical data. The time range of the study is about 20 years. Also discussed are challenges of tourism as seen in the Northwest Passage, a historical challenge for many sailors and Russian Arctic tourism development. The issues of economic benefits, environmental protection and connections between tourism and climate conditions are presented. There is also a focus on weather enabling tourism in the Arctic. It can be said that new possibilities of visiting remote places with severe climate conditions (e.g. Arctic region) are opening due to global changes. It occurs mainly due to the reduced sea ice cover for longer periods of time, which facilitates tourist access and extends visitor seasons. It has been assumed that global climate change may lead to a shift of tourism demand to higher latitudes, creating additional opportunities for tourism in northern regions.

Geomorphological research in the Fann Mountains of the Pamir-Alay has indicated that subnival processes are occurring. Contemporary subnival sediments indicate that complex relationships occur between the snow patches, subnival waters, and ground. Underneath a semi-permanent snow patch, snow melts slowly from the direction of the ground, resulting in a hollow that is filled with sediments produced by wash-down from the river terraces. The energy of subnival waters washes away and displaces sediments present underneath the snow patch, but also causes them to be redeposited. The sediment features imply a significant impact of the relief under the snow patch on the thickness of nival deposits and the nivation mechanism. The sediments also indicate that subnival waters may be under hydrostatic pressure, which has a considerable impact on both the snowmelt and sedimentation processes.

Talus slopes origin is connected both with weathering and transport of the rock grain. The formation of these landforms is an effect of many climatological, morphological and geological factors. The grain size of the surface of the talus slope brings some information about the way of transport and deposition mechanisms. The main aim of the paper is to present different talus slope formation in two mountain locations - in arctic periglacial and semi-arid continental periglacial climate zones. Results from two study sites are presented. The first one was located on Spitsbergen Island, on its SW coast, near Polish Polar Station. The climate is arctic and periglacial, the average annual temperature is -3,2°C, annual precipitation is 494,6 mm. The slope is exposed to the west, rock face and talus slope are built with gneiss, crystalline shales with marbles intrusions. There is permafrost as well as an active layer noted on this study site. The second study site is in the Fann Mountains, part of Pamiro-Alay massive in Tajikistan. The annual temperature is about 1-2°C (meteo stations nearby: 6,6°C Iskanderkul 2204 m.a.s.l., 0,7°C Shahristan Pass 3143 m.a.s.l.), annual precipitation is about 300 mm. Slope is exposed to the south, rock material is a Devonian massive limestone. No permafrost was observed in this area. On both study sites, similar methods were used. Profiles with four measuring points were designated. On these points, 0,5 x 0,5 m square were marked and perpendicular photographs from a 1,5 m distance were made. Grain sizes were analyzed in BaseGRAIN software. In Asian periglacial high-mountain conditions lack of permafrost and low precipitation causes, that there is no factor of water. Domination of gravitational processes is sorting material when the heaviest rock fragments are transported longer and are deposited on lower positions on the slope.

Tradycje górnictwa węglowego na Górnym Śląsku datują się na XVI wiek, z którego pochodzą pierwsze wzmianki o wydobyciu węgla kamiennego w sąsiedztwie Rudy Śląskiej, Katowic i Mikołowa. Intensywny rozwój górnictwa w poprzednich wiekach był nie tylko źródłem zysków ekonomicznych, ale spowodował także wyraźne zmiany w środowisku przyrodniczym regionu. Te zmiany to głównie szkody górnicze w postaci osiadań, zasolenia wód powierzchniowych czy ruchów górotworu oraz przekształcenia wynikające z procesów technologicznych – np. deponowanie odpadów wydobywczych i przeróbczych na zwałowiskach. Celem artykułu jest ocena wpływu deponowania odpadów górniczych na powierzchnię terenu powiatu mikołowskiego, a także przedstawienie zmian w strukturze przemysłu wydobywczego w skali lokalnej. Treść artykułu zawiera opis budowy geologicznej obszaru badań, przedstawienie stopnia przekształcenia powierzchni terenu przez działalność górniczą, ocenę wpływu deponowanych odpadów na rzeźbę terenu i środowisko przyrodnicze, a także ocenę stanu rekultywacji opisywanych obiektów. Na podstawie badań wykonano przekroje obrazujące wpływ deponowania odpadów na powierzchnię terenu. Zmiany struktury przemysłu wydobywczego w skali lokalnej przedstawiono na przykładzie odzysku węgla z jednego ze zwałowisk, usytuowanego w północnej części powiatu mikołowskiego.