Temporal Changes in Flow Regime along the River Vistula

Abstract

The flow regime in the River Vistula is influenced by climatic and geographical factors and human intervention. In this study, we focus on an analysis of flow and precipitation variability over time and space following the course of the River Vistula. Multi-purpose statistical analyses of a number of runoff and precipitation characteristics were performed to present a general overview of the temporal and spatial changes. Since the important feature of the hydrological regime of Polish rivers is the seasonality of runoff associated with the occurrence of cold (winter) and warm (summer) seasons within a hydrological year, a seasonal approach is applied to describe specific seasonal features that can be masked when using annual data. In general, the results confirm popular impressions about changes in winter season runoff characteristics, i.e., significantly decreasing daily maxima, increasing daily minima and a decrease in concentration, and so a bigger uniformity of winter daily flows. An interesting behaviour of minimum flows in the summer has been revealed, which is contrary to social perceptions and the alarming changes taking place in the other parts of the world. Additionally, precipitation indexes related to the formation of droughts show no trends, e.g., the mean value of the maximum dry spell length.

Depth–Duration–Frequency Relationship Model of Extreme Precipitation in Flood Risk Assessment in the Upper Vistula Basin

“…Testing the homogeneity and stationarity of a maximum precipitation series is often overlooked in studies on the design of DDF or IDF curves, and it is assumed that this condition is met [5,6,42,65]. The results of the homogeneity of the series of seasonal maximum precipitation of Polish stations investigated here are consistent with the literature, since, unlike in other European countries, no statistically significant trends in both seasonal and annual precipitation totals were found in Poland and Slovenia [66][67][68]. Only Mły ński et al [27] found a growing significant trend in the annual maximum daily precipitation for the period 1971-2014 (i.e., a period shorter than the one treated of here) at the level of 0.05 for 12% of 51 meteorological stations surveyed in the Upper Vistula region.…”

“…Only Mły ński et al [27] found a growing significant trend in the annual maximum daily precipitation for the period 1971-2014 (i.e., a period shorter than the one treated of here) at the level of 0.05 for 12% of 51 meteorological stations surveyed in the Upper Vistula region. Referring to the maximum flows, the trends in daily flow maxima on the Vistula and some of its tributaries in the seasonal timeframe were studied in [68]. The research did not reveal any significant changes in the high waters regime.…”

Mountain Streambed Roughness and Flood Extent Estimation from Imagery Using the Segment Anything Model (SAM)

“…Seasonal changes in flows are directly related to climate change in the area [32] and have a direct impact on flood hazard mapping [33]. According to hydrological and climatological research conducted in the Carpathian area, even greater variability in droughts and floods can be expected in the future [34][35][36][37]. As a result, there is a need for tools that can automatically track these changes.…”

“…The available photographic documentation from the studied stream cross-section did not contain a sufficient number of images from the flood; therefore, three additional photos were analyzed (Figure 10). even greater variability in droughts and floods can be expected in the future [34][35][36][37]. As a result, there is a need for tools that can automatically track these changes.…”

An Eco-Study for a Feasible Project: “Torun and Its Vistula Stretch—An Important Green Navigation Spot on a Blue Inland Waterway”

“…In order to explain Vistula's water resource modifications, its tributaries' water capital must be examined, together with the land use transformation and the water volume withdrawn for different economic activities. Regarding inland navigation, Vistula's water capital decreasing tendency is not acceptable and important measures in this direction should be taken; (e) There is no important trend in the seasonal and annual precipitation totals and flow volumes on Vistula's course, but the increasing temperatures, followed by the field evaporation growth, will enhance the summer-autumn dryness danger if the total rainfall does not change [48].…”