Urban growth's implications on land surface temperature in a medium-sized European city based on LCZ classification.

The study determined the influence of changes in land use and land cover (LULC) on land surface temperature (LST) over a 33-year period based on a medium-sized European city (Poznan, Poland). The LST was estimated from Landsat 5, 8 and Terra (MOD11A2v6) satellites. The local estimation of climate patterns was based on the Local Climate Zones (LCZ) classification utilised with the methodology proposed by the World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools (WUDAPT). Moreover, the Copernicus' imperviousness density product (IMD) was used. Between 2006 and 2018 the area with IMD of 41-100% increased by 6.95 km2, 0-20% decreased by 7.03 km2. The contribution of built-up LCZs increased by 7.4% (19.21 km2) between 1988 and 2021 reaching 13% (34 km2) within open mid-rise LCZ. Due to urbanisation and reforestation, low plants LCZ shrunk by 12.7%. For every 10% increase in IMD, LST increases by up to 0.14 °C. Between 1988 and 2021 the LSTm in specific LCZs rose from 1.52 up to 2.97 °C. As per LST models LCZ change from natural to built-up led up to 1.19 °C LST rise. The increase of the LSTm was registered even when the LCZ remained unchanged.

The effect of seasonality and weather conditions on human perception of the urban-rural transitional landscape.

Landscape perception research into the impact of seasonally changing landscape characteristics with the simultaneous influence of the weather are rare. Therefore, eye-tracking metrics were calculated (fixation and saccades) for the whole tested landscape, while its areas of interest (AOIs) were established based on clustering methods. Moreover, the gaze pattern was analysed using the Voronoi cells method. To identify significant differences in landscape perception according to various weather and seasonality, nonparametric tests were applied. The significant influence of weather/seasonality and their synergistic influence is noticed. The results indicate a rather complex influence of the types of weather in warmer and cooler seasons. Regardless of the weather type, seasonal changes cause greater visual span and shorter fixations in the warmer season. The fixations and saccades are shorter in the warmer season in two AOI's during positive weather, but are longer in negative weather during the colder season in most AOI's. The main reasons for the influence of weather and seasonality on the visual perception include seasonal changes in the landscape, resulting in the appearance of the landscape from more urban to natural and vice versa (phenological changes) as well as lighting changes (due to seasonality and type of weather).

Fluoride pollution of atmospheric precipitation and its relationship with air circulation and weather patterns (Wielkopolski National Park, Poland).

A 2-year study (2010-2011) of fluorides in atmospheric precipitation in the open area and in throughfall in Wielkopolski National Park (west-central Poland) showed their high concentrations, reaching a maximum value of 2 mg/l under the tree crowns. These high values indicate substantial deposition of up to 52 mg/m(2)/year. In 2011, over 51% of open area precipitation was characterized by fluoride concentration higher than 0.10 mg/l, and in throughfall such concentrations were found in more than 86% of events. In 2010, a strong connection was evident between fluoride and acid-forming ions, and in 2011, a correlation between phosphate and nitrite ions was seen. Analysis of available data on F(-) concentrations in the air did not show an unequivocal effect on F(-) concentrations in precipitation. To find reasons for and source areas of high fluoride pollution, the cases of extreme fluoride concentration in rainwater were related to atmospheric circulation and weather patterns. Weather conditions on days of extreme pollution were determined by movement of weather fronts over western Poland, or by small cyclonic centers with meteorological fronts. Macroscale air advection over the sampling site originated in the western quadrant (NW, W, and SW), particularly in the middle layers of the troposphere (2,500-5,000 m a.s.l.). Such directions indicate western Poland and Germany as possible sources of the pollution. At the same time in the lower troposphere, air inflow was frequently from the north, showing short distance transport from local emitters, and from the agglomeration of Poznan.