Selected aspects of functioning of the Lake Gardno catchment (the Wolin Island) as a characteristic indicator of environmental geoecosystem changes within the coastal young glacial zone
Selected aspects of functioning of the Lake Gardno catchment (the Wolin Island) as a characteristic indicator of environmental geoecosystem changes within the coastal young glacial zone

Summary/Abstract: The endorheic catchment of Lake Gardno is located in northwestern Poland on the Wolin Island at a distance of 0.2 km from the Baltic Sea cliff coast. Within the Lake Gardno catchment, on a monthly basis, water with its quantitative aspects and physicochemical properties was examined at every stage of its circulation. For the diagnosis of the circulation of water and solutes, as well asits mechanisms it was essential to determine the seasonal variability of the concentration of biogenic ( NO 3 –, NH 4 +, K + ) and denudative ions ( HCO 3 –, SO 4 2–, Ca 2+, Mg 2+ ), and ions supplied primarily from sea aerosols ( Cl –, Na + ). At the first stage of the water cycle, atmospheric water reaching tree-tops has the lowest mineralization at 1.8 mS • m –1. Throughfall and stemflow lead to an increase in the mineralization up to 8.7 mS • m –1 on average. The next stage, connected with the underground water circulation and leaching of soils, increases the mineralization of water up to 46.3 mS • m –1. The lake water was mineralized at 36.7 mS • m –1. The seasonal variability of the hydrochemical activity of water circulating within the Lake Gardno geoecosystem was represented by groups: with increased concentrations of solutes, with average concentrations of solutes and with reduced concentrations of solutes. The analyzed geoecosystem is characterized by a high concentration level of chloride and sodium ions at every stage of water circulation, which is related to the supply of sea aerosols.

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