Edyta Łokas - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Edyta Łokas
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, Dec 1, 2017
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2019
Cryoconite is the dark, granular sediment, that is globally found on the ablation surface of moun... more Cryoconite is the dark, granular sediment, that is globally found on the ablation surface of mountain glaciers and ice sheets. It gained attention from many branches of Earth Sciences, Microbiology and Geochemistry. Cryoconite sediments are composed by a mineral fraction, whose origin can be local or remote and that accounts for 80-98% of total mass, and by an organic one which ranges from 2 to 20 % (Cook et al., 2016). Recently, different studies reported very high, and unexpected, concentrations of specific substances in cryoconite, both natural and anthropogenic. An extreme case is represented by radionuclides: the activity of specific radioactive species in cryoconite samples is orders of magnitude higher than the ones observed in other environmental matrices. Only samples from nuclear test and accident sites show similar values. But radionuclides are not the only species that were found to exceed environmental background levels: heavy metals, organic pollutants and carbonaceous matter were also reported to be in excess in cryoconite. The mechanism responsible for the accumulation is not yet clear. We present here preliminary evidences about cryoconite samples from the Alps, suggesting that an important role in these processes, is played by the interaction between meltwater, organic and mineral matter. During the melting season, cryoconite is in contact with meltwater running downstream along the surface of glaciers. Exactly like a sponge, it retains and concentrates the substances originally stored in glacier ice and transported toward the glacier terminus by meltwater. In this context cryoconite can be thus considered as a novel and efficient environmental monitor for atmospheric deposition, since the impurities that are present in glacier ice mostly have an atmospheric source.
Annals of Glaciology, Apr 14, 2023
Mountain glaciers are crucial sources of fresh water, contributing directly and indirectly to wat... more Mountain glaciers are crucial sources of fresh water, contributing directly and indirectly to water, energy and food supplies for hundreds of millions of people. Assessing the impact of diminishing glacial meltwater contributions to the security of this resource is critical as we seek to manage and adapt to changing freshwater dynamics in a warming world. Both water quantity and quality influence water (in)security, so understanding the fluxes of water, sediment and contaminants through glacial and proglacial systems is required for holistic assessment of meltwater contribution to downstream resource security. In this paper we consider the socio-environmental role of and pressures on glacier-fed waters, discuss key research priorities for the assessment of both the quantity and quality of meltwater and reflect on the importance of situating our understanding within a transdisciplinary and inclusive research landscape. Recent studies using satellite records show high rates of glacial mass loss, which have accelerated over the last few decades (Hugonnet and others, 2021). While this is a global phenomenon, there are strong regional variations, reflecting local atmospheric and topographic conditions. Importantly, these spatial variations mean that there are also regional differences in downstream impacts, with some of the most populated areas and vulnerable ecosystems most at risk, including parts of Arctic Canada and Russia, Asia, Europe and North and South America. In many of these areas, both ecosystem functions and the livelihoods of local peoples are reliant on a consistent supply of meltwater and the delivery of associated sediment and nutrients. Thus, glacial meltwater can be viewed as a source of vital ecosystem services, underpinning resource security, wellbeing and environmental function (Fig. 1; Cook and others, 2021). Numerous species of fish are reliant on the timely flow of cold and clean water, while in the case of human populations, many regions of the planet are reliant on glacier meltwater for hydropower, drinking water and irrigation, among other requirements (Milner and others, 2017). While humans may be able to adapt to the rate of downstream change associated with glacial melt, in many situations ecosystem response is unlikely to be able to match this, and there are predictions of declining and shifting populations of both terrestrial and aquatic fauna particularly species specifically adapted to glacial conditions (Cauvy-Fraunié and Dangles, 2019). Similarly, decreases in glacier meltwater production, which is a transboundary challenge, may contribute to geopolitical instability (e.g. Karthe and others, 2015; Molden and others, 2017), particularly when twinned with water use and abstraction pressures from population and economic growth, and unsustainable land-use practices. This paper summarises the role of meltwater for downstream resources, the challenges of changing water quantity and quality, and key future research priorities in this field. Quantity and quality of glacier-fed waters Water security means having sustainable access to water of sufficient quantity and quality in order to support socioeconomic development and human and ecosystem wellbeing. A key concept for assessing long-term water security is peak water, which in the context of glaciers describes the point in time where meltwater-derived runoff reaches its maximum under conditions of negative mass balance, resulting in a subsequent reduction of glacier contribution to streamflow. Huss and Hock (2018) conducted a global-scale modelling assessment of peak water in 56 large, glaciated catchments, estimating that peak water had already passed in
Geochronometria, 2002
Topmost sediments in two oligotrophic lakes of the High Tatra Mountains were studied in terms of ... more Topmost sediments in two oligotrophic lakes of the High Tatra Mountains were studied in terms of sedimentological characteristics and 210 Pb dating. An alpine lake sediments are important source of information on geomorphic process activity in glacial catchments. Two different sediment transfer models are represented. In Morskie Oko lake basin majority of extreme, short lasting geomorphic events triggered on the surrounding slopes are registred in lake sediments (minerogenic laminae), while in Zelene Pleso lake only an effect of prolonged flooding periods are to be seen. The sedimentation rates in both lakes are similar.
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Dec 15, 2021
Chemosphere, Jul 1, 2017
h i g h l i g h t s Quantification of 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atomic ratios in Arctic soils. Stronger radi... more h i g h l i g h t s Quantification of 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atomic ratios in Arctic soils. Stronger radioactive contamination in the Arctic proglacial zone of glaciers than in tundra. Identification of Pu sources using three-sources model. Excess of 238 Pu suggests a separate source of 238 Pu contamination.
Book of Abstracts, 2023
Jasna Paradiž, Determining the genetic vulnerability of plants due to ionizing radiation: a compr... more Jasna Paradiž, Determining the genetic vulnerability of plants due to ionizing radiation: a comprehensive analysis of the cytogenetic balance and responses of the Allium root meristem to various radiation doses .
Science of The Total Environment
Book of Abstracts
Jasna Paradiž, Determining the genetic vulnerability of plants due to ionizing radiation: a compr... more Jasna Paradiž, Determining the genetic vulnerability of plants due to ionizing radiation: a comprehensive analysis of the cytogenetic balance and responses of the Allium root meristem to various radiation doses .
Annals of Glaciology
Mountain glaciers are crucial sources of fresh water, contributing directly and indirectly to wat... more Mountain glaciers are crucial sources of fresh water, contributing directly and indirectly to water, energy and food supplies for hundreds of millions of people. Assessing the impact of diminishing glacial meltwater contributions to the security of this resource is critical as we seek to manage and adapt to changing freshwater dynamics in a warming world. Both water quantity and quality influence water (in)security, so understanding the fluxes of water, sediment and contaminants through glacial and proglacial systems is required for holistic assessment of meltwater contribution to downstream resource security. In this paper we consider the socio-environmental role of and pressures on glacier-fed waters, discuss key research priorities for the assessment of both the quantity and quality of meltwater and reflect on the importance of situating our understanding within a transdisciplinary and inclusive research landscape.
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2019
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2018
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2022
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2020
The research was focused on the level and distribution of 90Sr in various parts of the terrestria... more The research was focused on the level and distribution of 90Sr in various parts of the terrestrial environment of Spitsbergen. The mean activity concentrations were noted lower in peats and soils than in cryoconite. Analysis of vertical variation of 90Sr for soils and peats as well as isotopic ratios of 137Cs/90Sr and 239+240Pu/90Sr for cryoconite clearly showed substantial migration or depletion of the considered radionuclide. Due to the large dispersion of isotopic signatures, the 90Sr provenance was difficult to identify in the examined region. However, observed high mobility of the 90Sr might indicate the global fallout origin.
Journal of Zoology, 2020
The worldwide distribution of microinvertebrates on glaciers, the coldest biome, is poorly known.... more The worldwide distribution of microinvertebrates on glaciers, the coldest biome, is poorly known. Owing to their tolerance to hostile conditions, small size and dispersal abilities, nematodes, tardigrades and rotifers are considered cosmopolitan and together inhabit various ecosystems. In this study, we investigated their global distribution in cryoconite holes – a type of freshwater reservoir forming directly in the glacial ice that creates biodiversity hotspots on glaciers. We analysed cryoconite samples (using classical microscopic observations and environmental DNA metabarcoding) from 42 glaciers located around the world (the Arctic, Subarctic, Scandinavia, the Alps, the Caucasus, Siberia, Central Asia, Africa, South America and Antarctica), as well as using literature data. Samples from Antarctic, Karakoram and the Alps were analysed using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and classical observations under microscopes, while all other samples were analysed by microscope alone. Th...
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, Dec 1, 2017
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2019
Cryoconite is the dark, granular sediment, that is globally found on the ablation surface of moun... more Cryoconite is the dark, granular sediment, that is globally found on the ablation surface of mountain glaciers and ice sheets. It gained attention from many branches of Earth Sciences, Microbiology and Geochemistry. Cryoconite sediments are composed by a mineral fraction, whose origin can be local or remote and that accounts for 80-98% of total mass, and by an organic one which ranges from 2 to 20 % (Cook et al., 2016). Recently, different studies reported very high, and unexpected, concentrations of specific substances in cryoconite, both natural and anthropogenic. An extreme case is represented by radionuclides: the activity of specific radioactive species in cryoconite samples is orders of magnitude higher than the ones observed in other environmental matrices. Only samples from nuclear test and accident sites show similar values. But radionuclides are not the only species that were found to exceed environmental background levels: heavy metals, organic pollutants and carbonaceous matter were also reported to be in excess in cryoconite. The mechanism responsible for the accumulation is not yet clear. We present here preliminary evidences about cryoconite samples from the Alps, suggesting that an important role in these processes, is played by the interaction between meltwater, organic and mineral matter. During the melting season, cryoconite is in contact with meltwater running downstream along the surface of glaciers. Exactly like a sponge, it retains and concentrates the substances originally stored in glacier ice and transported toward the glacier terminus by meltwater. In this context cryoconite can be thus considered as a novel and efficient environmental monitor for atmospheric deposition, since the impurities that are present in glacier ice mostly have an atmospheric source.
Annals of Glaciology, Apr 14, 2023
Mountain glaciers are crucial sources of fresh water, contributing directly and indirectly to wat... more Mountain glaciers are crucial sources of fresh water, contributing directly and indirectly to water, energy and food supplies for hundreds of millions of people. Assessing the impact of diminishing glacial meltwater contributions to the security of this resource is critical as we seek to manage and adapt to changing freshwater dynamics in a warming world. Both water quantity and quality influence water (in)security, so understanding the fluxes of water, sediment and contaminants through glacial and proglacial systems is required for holistic assessment of meltwater contribution to downstream resource security. In this paper we consider the socio-environmental role of and pressures on glacier-fed waters, discuss key research priorities for the assessment of both the quantity and quality of meltwater and reflect on the importance of situating our understanding within a transdisciplinary and inclusive research landscape. Recent studies using satellite records show high rates of glacial mass loss, which have accelerated over the last few decades (Hugonnet and others, 2021). While this is a global phenomenon, there are strong regional variations, reflecting local atmospheric and topographic conditions. Importantly, these spatial variations mean that there are also regional differences in downstream impacts, with some of the most populated areas and vulnerable ecosystems most at risk, including parts of Arctic Canada and Russia, Asia, Europe and North and South America. In many of these areas, both ecosystem functions and the livelihoods of local peoples are reliant on a consistent supply of meltwater and the delivery of associated sediment and nutrients. Thus, glacial meltwater can be viewed as a source of vital ecosystem services, underpinning resource security, wellbeing and environmental function (Fig. 1; Cook and others, 2021). Numerous species of fish are reliant on the timely flow of cold and clean water, while in the case of human populations, many regions of the planet are reliant on glacier meltwater for hydropower, drinking water and irrigation, among other requirements (Milner and others, 2017). While humans may be able to adapt to the rate of downstream change associated with glacial melt, in many situations ecosystem response is unlikely to be able to match this, and there are predictions of declining and shifting populations of both terrestrial and aquatic fauna particularly species specifically adapted to glacial conditions (Cauvy-Fraunié and Dangles, 2019). Similarly, decreases in glacier meltwater production, which is a transboundary challenge, may contribute to geopolitical instability (e.g. Karthe and others, 2015; Molden and others, 2017), particularly when twinned with water use and abstraction pressures from population and economic growth, and unsustainable land-use practices. This paper summarises the role of meltwater for downstream resources, the challenges of changing water quantity and quality, and key future research priorities in this field. Quantity and quality of glacier-fed waters Water security means having sustainable access to water of sufficient quantity and quality in order to support socioeconomic development and human and ecosystem wellbeing. A key concept for assessing long-term water security is peak water, which in the context of glaciers describes the point in time where meltwater-derived runoff reaches its maximum under conditions of negative mass balance, resulting in a subsequent reduction of glacier contribution to streamflow. Huss and Hock (2018) conducted a global-scale modelling assessment of peak water in 56 large, glaciated catchments, estimating that peak water had already passed in
Geochronometria, 2002
Topmost sediments in two oligotrophic lakes of the High Tatra Mountains were studied in terms of ... more Topmost sediments in two oligotrophic lakes of the High Tatra Mountains were studied in terms of sedimentological characteristics and 210 Pb dating. An alpine lake sediments are important source of information on geomorphic process activity in glacial catchments. Two different sediment transfer models are represented. In Morskie Oko lake basin majority of extreme, short lasting geomorphic events triggered on the surrounding slopes are registred in lake sediments (minerogenic laminae), while in Zelene Pleso lake only an effect of prolonged flooding periods are to be seen. The sedimentation rates in both lakes are similar.
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Dec 15, 2021
Chemosphere, Jul 1, 2017
h i g h l i g h t s Quantification of 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atomic ratios in Arctic soils. Stronger radi... more h i g h l i g h t s Quantification of 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atomic ratios in Arctic soils. Stronger radioactive contamination in the Arctic proglacial zone of glaciers than in tundra. Identification of Pu sources using three-sources model. Excess of 238 Pu suggests a separate source of 238 Pu contamination.
Book of Abstracts, 2023
Jasna Paradiž, Determining the genetic vulnerability of plants due to ionizing radiation: a compr... more Jasna Paradiž, Determining the genetic vulnerability of plants due to ionizing radiation: a comprehensive analysis of the cytogenetic balance and responses of the Allium root meristem to various radiation doses .
Science of The Total Environment
Book of Abstracts
Jasna Paradiž, Determining the genetic vulnerability of plants due to ionizing radiation: a compr... more Jasna Paradiž, Determining the genetic vulnerability of plants due to ionizing radiation: a comprehensive analysis of the cytogenetic balance and responses of the Allium root meristem to various radiation doses .
Annals of Glaciology
Mountain glaciers are crucial sources of fresh water, contributing directly and indirectly to wat... more Mountain glaciers are crucial sources of fresh water, contributing directly and indirectly to water, energy and food supplies for hundreds of millions of people. Assessing the impact of diminishing glacial meltwater contributions to the security of this resource is critical as we seek to manage and adapt to changing freshwater dynamics in a warming world. Both water quantity and quality influence water (in)security, so understanding the fluxes of water, sediment and contaminants through glacial and proglacial systems is required for holistic assessment of meltwater contribution to downstream resource security. In this paper we consider the socio-environmental role of and pressures on glacier-fed waters, discuss key research priorities for the assessment of both the quantity and quality of meltwater and reflect on the importance of situating our understanding within a transdisciplinary and inclusive research landscape.
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2019
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2018
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2022
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2020
The research was focused on the level and distribution of 90Sr in various parts of the terrestria... more The research was focused on the level and distribution of 90Sr in various parts of the terrestrial environment of Spitsbergen. The mean activity concentrations were noted lower in peats and soils than in cryoconite. Analysis of vertical variation of 90Sr for soils and peats as well as isotopic ratios of 137Cs/90Sr and 239+240Pu/90Sr for cryoconite clearly showed substantial migration or depletion of the considered radionuclide. Due to the large dispersion of isotopic signatures, the 90Sr provenance was difficult to identify in the examined region. However, observed high mobility of the 90Sr might indicate the global fallout origin.
Journal of Zoology, 2020
The worldwide distribution of microinvertebrates on glaciers, the coldest biome, is poorly known.... more The worldwide distribution of microinvertebrates on glaciers, the coldest biome, is poorly known. Owing to their tolerance to hostile conditions, small size and dispersal abilities, nematodes, tardigrades and rotifers are considered cosmopolitan and together inhabit various ecosystems. In this study, we investigated their global distribution in cryoconite holes – a type of freshwater reservoir forming directly in the glacial ice that creates biodiversity hotspots on glaciers. We analysed cryoconite samples (using classical microscopic observations and environmental DNA metabarcoding) from 42 glaciers located around the world (the Arctic, Subarctic, Scandinavia, the Alps, the Caucasus, Siberia, Central Asia, Africa, South America and Antarctica), as well as using literature data. Samples from Antarctic, Karakoram and the Alps were analysed using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and classical observations under microscopes, while all other samples were analysed by microscope alone. Th...