Wildfires and their impact on the Late Glacial landscape of Central Poland

We encourage you to read the inspiring scientific article dedicated to the research on the relationship between wildfires and climatic changes during the late phase of the last glaciation, published in the prestigious journal "Geochronometria". The authorship of the work is shared by distinguished specialists, Dr. Hab. Paweł Zieliński and Dr. Hab. Przemysław Mroczek (Department of Geomorphology and Palaeogeography UMCS), along with an extensive research team consisting of experts from many Polish scientific centers. The article is the result of interdisciplinary collaboration within the project of the National Science Centre titled "Multi-proxy research and advanced dating methods in the reconstruction of the evolution of inland dunes in Poland over the last glaciation", led by Dr. Hab. ENG. Piotr Moska from the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice.

Moska P., Sokołowski R.J., Zieliński P.Mroczek P., Piotrowska N., Jary Z., Raczyk J., Szymak A., Wojtalak A., Poręba G., Łopuch M., Skurzyński J., Krawczyk M., Tudyka K., Ustrzycka A., Hrynowiecka A. (2023). The Role and Frequency of Wildfires in the Shaping of the Late Glacial Inland Dunes – A Case Study from the Korzeniew Site (Central Poland). Geochronometria, 50(1), 100–112. https://doi.org/10.2478/geochr-2023-0006

The study examines sedimentology, stratigraphy, and the impact of wildfires on aeolian and soil processes during the Late Glacial Termination in the Korzeniew site, central Poland. The site, within a parabolic dune's central and lee-slope area, presents stacked aeolian sand units intermixed with six charcoal-enriched palaeosols. Thirteen optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates on quartz and six radiocarbon dates establish the chronological framework, dating deposition processes. Initial aeolian sand deposition occurred towards the Late Pleniglacial's end. Climate amelioration during the Bølling interstadial led to permafrost thaw and gleyic soil formation, later overlain by migrating parabolic dunes from the older Allerød interstadial. Wildfires, influenced by vegetation cover, deposited charcoals on the dune's lee slope. These charcoals underwent pedogenic reworking amid episodes of aeolian sand deposition during the Allerød interstadial and Younger Dryas, stabilizing in the earliest Holocene. Wildfires significantly impacted local vegetation development and aeolian activity. Despite the warmth of the Allerød interstadial, increased fires correlated with expanding pine forests and their heightened fire susceptibility. Short-term climate shifts likely destabilized vegetation, fostering fire occurrences during the Allerød interstadial.

Publication list of Institute staff

    News

    Date of addition
    29 January 2024