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Delimitation of Hydrotopes Using the Example of the Polish Tatra Mountains and The Southern Part of Podhale Cover

Delimitation of Hydrotopes Using the Example of the Polish Tatra Mountains and The Southern Part of Podhale

By: Sabina Wójcik  
Open Access
|Jan 2026

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1.

Physical–geographical division of the study area (Balon et al. 2015, Krąż, Wójcik 2015, Jodłowski et al. 2021a, b) model: ASTER Global DEM (n.d.)*. In the study, the names of lower-level physiogeographic units (microregions and mesoregions) are provided in Polish. The names commonly known and used in the international literature (Carpathians, Tatra Mountains) are written in English. * ASTER Global DEM is a product of METI and NASA.
Physical–geographical division of the study area (Balon et al. 2015, Krąż, Wójcik 2015, Jodłowski et al. 2021a, b) model: ASTER Global DEM (n.d.)*. In the study, the names of lower-level physiogeographic units (microregions and mesoregions) are provided in Polish. The names commonly known and used in the international literature (Carpathians, Tatra Mountains) are written in English. * ASTER Global DEM is a product of METI and NASA.

Fig. 2.

Geological structure of the study area based on Guzik, Guzik (1958), Guzik et al. (1958, 1959, 1975), Michalik (1958), Guzik (1959a, b), Michalik, Guzik (1959a, b), Detailed Geological Map of Poland (1975, 1976), Guzik, Jaczynowska (1978), Bac-Moszaszwili et al. (1979), Sokolowski, Jaczynowska (1979a, b, 1980), Jaczynowska (1980) and Małecka (1982).
Geological structure of the study area based on Guzik, Guzik (1958), Guzik et al. (1958, 1959, 1975), Michalik (1958), Guzik (1959a, b), Michalik, Guzik (1959a, b), Detailed Geological Map of Poland (1975, 1976), Guzik, Jaczynowska (1978), Bac-Moszaszwili et al. (1979), Sokolowski, Jaczynowska (1979a, b, 1980), Jaczynowska (1980) and Małecka (1982).

Fig. 3.

Soil cover of the study area based on Soil and Agricultural Map (1963–1980) and Skiba (2002); classification of soil types based on the IUSS Working Group WRB (2022).
Soil cover of the study area based on Soil and Agricultural Map (1963–1980) and Skiba (2002); classification of soil types based on the IUSS Working Group WRB (2022).

Fig. 4.

Land cover of the study area based on Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 17 November 2011 on the database of topographic objects and the database of general geographic objects, as well as standard cartographic studies (2011), Database of Topographical Objects, 1:10,000, (BDOT10k) (GUGiK 2013).
Land cover of the study area based on Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 17 November 2011 on the database of topographic objects and the database of general geographic objects, as well as standard cartographic studies (2011), Database of Topographical Objects, 1:10,000, (BDOT10k) (GUGiK 2013).

Fig. 5.

Slope gradients in the study area based on Digital Elevation Model (GUGiK 2009).
Slope gradients in the study area based on Digital Elevation Model (GUGiK 2009).

Fig. 6.

Wetlands, permanent, periodic and areas flooded in the study area based on the Hydrographic Map of Poland (2006).
Wetlands, permanent, periodic and areas flooded in the study area based on the Hydrographic Map of Poland (2006).

Fig. 7.

Flowchart for the delimitation of hydrotope type.
Flowchart for the delimitation of hydrotope type.

Fig. 8.

Spatial variation of hydrotope types in the study area.
Spatial variation of hydrotope types in the study area.

Fig. 9.

Variation in the dominance of hydrotope types in the study area.
Variation in the dominance of hydrotope types in the study area.

Number of units, area and proportion of hydrotope types in the entirety of the study area_

No.Type of hydrotopesnArea [km2]Share [%]
Simple types
1Infiltration (I)50392.5720.1
2Infiltration flood (If)1012.030.4
3Runoff (R)35686.1318.7
4Runoff flood (Rf)620.300.1
5Evapotranspiration (E)562239.7152.0
6Evapotranspiration flood (Ef)1692.100.4
7Retention marsh (RM)45012.882.8
8Retention lake (RL)391.480.3
9Trough retention permanent (TRperm)5115.691.2
10Trough retention periodic (TRperio)1480.270.1
Composite types
11Infiltration-runoff (I-R)290.790.200
12Infiltration-runoff flood (I-Rf)50.040.010
13Infiltration-evaporanspiration (I-E)8716.263.500
14Infiltration-evapotranspiration flood (I-Ef)350.910.200
15Runoff-evapotranspiration (R-E)20.010.002
Total3059461.17100.00

Assessment of infiltration, surface runoff, and evapotranspiration volumes for individual elements of the natural environment (kinds of water circulation: I – infiltration, R – runoff, E – evapotranspiration)_

Elements of the natural environment/data sourceFeatureType of water circulation
A. Geological structure based on Guzik, Guzik (1958), Guzik et al. (1958, 1959, 1975), Michalik (1958), Guzik (1959a, b), Michalik, Guzik (1959a, b), Detailed Geological Map of Poland (1975, 1976), Guzik, Jaczynowska (1978), Bac-Moszaszwili et al. (1979), Sokołowski, Jaczynowska (1979a, b, 1980), Jaczynowska (1980), Małecka (1982)FormationsIRE
Quaternary: debris, scree, rubble, pebbles, sand and gravel, fluvial, fluvial-glacial formations; Quaternary moraine formations511
High-Tatric, Eocene numulitic422
Sub-Tatric333
Podhale flysch, Quaternary loam: loam, loam rubble and mantle rock244
Crystal core series155
Quaternary: peat, mire, wetlandWithout attribution of points, name of hydrotope type: retention marsh
B. Soil cover – types, subtypes of soils; grain size based on Soil and Agricultural Map (1963–1980) and Skiba (2002)Regosols; Dystric Regosols; Calcaric Hyperskeletic Leptosols511
Leptic Podzols; Folic Leptosols, Leptic Podzols; Albic Podzols (Ochric) and Albic Podzols; loamy sand, skeleton-rich soils, moors-mineral soils and muck soils, transitional peats and high peats; moorsh-mineral soils and muck soils, low peats; moorsh-mineral soils and muck soils422
Fluvisols (Humic); Fluvisols and Fluvic Cambisols; loamy sand; sandy loam; loam, skeleton-rich soils; sandy clay loam, skeleton-rich soils; sandy loam, silty, skeleton-rich soils; sandy loam, skeleton-rich soils333
Calcaric/Dolomitic Leptosols (Humic); Calcaric/Dolomitic Folic Leptosols + Calcaric/Dolomitic Leptosols (Humic); Dolomitic/Calcaric Cambisols; Dystric Cambisols, Eutric Cambisols, Cambisols; clay loam, skeleton-rich soils; silt loam, skeleton-rich soils; silt loam; silt loam, slightly skeletal soils; sandy loam, sandy loam, slightly skeletal soils; sandy loam, silty, sandy loam, silty, slightly skeletal soils; sandy clay loam; sandy clay loam, slightly skeletal soils; loam, loam, slightly skeletal soils244
Lithic Leptosols; Calcaric/Dolomitic Leptosols; Dystric/Eutric Gleysols; clay loam; clay loam, slightly skeletal soils; silt loam argil155
Peaty soils; peaty soils and marshy-peaty soils, high peats and transitional peats; peaty soils and marshy-peaty soils, low peats; peat-mud soils, mud-peat soilsWithout attribution of points, name of hydrotope type: retention marsh
C. Gradient of slopes based on Digital Elevation Model (GUGiK 2009) and division of slope according to Klimaszewski (2005)Poor515
Moderate424
Strong333
Steep242
Very steep151
D. Land cover based on Database of Topographical Objects, 1:10,000, (BDOT10k) (GUGiK 2013) class division according to Regulation of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of 17 November 2011 on the database of topographic objects and the database of general geographic objects, as well as standard cartographic studies (2011)BuildingsAreas excluded from the analysis
Unused land: scree, spoil, rock rubble; rocky terrain – rivers; sandy or gravelly terrain511
Forest or wooded area, dwarf mountain pine, shrubs425
Arable land cultivation343
Grassy vegetation234
Unused land – solid rock152
Surface water: steady stream, periodic streamName of hydrotope type: trough retention permanent, trough retention periodic
LakeName of the hydrotope type: retention lake
Additional data Hydrographic Map of Poland (2006)Wetlands (permanent, trough)Name of the hydrotope type: retention marsh
Flooded areasWith the addition of the name of the hydrotope type – flood
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/quageo-2026-0008 | Journal eISSN: 2081-6383 | Journal ISSN: 2082-2103
Language: English
Submitted on: Jul 8, 2025
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Published on: Jan 27, 2026
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
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© 2026 Sabina Wójcik, published by Adam Mickiewicz University
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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