GEOGADKA – Promoting Geophysics and Earth Sciences

Project Leader

dr Agata Goździk

gozdzik@igf.edu.pl

Citizen Science Unit

Project value: 115 000,00 PLN

Funding institution: Ministry of Education and Science, programme: “Social Responsibility of Science II – Popularisation of Science”

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2023-2025

Project description

The “GEOGADKA” project aims to increase the visibility of Polish scientific achievements, particularly geophysics, and to increase public interest in it and knowledge of its importance. Geophysical research will be popularized in Polish society through webinars and the production of 15 expert videos. Short, light-hearted videos recorded by PhD students and young scientists will encourage young people to pursue a scientific career. The “Mobile Geophysical University” will organize classes for universities of the third age, children’s universities, local associations, and schools. Podcasts will address the most important and current issues in geophysical research, with particular emphasis on climate change and its effects, as well as geohazards. The project is aimed at the general public and has a nationwide reach. The project aims to deliver the following outcomes: 15 podcasts, 10 lectures, 4 educational stands, 7 expert videos titled “Geophysics Without Secrets,” 20 short films, 12 webinars, 3 sets of press materials, and an exhibition.

GeoAkcja

Project Leader

dr Agata Goździk

gozdzik@igf.edu.pl

Citizen Science Unit

Project value: 277 173,00PLN

Funding institution: Ministry of National Education, programme: “The Explorers”

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2025

Project description

The project plans to conduct extensive educational activities aimed at popularizing Earth sciences and polar research among primary and secondary school students and supporting teachers in conducting classes on these topics. The project combines modern teaching methods, career counseling elements, and direct contact between students and scientists and the research community, making it unique among typical educational programs. The project aims to foster cognitive curiosity, increase interest in the world around them, shape knowledge in STEM, and inspire careers in the natural sciences. It involves a combination of modern educational tools, research practice, and career counseling. As part of GeoAkcja, we are planning 30 interactive online lessons for schools across Poland – on geophysics, climate change, and the work of scientists in the polar regions; 20 workshops and demonstration classes in schools featuring the experiments and participation of scientists; visits by 41 student groups to geophysical observatories in Świder, Belsk, and Racibórz, as well as to the Institute of Geophysics PAS; an innovative educational game, “Polar Escape Room,” available in both traditional and online versions; and workshops for teachers to support the delivery of geophysics and polar research classes. Thanks to the variety of formats, locations, and topics, as well as the involvement of scientists, students and teachers will receive inspiring and valuable support.

Nanostructures in Metamorphic Monazite as Indicators of Reliable U–Th Geochronology

Project Leader

dr inż. Paulina Zieja

paulina.zieja@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 29 700,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2025-2026

Project description

Climate change, drought, and forestation: Implications for hydrological connectivity

Project Leader

dr Tesfaye Senbeta

tsenbeta@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value: 35 686,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2025-2026

Project description

The project aims to apply  a spatially distributed surface-groundwater modelling approach to identify significant climatic and anthopogenic stresses affecting shallow aquifers and their interaction with the surface water system during drought. The research includes a pilot study in the Vistula River basin and a research visit to Colorado State University (Prof. Ryan Bailey’s lab) in the USA. The project proposes integrating a data driven lumped parameter groundwater model for prior analysis of unconfined groundwater heads and factors affecting it with the SWAT+ spatially distributed groundwater flow model. The proposed approaches will help improve the performance of the coupled model during drought and understand how forest restoration to combat climate change and increased groundwater abstraction affect local and regional hydrological connectivity.

TrackPreQuake: Tracking Preparation Processes of EarthQuakes

Project Leader

prof. dr hab. inż. Barbara Orlecka

orlecka@igf.edu.pl

Department of Seismology

Project value: 1 405 847,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2025-2028

Project description

TrackPreQuake explores how earthquakes develop and what factors trigger them, including natural processes and human activities such as mining, geothermal energy production, and reservoir filling. By combining laboratory experiments, field data, and advanced computer models, the project studies the evolution of stress and cracks in the Earth’s crust at multiple scales – from microfractures to large tectonic faults. The project also examines unique patterns, like antirepeat earthquakes, and uses artificial intelligence to detect early signals of seismic activity. The ultimate goal is to create a universal model of earthquake preparatory processes, which could improve hazard assessments, support safer management of underground industries, and enhance society’s preparedness for earthquakes. The findings will be shared globally, contributing to sustainable and resilient communities.

Building Robust and Efficient Workflows for Distributed Acoustic Sensing to
Enhance Comprehension of the Dynamics of Hansbreen Glacier

Project Leader

dr inż. Wojciech Gajek

wgajek@igf.edu.pl

Department of Geophysical Imaging

Project value: 456 280,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2025-2028

Project description

BrewDAS is a project focused on developing efficient methods for analyzing data from fiber-optic sensors (DAS) on the Hans Glacier. Its aim is to enhance the quality
of glacier dynamics monitoring and to advance national expertise in advanced seismic technologies. The first DAS data collected in the Svalbard region within the FROST project will be used to gain a better understanding of how glaciers respond to climate change.

Studying glacier/ocean interactions using a natural laboratory of Hornsund fjord, Svalbard

Project Leader

dr hab. Oskar Głowacki

oglowacki@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 3 497 862,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2025-2030

Project description

In our project, we study how melting glaciers interact with the warming ocean. We use cutting-edge tools – from drones and underwater microphones to marine robots and sensors that measure conditions in the water. This allows us to track changes not only in the glaciers themselves but also in the fjord they flow into. In this way, the Hornsund fjord in Svalbard becomes a unique natural laboratory that helps us better understand the impacts of climate change.

Influence of vegetation on flow and mixing in small open channels (VEGMIX) –from lab to real world

Project Leader

dr hab. inż. Monika Kalinowska

mkalinow@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value:1 993 440,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2025-2029

Project description

This project investigates how aquatic and riparian vegetation affects water flow and mixing in small rivers and channels. Vegetation plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems, improving water quality, and enhancing natural retention, while also influencing flood and drought dynamics. The research combines field studies, tracer experiments, remote sensing, laboratory measurements, and computer simulations to understand how vegetation affects flow and the dispersion of dissolved substances under various hydrological and vegetative conditions. Unlike most previous studies, this project focuses on natural vegetation in real-world conditions, bridging the gap between laboratory experiments and complex natural environments. The results will provide essential data for water management strategies, including maintaining vegetation in agricultural channels, improving pollutant dispersion models, and balancing flood protection with water retention and quality preservation.

Carbon dioxide exchange between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere in an apple orchard – pilot studies

Project Leader

dr Izabela Pawlak

izap@igf.edu.pl

Department of Atmospheric Physics

Project value: 13 310,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2024-2026

Project description

The increase of concentration of greenhouse gases enhances the greenhouse effect and increases the Earth’s average temperature. Considering the observed climate change, measurements of gas exchange between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere become particularly important. The project, carried out in collaboration with the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, aims to measure carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes between an apple orchard ecosystem and the atmosphere using the eddy covariance method. The results will allow us to determine the amount of CO₂ absorbed or emitted by the analyzed ecosystem and determine its variability over various time scales. Using measurements of basic meteorological parameters, it will be possible to estimate the impact of prevailing meteorological conditions on CO₂ exchange and identify the optimal values of individual elements that determine the highest CO₂ absorption.

Ediacaran time slices (ENTICE): using U-Pb geochronology of large igneous provinces to unlock the Ediacaran geo- and paleomagnetic enigma

Project Leader

dr Dominika Niezabitowska-Śliwka

dniezabitowska@igf.edu.pl

Department of Magnetism

Project value: 79 300,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2024-2027

Project description

This project investigates the Ediacaran period (635–539 million years ago), a time of extreme geological and biological change, including global glaciations, the breakup
of the supercontinent Rodinia, and extensive volcanic activity forming Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs). By studying dikes and sills preserved from these ancient volcanic systems, researchers will use U-Pb geochronology, thermochronology, and paleomagnetic methods to determine the timing and characteristics of the Earth’s magnetic field and the paleogeography of continents during the Ediacaran. The project aims to answer key questions about continental positions, possible true polar wander, variations in the Earth’s magnetic field, and links to environmental and biological evolution. The results will help resolve long-standing geo- and paleomagnetic mysteries of the Ediacaran period and improve our understanding of early Earth dynamics.

At the crossroads: Continental connections with the Bunger Hills, East Antarctica

Project Leader

prof. dr hab. Monika Kusiak

Monika.kusiak@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 5 237 460,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2024-2029

Opis Projektu:

This project aims to determine the paleogeographic relationships of the Bunger Hills (BH) in East Antarctica with Australia, East Antarctica, and India. Three competing hypotheses will be tested to clarify whether BH was part of the Yilgarn Craton, the Mawson Craton, or the Indo-Antarctic continent. The Bunger Hills, the largest ice-free area in East Antarctica, provide a unique natural laboratory to study continental collisions, Large Igneous Province (LIP) events, and lithosphere–mantle interactions during the formation and breakup of supercontinents such as Gondwana and Rodinia. The project combines geochemistry, geochronology, and geophysics across East Antarctica, Western Australia, and the Indian Peninsula. Conducted by an international team from Poland, Australia, India, Norway, and the UK, the research will provide the first comprehensive reconstruction of the paleogeographic history of these continental blocks and advance understanding of their geology, tectonics, and evolution.

Impact of global warming on large river sinuosity

Project Leader

dr hab. Michael Nones

mnones@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value: 1 565 260,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2024-2028

Project description

Taking advantage of free satellite images handled with Google Earth Engine, this project aims to investigate the impact that global warming has on large rivers, looking at changes in their sinuosity and the development of riparian vegetation within their banks.
As lateral migration of river channels allows for connecting the main river with its floodplains, eventually controlling sediment deposition and carbon stock outside of the main current, a reduction in river sinuosity might have negative feedback on the greenhouse-gas budgets of the Earth through the competing effects of silicate weathering and organic matter degradation under a warming climate.
Existing studies correlating changes in river sinuosity with climate are limited to cold regions, as those regions are more sensitive to climate change, and are experiencing a faster rate of warming. However, a global dataset of changes in river sinuosity is still missing, and the present project will address this knowledge gap by analyzing large watercourses flowing at all latitudes

Impact of global warming on large river sinuosity

Project Leader

dr hab. Michał Pętlicki

petlicki@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value: 527 782,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2024-2028

Project description

The goal of this project is to understand how the “subsurface greenhouse effect” influences the melting of glacier ice. Although this process has been studied only a little so far, it seems to play an important role in the mass balance of so-called Blue Ice Areas (BIA), which are unique features of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. We will look at how surface roughness and the presence of rock fragments affect the absorption of sunlight—one of the main factors driving ice melt. To study this, we will combine different research methods. Mathematical models will help us create detailed simulations of what happens under the ice surface, and we will compare them with satellite lidar measurements (ICESat-2). We will also use machine learning to better analyze satellite images and large datasets, which will help improve the models. Our main research area will be the glacier ablation zones near the Polish Antarctic Station Dobrowolski, located in the Bunger Oasis, East Antarctica. This location is especially important for Poland because of the station’s recent revitalization and the restart of Polish research in the region.

Meteorological and geophysical predictors for high and extreme atmospheric pollution episodes

Project Leader

dr Artur Szkop

aszkop@igf.edu.pl

Department of Atmospheric Physics

Project value: 599 020,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2024-2027

Project description

This project focuses on improving air pollution forecasts in Central Europe, where smog is a recurring problem. By studying the links between local weather patterns
and high aerosol concentrations, we aim to identify reliable predictors of smog events. Our goal is to make forecasts more accurate and useful in protecting people’s health and well-being.

Cliff erosion along the Baltic rock coasts: observations, reconstructions, predictions

Project Leader

dr Zuzanna Świrad

zswirad@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 996 970,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2024-2027

Project description

Despite dense population, developed infrastructure, and tourism, the Baltic Sea’s rocky cliffs have received little scientific attention. The global database of cliff retreat rates includes only one publication focusing on Baltic rocky coasts—and it is based solely on measuring the changing distance between buildings and cliff edges.
Such an approach does not allow us to observe gradual or episodic dynamics, understand erosion mechanisms, identify controlling factors, or predict future changes
at scales useful for coastal management. In general, there is a lack of high-resolution topographic data and multi-scale studies that could provide a better understanding of rocky coast dynamics. In this project, we aim to answer three main questions: How do these findings fit into the broader global and long-term context?; What do the Baltic rocky coasts look like?What factors control the current rate of erosion?

Improving the quality of seismic imaging by incorporating free-surface multiple
reflections in wave-based depth-migration

Project Leader

dr Toktam Zand

tzand@igf.edu.pl

Department of Geophysical Imaging

Project value: 190 320,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration 2024-2027

2D section of a schematic seismic rays. The solid blacklines show the direct rays and primary reflections. The dashed lines show the waves reflecting from surface, travel back into the ground, and return to the surface, providing more information from underground.

Project description

Getting accurate images of the Earth’s interior is essential for many important areas, including earthquake forecasting, hazard assessment, construction planning, and exploring natural resources. Seismic imaging technology offers a powerful, non-invasive way to see beneath the surface without digging or drilling.

In this innovative project, we introduce a new imaging method to improve the quality of underground images while enabling a significant reduction in production costs. This is made possible by appropriately utilizing seismic waves that reflect off the Earth’s surface, travel back into the ground, and return to the surface, signals that are often ignored by traditional techniques.

Study of the mechanism of macroplastic litter transport in a stream with vegetation

Project Leader

dr Łukasz Przyborowski

jprzyborowski@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value: 589 992,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2024-2027

Photo: Łukasz Przyborowski (IGF PAN), Anna Łoboda (IGF PAN), Zuzanna Cuban (IBW PAN)

Project description

The project in cooperation with the Institute of Hydro-Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Gdańsk University of Technology, includes a comprehensive study of plastic transport process in rivers. In situ measurements and monitoring are performed in a stream overgrown with vegetation, as well as full-scale experiments in a controlled laboratory channel. Data from these measurements will be then used to prepare and evaluate a mathematical model and numerical simulations of plastic transport.

Geodynamo from nonequilibrium turbulent wave field

Project Leader

dr hab. Krzysztof Mizerski

kamiz@igf.edu.pl

Department of Magnetism

Project value: 1 244 000,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2024-2028

Photo: The Earth’s internal structure and the dynamo in the liquid core

Opis projektu

The aim of this project is to relax standard simplifying assumptions of stationarity and homogeneity of turbulence and apply non-equilibrium dynamo mechanisms to the geodynamo theory. These mechanisms result from a random superposition of distinct waves and the wave-beating effect, which leads to a very fast amplification of the mean magnetic field. Such mechanisms not only efficiently amplify the magnetic field, but also lead to slow time dependence of the large scale electromotive force and turbulent magnetic diffusivity and through that provide an interesting and potentially promising explanation of the well-known dynamical process of geomagnetic excursions and reversals. The results of the project can therefore shed some light on the physics of geomagnetic reversals and provide highly desired picture of a turbulent process, which could be responsible for the observed long-term behaviour of the geomagnetic field.

Application of novel measurement methods to improve the description and modelling of drought

Project Leader

dr Emilia Karamuz

emikar@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value: 11 836,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2023-2025

Project description

This project will analyze the usefulness of new measurement methods for characterizing soil moisture conditions in the Świder catchment area, with particular focus
on periods of increasing moisture deficit that lead to the development of agricultural drought. Understanding the short-term mechanisms that control the onset, intensification, and decline of unfavorable soil moisture conditions is crucial for explaining the dynamics of agricultural drought, especially its sudden development, intensification, and spread. An innovative approach based on assimilating ground data with imagery from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will allow for a more accurate analysis of soil drought dynamics.

Assessing changes in soil moisture conditions is a highly relevant research topic and aligns with the main directions of current scientific studies and publications. Soil moisture plays a key role in the functioning of both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Unfortunately, estimating changes in this parameter remains challenging. Access to soil moisture data is very limited, there is no continuous monitoring, and model simulations carry significant uncertainty—especially when examining conditions at the local scale.

Local coupling of atmosphere and ocean on diurnal time scale in various mesoscale circulation regimes

Project Leader

dr Dariusz Baranowski

dbaranowski@igf.edu.pl

Department of Atmospheric Physics

Project value: 1 545 400,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2023 – 2027

Project description

Interactions at the atmosphere–ocean interface are a fundamental part of the Earth’s climate system and have important consequences for ecosystems. Daily changes in local exchanges between the atmosphere and the ocean affect both environments and can evolve into larger-scale processes through interactions with mesoscale circulation. As a result, these local processes may influence the development of weather patterns. At the same time, weather models struggle to realistically capture daily variations at the atmosphere–ocean boundary. This is due to gaps in our understanding of the physical mechanisms behind these interactions, which in turn stem from the scarcity of reliable, correlated measurements in the coupled atmosphere–ocean environment at the air–sea interface.

Robust Optimization of Inverse Problems for Wave-based Seismic Imaging

Project Leader

prof. Ali Gholami

agholami@igf.edu.pl

Department of Geophysical Imaging

Project value: 2 003 010,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2023-2027

Project description

Wave-based imaging is a powerful tool used in medicine, geophysics, and environmental studies to look inside objects using recorded wave data. However, current methods often struggle with incomplete data and limited computational resources, leading to poor-quality results. Our project focuses on developing new, more stable and scalable optimization techniques that can overcome these challenges. This will make it possible to achieve high-quality reconstructions even when the available data are limited or imperfect.

Crustal evolution reconstruction based on the rocks from the Amundsen Bay, East Antarctica

Project Leader

dr Piotr Król

piotr.krol@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value: 209 657,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration 2023-2026

Project description

The project focuses on reconstructing the evolution of the continental crust in East Antarctica between 3.3 and 2.5 billion years ago, using rocks from the Amundsen Bay area, which form part of the Napier Complex. The study involves geochronological and isotopic analyses of accessory minerals, primarily zircons, as well as whole-rock geochemical analyses, in order to reconstruct the conditions and timing of crust formation and subsequent metamorphic overprints. The aim of the project is to test the hypothesis that the Napier Complex comprises distinct geological units, each with its own tectonic and magmatic history. The time interval of 3.3–2.5 Ga marks a period of fundamental changes on Earth – it is hypothesized that plate tectonics may have emerged during this interval. This project may therefore provide valuable insights into the geodynamic processes that shaped the early Earth.

Assessment of combined spatiotemporal multiplet analysis and static stress drop mapping as a general method for identification and characterization of main
seismogenic zones in Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Project Leader

mgr inż. Monika Staszek

mstaszek@igf.edu.pl

Department of Seismology

Project value:136 640,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2023-2026

Project description

Assessment of combined spatiotemporal multiplet analysis and static stress drop mapping as a general method for identifying and characterizing major seismogenic zones in enhanced geothermal systems.

Extreme weather events in the Maritime Continent. A tropical waves, atmosphere-ocean interactions and subseasonal variability perspective

Project Leader

dr Dariusz Baranowski

dbaranowski@igf.edu.pl

Department of Atmospheric Physics

Project value: 1 570 000,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2023 – 2026

Project description

Floods and landslides caused by extreme rainfall are major challenges, and their management depends on reliable weather forecasts. Much of this predictability is linked to tropical circulation, especially over the Maritime Continent (MC) – a region of islands and seas in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. It is the wettest place on Earth and one of the most influential regions for global weather and climate. Daily convection drives intense rainfall in the MC, but its scale and organization vary greatly, and the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. This limits our ability to predict extreme rainfall on subseasonal timescales. Our project focuses on understanding the physical mechanisms behind these events, the interactions between the atmosphere and ocean, and improving predictability using available observations.

Invisible daughters. Survival of Pb in minerals

Project Leader

prof. dr hab. inż. Monika Kusiak

monika.kusiak@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 1 895 330,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2023-2026

Project description

Zircon is one of the most important minerals for dating Earth’s history, because it traps uranium and thorium that slowly decay into lead over time. Until recently, scientists assumed that all lead in zircon simply accumulated since the crystal formed. New research, however, shows that during metamorphism some of this radiogenic lead can move and become locked inside tiny nano-inclusions within the crystal. This project explores how and why lead moves inside zircon, and how often this happens. A better understanding of these processes will make age measurements more reliable and help geologists interpret Earth’s complex history more accurately.

Influence of memory and nonlinearity on behavior of extremes in geophysical time series with long finite-term persistence

Project Leader

prof. dr hab. Zbigniew Czechowski

zczech@igf.edu.pl

Department of Geophysical Imaging

Project value: 296 400,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2023-2026

Project description

Extreme events such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, storms, earthquakes, or economic crises like recessions and stock market crashes pose serious risks to society.
To understand and predict them, scientists analyze time series — sequences of measurements like rainfall, river levels, wind speeds, or economic indicators. Extremes appear in these series as values that exceed a certain threshold. Current theories explain some aspects of extremes, but they often assume simplified conditions that don’t reflect the complex, nonlinear, long-memory behavior seen in real natural or economic data.This project develops new mathematical and numerical models that better capture how extremes behave in realistic geophysical time series. By combining simulations with real-world data, we aim to improve our ability to analyze and predict extreme natural, economic, and social events. Ultimately, this knowledge will support better risk assessment and help reduce potential social and economic losses.

Seismic imaging and monitoring of environmentally induced changes in the
structure of critical large scale artificial and natural objects

Project Leader

prof. dr hab. Mariusz Majdanski

mmajd@igf.edu.pl

Department of Geophysical Imaging

Project value:: 1 561 548,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2023-2027

Prace terenowe na zaporze zbiornika w Rybniku

Project description

The scientific aim of the project is to image and monitor the temporal changes in the internal structure of large scale critical earth objects with adapted state of the art seismological technologies and methods.

In the project we would like to use the most advanced seismic methods to image temporal changes in three different scale objects related to water circulation in the environment: large scale earth filled dam, massive creeping natural landslide, large flood embankment. Moreover, we would like to propose a new methodology that combines different geophysical methods and gives the most precise image of the internal structure in each case.

Surveying environmental changes using active geophysical methods is not new on a global scale. However, the idea of using the latest seismic techniques in time lapse manners is leading to the study of climate-related changes in Poland and their impact on critical zones. Currently, multiple research teams are studying climate-related changes across polar regions, where they are easy to observe. Also, the effort to monitor natural hazards in Europe is widespread. With recent developments in the high-density acquisition and advanced data interpretation techniques, it is possible to investigate those changes in places where the amplitude of climate-related factors is smaller or slower. Because of the unprecedence accuracy of imaging, thanks to the high-resolution seismic techniques, the smallest perturbation in the subsurface can be observed with great precision even at large depths. The overall data quality significantly exceeds every previously used technique and provides new insight into the subsurface of critical infrastructure and natural hazard zones. Moreover, those non-invasive techniques can be used in critical and protected objects and not cause further devastation. Additionally, our survey will be the first in Poland to use the fiber optic cables system, which is the latest development in terms of subsurface structure imaging. Similar systems will be used for studying environmental problems in the following years, and thus estimation of their limitations and possibilities in such studies is essential.

FLOURISH – Consequences of glacier changes on downstream nutrient supply and carbon metabolism

Project Leader

dr Maciej Bartosiewicz

maciej.bartosiewicz@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 206 424,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2021-2026

Project description

Lakes and their sediments act as natural bioreactors, storing and transforming organic matter while releasing significant amounts of greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) into the atmosphere. At the same time, under certain seasonal conditions, some lakes can also absorb CO₂. Our project investigates greenhouse gas dynamics in Arctic and Alpine lakes (Svalbard, Norway, Switzerland) and how climate change affects their emission and uptake. We focus on processes such as temperature and precipitation shifts, shorter ice cover periods, extreme hydrological events, and nutrient inputs. The results will provide new insights into the role of lakes in the global greenhouse gas balance, supporting climate science, adaptation strategies, and policy-making.

Studying glacier calving fluxes and calving styles through a novel combination of acoustic and optical methods

Project Leader

dr hab. Oskar Głowacki

oglowacki@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 920 654,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2022-2025

Project description

In our project, we study one of the most spectacular and crucial processes in the Arctic – glacier calving, that is, the breaking off of icebergs the size of multi-storey buildings. We use modern research methods such as recording the underwater sounds of cracking ice and laser scanning of glacier surfaces. This allows us to better understand when and why glaciers calve, and what determines the intensity of this process.

Elaboration of new application of magnetic parameters for the assessment of the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution in granulometric
fractions of street dust

Project Leader

dr Sylwia Dytłow

skdytlow@igf.edu.pl

Department of Magnetism

Project value: 387 041,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2022 – 2026

Project description

Rapid urbanization has intensified environmental pollution, making it crucial to develop effective monitoring methods and raise public awareness of health risks. Magnetic measurements stand out as a modern tool to track pollution levels and distribution, with potential as indicators of harmful compounds. This project focuses on street dust in Warsaw, analyzing its magnetic properties and the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). By linking PAH concentrations with magnetic parameters, we aim to test whether magnetic susceptibility can serve as a reliable proxy for PAH pollution, offering a new approach to assessing environmental and health impacts.

Creation and recycling of crust in Archean Antarctica

Project Leader

dr hab. Daniel Dunkley

daniel.dunkley@igf.edu.pl

Department of Magnetism

Project value: 1 519 350,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2022-2026

Project description

Antarctica is a mosaic of ancient crustal blocks formed at different stages of Earth’s history. The oldest known fragments, dating back over 3.6 billion years, are preserved in the Napier Complex of East Antarctica, with additional evidence from Kemp Land. These rocks record early crust formation, high-temperature tectonothermal events around 2.5 Ga, and later reworking during orogenies at 1.6 and 1.0 Ga. Similar geological events are recognized in southern India, once connected to East Antarctica within Gondwana. However, younger orogenic belts indicate later crustal reconfiguration. This project investigates isotopic relationships between the Napier and Rayner Complexes in East Antarctica and Indian cratons to reconstruct their early connections and the tectonic evolution of this ancient continental core.

Understanding of the influence of petit-spot volcanism on the structure of the lithosphere on the basis of multi-parameter, high-resolution seismic imaging of
seismic data from the Japanese Trench

Project Leader

dr inż. hab. Andrzej Górszczyk

agorszczyk@igf.edu.pl

Zakład: Obrazowania Geofizycznego

Project value: 708 740,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2022-2027

Project description

The project is focused on seismic investigation of the petit-spot volcanism – recently discovered phenomenon that shed a new light on our understanding of the intraplate volcanism. Petit-spot volcanoes (or petit-spots) are small volcanoes that erupt along lithospheric fractures in response to plate flexure during subduction. Their discovery was of great significance, as it demonstrated, that tectonic processes have potential to cause intraplate volcanism, and supported the existence of small-degree melts at the base of the lithosphere. Similar structures have been found in the vicinity of other coasts – suggesting that the petit-spot volcanism is the global process.

Among different questions, one issue to be clarified is the extraction and transport of melts to the surface that would require development of lithospheric-scale fractures. No physical model has been developed yet to test this hypothesis. Therefore, to improve our understanding of the processes accompanying formation of petit-spots, we want to employ the leading-edge full-waveform based inversion and depth-migration techniques to retrieve the high-resolution models of subsurface using different types of unique seismic data acquired in the outer-rise region of the Japan Trench – the area w here the petit-spot volcanoes were discovered for the first time.

Satellite imagery to support flood risk modelling in large European rivers

Project Leader

dr hab. Michael Nones

mnones@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value: 442 080,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2022-2026

Project description

Floods are increasing in severity, duration and frequency, owing to changes in climate, land use, infrastructure and population demographics, along with the damage they cause. The current state-of-art in flood management, indeed, has many limitations, which are now becoming increasingly evident and need to be addressed with a joint effort of academia and practitioners.
Using the Vistula (Poland) and the Po (Italy) rivers as case studies, the project aims to:

• investigate the fluvial bio-morphodynamics at a very high spatiotemporal resolution (images 10x10m, acquired every few days);
• develop a novel flood risk modelling chain to account for such changes, therefore reproducing the fluvial environment more reliably.

The Vistula and Po rivers are strategically important from a flood risk perspective, as they flow through many cities and industrial areas, with millions of people living within proximity to the river and therefore exposed to potential flooding events.
A comparison of the outcomes can provide additional insights on the importance of considering local, catchment-specific conditions in developing flood risk management plans.

Spatial representativeness of aerosol profiles, holistic multi-instrument approach

Project Leader

dr hab. Aleksander Pietruczuk

alek@igf.edu.pl

Department of Atmospheric Physics

Project value: 1 661 008,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2022-2025

Project description

Atmospheric aerosols—tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air—play a key role in climate processes, cloud properties, and human health. Yet, it remains unclear which measurements are essential for reliable monitoring and forecasting of their variability, and how dense aerosol monitoring networks should be. This project proposes a synergistic, multi-technique approach that combines in-situ observations, remote sensing, and integrated data to build hybrid profiles of aerosol properties.
By linking subregional measurements with advanced numerical methods, we aim to provide a consistent picture of aerosol distribution throughout the troposphere.

RATE OF TECTONIC PLATES MOVEMENT IN NEOPROTEROZIC – VERIFICATION OF NEOPROTEROZOIC TRUE POLAR WANDER HYPOTHESIS (ACRONYM: NEOMAGRATE)

Project Leader

dr hab. Krzysztof Michalski

krzysztof.michalski@igf.edu.pl

Department of Magnetism

Project value: 976 549,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration 2022-2025

Project description

Neoproterozoic Era (1000–541 Ma) was a turning point in Earth’s history. The breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia triggered global climate shifts, including “Snowball Earth” episodes, and accelerated biological evolution. Our project studies well-preserved Neoproterozoic rocks in eastern Svalbard to track ancient continental movements, test True Polar Wander hypotheses, and refine models of Rodinia’s breakup—shedding light on Earth’s geodynamics and the conditions that shaped early life.

Local and global Earth’s atmospheric electric circuit signals in atmospheric electricity data from the observatory in Swider

Project Leader

dr hab. Anna Odzimek

aodzimek@igf.edu.pl

Department of Atmospheric Physics

Project value: 378 800,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2022-2025

Project description

The project, funded by the National Science Centre (NCN), aims to analyse the long-term observations from Stanisław Kalinowski Geophysical Observatory in Otwock-Świder, and to model the Global Atmospheric Electric Circuit (GEC) using the EGATEC model. For this purpose, we digitised electricity and meteorological data from years 1957-2005 published in the Observatory’s yearbooks. The data also served as validation data for the EGATEC model which requires more development work. During the project an international workshop was held in Warsaw to support collaboration in the area of GEC modelling.

Application of machine learning and cluster identification for insight in the spatiotemporal
changes of seismogenic processes triggered by water reservoirs

Project Leader

dr hab. Grzegorz Lizurek

lizurek@igf.edu.pl

Department of Seismology

Project value: 620 304,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2022-2026

photo: the first seismic station in Tan

Project description

The phenomenon of triggering earthquakes by reservoir exploitation has been known for a long time, but the details of this mechanism have not been thoroughly investigated. Recent scientific discoveries show the influence of migrating fluids in rock formations on the triggering of shallow earthquakes, e.g. in California and the Czech Republic. For this reason, determining areas of increased permeability or potential fluid migration paths in rocks and the influence of such migration on the triggering of tremors is an important element of understanding the entire process leading to shallow earthquakes. The aim of the project is to indicate areas of increased permeability or potential fluid migration paths in rocks near artificial water reservoirs based on the concentrations of tremors occurring there. Another goal is to determine the influence of seasonality in the occurrence of hydrological phenomena, including extreme ones, such as floods, on the occurrence of earthquakes near artificial water reservoirs. Machine learning techniques will be used to detect and localize tremors. Their aim is to increase the number of tremors for further analysis, improve the precision of location and to identify and localize zones of increased fluid permeability, their indicator will be finding tremors with a high similarity of seismograms. The results of this project should make a significant contribution to the general knowledge of the processes of earthquake triggering by fluid migration in rock media.

Wave energy delivery to the shores of Hornsund fjord, Svalbard

Project Leader

dr Zuzanna Świrad

zswirad@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 768 273,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2021-2025

Project description

The project focuses on modeling wave energy reaching the shores of Hornsund, a ~300 km² fjord in southwestern Spitsbergen, Svalbard, by:

1. Modeling wind-wave transformation within the fjord, including the damping effect of sea ice.
2. Empirically modeling storm wave run-up on beaches.

The main goal is to understand how climate change, particularly sea ice loss and increasing storm intensity, affects Arctic coastlines and to predict current and future beach water levels.

Ecosystem connectivity effects on the metabolism and greenhouse gas flux in warming Arctic and Alpine lakes (ConGas)

Project Leader

dr Maciej Bartosiewicz

maciej.bartosiewicz@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 1 242 106,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2021-2026

Project description

Lakes and their sediments act as natural bioreactors, processing and storing large amounts of organic matter. They release significant amounts of greenhouse gases—carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)—into the atmosphere, though some lakes can also absorb these gases seasonally. This project focuses on Arctic and Alpine lakes (Revvatnet – Svalbard; Nigardsvatnet – Norway; Nero, Bianco, and Dentro – Switzerland) to study how climate change affects greenhouse gas concentrations. Changes in temperature, precipitation, ice cover, and nutrient inflows can alter organic matter metabolism, gas production, and overall lake connectivity.

Our research examines key mechanisms, including:

• Warming-driven increases in organic matter input and greenhouse gas production.
• Extreme inflows of organic matter boosting methane and nitrous oxide emissions.
• Shorter ice-cover periods prolonging gas release.
• Changes in nutrient-driven productivity affecting CO2, CH4, and N2O distribution.
• Enhanced chemical CO2 absorption from increased mineral inflows.

Understanding these processes helps predict and mitigate climate change impacts on lake ecosystems. The findings are relevant to scientists, policymakers, and the public worldwide.

Quantification of heavy metal discharge with freshwater runoff to an Arctic fjord ecosystem (Hornsund, Spitsbergen)

Project Leader

dr hab. Mateusz Moskalik

mmosk@igf.edu.pl

Department of Polar and Marine Research

Project value: 293 288,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project durationi: 2021-2025

Project description

Global warming affects the transport and fate of pollutants in the Arctic. One key group of contaminants is heavy metals (e.g., Hg, Cd, As, Pb, Zn, Cu). While some metals occur naturally, over 90% originate from human activities. For centuries, these pollutants have accumulated in glaciers, but accelerated melting due to rising temperatures now increases their release into fjord ecosystems, potentially posing significant risks. This issue remains poorly understood. The Hornsund Fjord (Spitsbergen) was selected for study because its glaciers are melting at the fastest rates on the island. This project aims to assess the heavy metal load carried by freshwater—mainly from glacier melt—into the Arctic fjord. We hypothesize that meltwater from glaciers directly entering the fjord is the primary source of these pollutants. Research combines field measurements, laboratory analyses, and freshwater inflow modeling. Fieldwork is conducted at the Stanisław Siedlecki Polish Polar Station in Hornsund (managed by the Institute of Geophysics, PAS). Laboratory analyses take place in advanced facilities including the Institute of Oceanology, PAS (project leader). The University of Silesia is the third project partner.

Application of remote sensing and geophysical imaging methods to identify changes in the water balance of High Arctic catchments

Project Leader

prof. dr hab. inż. Marzena Osuch

marz@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value: 2 810 002,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2021-2026

Project description

The Arctic, including Svalbard, is experiencing some of the fastest climate changes on Earth. Rising temperatures, melting snow and ice, and changing precipitation patterns affect the water balance, permafrost degradation, and ecosystem functioning. However, hydrometeorological data from the region remain limited.This project focuses on a detailed analysis of the water balance in two mountainous watersheds in Svalbard, considering river flow, precipitation, evapotranspiration, snow cover, groundwater, and permafrost. Research combines field measurements, remote sensing (UAV, GPR), and advanced hydrological and climate models.

Key objectives include:

• Assessing seasonal dynamics of hydro-climatic processes
• Analyzing water-permafrost interactions
• Forecasting future changes in the water cycle using POLAR-CORDEX climate scenarios

The results will improve understanding of climate change impacts on Arctic hydrology and enhance the accuracy of environmental models.

Experimental studies on the effects of exopolymers on the settling dynamics and interactions between solid particles in density-stratified aquatic systems

Project Leader

dr hab. inż. Magdalena Mrokowska, prof. IGF PAN

m.mrokowska@igf.edu.pl

Department of Hydrology and Hydrodynamics

Project value: 852 960,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2020-2025

Photo: Scheme of the formation of an EPS-rich layer during algal bloom.

Project description

The project revealed previously unrecognized mechanisms influencing sedimentation dynamics in stratified marine waters enriched with exopolymers (EPS). The findings demonstrated that EPS, abundantly secreted by microorganisms during algal blooms, form gel-like structures in seawater, imparting non-Newtonian rheological properties to seawater. Laboratory experiments, including particle settling tests, rheological measurements, and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), revealed significant changes in both the rate and behavior of particle sedimentation. These effects were observed on model particles representing minerals, biological aggregates, and microplastics, in EPS-rich seawater. These results suggest that EPS may thus influence the transport of biogens and pollutants into the depths of seas and oceans.

Passive Seismic Studies of the Lithosphere and Asthenosphere of the Southern Poland
(Carpathian area)

Project Leader

dr hab. Wojciech Czuba

wojt@igf.edu.pl

Department of Lithosphere Seismic Research

Project value: 620 304,00 PLN

Funding institution: National Science Centre, Poland

Discipline: Earth Science

Project duration: 2020-2025

Project description

The aim of the project is the determination of seismic structure and anisotropy of the lithosphere (Earth’s crust and part of the upper mantle) and lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) in the Carpathian-Pannonian area. One of the main goals of the seismic research is to determine the distribution of the velocities of the seismic P- and S-waves, as they are important parameters not only characterizing elastic properties of rocks, but also providing indications about their chemical and mineral composition as well as their structure (micro cracks, porosity etc.).