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This paper presents the results of analysis of 25 radiocarbon dates out of 31 age determinations of organic sediments taken from the Piaski and Szerokie Formations in the Bełchatów Opencast Lignite Mine. The Sum function in the calibration program OxCal v4.4.4 and the latest version of the calibration curve IntCal20 were used to produce so-called Probability Density Function (PDF) curves of calibrated dates in the range of 20 000–11 000 cal BP. Analysis of the shape of the distributions indicated that the position of the peaks of the probability density distribution of radiocarbon dates on the time axis coincided with the course of the oxygen curve in the Greenlandic ice core of the NGRIP. A clustering of dates was observed in several time ranges corresponding primarily to the GS–2b/GS–2a transition (about 17 800–17 300 cal BP, Kamion phase) and GS–2a/GI–1e (about 15 200–14 300 cal BP). Also clearly recorded were the transitions between cooler and warmer periods within GI-1 (14 700–12 900 cal BP), where the grouping of dates around GI–1d (14 100–13 800 cal BP), GI–1c2 (13 600–13 550 cal BP) and GI–1b (13 250–13 050 cal BP) was distinguished. The youngest analysed dates are associated with the second half of the GS-1 (Younger Dryas, 12 500–11 700 cal BP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change, which threatens the well-being of future generations, is humanity's most serious challenge. Environmental issues are becoming more important to consumers than ever before. Edible insects are a new food ingredient with great potential to contribute to global food security and provide an interesting food alternative, especially for meat products. This paper discusses the social and natural conditions of edible insect farming, the phenomenon of entomophagy, developmental stages of insects, characteristics of selected edible insect species with high potential for use as food, and presents their nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on scientific literature, from the historical perspective, the state of research on Lublin's climate since the midnineteenth century has been presented. The number of studies in this field until the end of World War II was small, due to the lack of a long homogeneous series of data. The progress in climate research in Lublin was marked by the data obtained from three new meteorological stations which were established in the 1940s and 1950s. Three main groups of papers were distinguished: 1st - regarding variability of individual meteorological elements and selected bioclimatic characteristics and indicators, 2nd - regarding the distinctiveness of Lublin's climate in relation to extra-urban areas and to other cities, 3rd - regarding spatial diversity of selected elements of weather and climate in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper shows the expected changes in selected climatic indices on the basis of the results of dynamic downscaling for the 2041-2070 period with regard to the 1971-2000 period in the Polish territory. Results of the EURO CORDEX simulations with a resolution of 50 km and 12.5 km and regional models HIRHAM5, RACMO22E and the RCA4 driven by EC EARTH global climate model and RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios have been used. The maps showing absolute differences in the following climatic indices: number of frost days, ice days, summer days, wet days and days with precipitation exceeding 10 and 20 mm, between the values obtained in the scenarios and the values obtained for the reference period have been analysed. All the model results show an increase in the global temperature resulting in a decrease in the number of frost and ice days and an increase in the number of summer days. The models also show an increase in the frequency of extreme precipitation. Despite general similarities between the results of the simulations, some differences are evident, mainly due to model-specific setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the effects of the policy of Polish cities concerning climate change. The study uses a questionnaire carried out in all Polish municipalities, and four case studies. The analysis is based on the concept of local knowledge orders. In Polish local government policy, instead of talking of climate change, the officials prefer referring to efficiency in obtaining external funds, savings, or actions meant to raise the quality of life. The term climate change policy is rarely used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents thermal-oxygen conditions of Lake Białe Włodawskie in the warm half-year (May-October) in the years 2012-2015. Due to its morphometric parameters, summer stratification develops in the lake. In the period analysed in the paper, the highest temperature was recorded in July 2012 (27.5°C), and the lowest at the bottom in May 2013 (4.2°C). The highest difference in temperature throughout the water column was recorded during measurements in July 2012. It amounted to 22.7°C (27.5°C at the surface and 4.8°C at the bottom). The highest mean temperature throughout the water column (determined as the mean from all of the analysed months) occurred in 2015 (9.7°C), and the lowest in 2013 (7.8°C). The highest water temperature corresponded to the highest air temperature for station Włodawa, located several kilometres north of the lake. The mean concentration of oxygen dissolved in water (as the mean from all of the analysed months) suggests that the highest value 4.7 [mgO2 · dm-3] occurred in 2012, and the lowest 3.0 [mgO2 · dm-3] in 2013. In vertical distribution, the maximum oxygen concentration amounted to 13.5 [mgO2 · dm-3] in May 2013, and the minimum value decreased to zero multiple times. Complete lack of oxygen occurred each time in August, September, and October. It appeared the earliest in June 2013 (at a depth of 26 m), and the latest in August 2015 (at a depth of 28 m). The thickest water layer without oxygen was recorded in August 2013 already at a depth of 11 m. The studied lake is prone to strong anthropopressure. Due to favourable morphometric parameters and high resistance to degradation, however, it still maintains its high recreational values, although such a state may change in the near future in the context of increasing anthropopressure and observed climatic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focuses on thunderstorms and hails in an attempt to address one of the most pressing issues in the debate on climate change, which is to understand sources of extreme meteorological and climatological phenomena. The study used records of observations at 24 weather stations covering the period 1949–2006 and thunderstorm details from eight stations in the period 1885–2008. The study identified no clear trend in the number of days with thunderstorms or with hails during the study period. For both phenomena there is a strong regional variation, both annually and in the long-term. This kind of spatial variation in the occurrence of thunderstorms and hails is characteristic of these phenomena in many areas of the world (Changnon 1988; Brdzdil et al. 1998; Kuleshov etal. 2002). In Poland most of the stations that recorded a decrease in the number of days with thunderstorms after 1949 were found north of the line connecting Mt. Śnieżka in the southwest and the town of Suwałki in the northeast and the greatest decrease in this number was recorded in Słubice at 1.3 days per 10 years. A trend to an increase in the number of days with thunderstorms was observed south of the line. The greatest increase in the number of days with thunderstorms was recorded in Włodawa (1.7 days per 10 years), Lesko (1.6 days) and Katowice (1.1 days). Additionally, the study revealed that during the second part of XX century there was an increase in the number of days with thunderstorms in the cool half of the year at most of the stations involved. The pattern was particularly strong to the south of the Śnieżka-Suwałki line and in Szczecin. With the time scale expanded to the period 1885–2008, the changes are weaker, which clearly suggests that any patterns that emerge depend on the study period chosen. The spatial and temporal variabilities in the two phenomena are caused by the dominant types of atmospheric circulation and by regional differences in environmental conditions. Numerous authors have also suggested a link between changes in the occurrence of thunderstorms and hails and macroscale changes in the atmospheric circulation (Kamyshanova 1974; Changnon 1985). On the one hand, in some regions the influence of characteristic synoptic situations may be stronger than the dominant large-scale atmospheric circulation (Bielec-Bąkowska 2002, 2003), while on the other, local conditions are potentially an important factor leading to the free convection conducive to thunderstorms and hails. This seems to be a very important consideration in analysing hails, especially when they accompany thermal thunderstorms. An example is provided by an increased occurrence of these phenomena in an area of Poland that was up to 80 metres higher in altitude than an area, from which the air arrived (Zinkiewicz, Michna 1955; Koźmiński 1965). The annual pattern of hails occurrence seems to be its most significant characteristic. A springtime maximum dominates at stations in the north and in the western half of the country, while a far more even distribution with a maximum shifted towards the summer season is found in the south of Poland. The long-term record of days with hails was very even at most of the stations and periods with significantly higher or lower number of days with hail occurred at most of the stations simultaneously are also difficult to find. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the basic challenges related to sustainable development is to restrain climate changes and reduce their negative impacts on the society and environment. The setback of climate changes is possible only under condition of greenhouse gases emissions reduction. The EU climate policy should contribute to this process. The paper investigates the latest EU decisions in this area. Then the Polish situation is analyzed as well as the Polish climate policy being an answer to challenges related to the transformation to low carbon economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]