Changes in the Circulation of Matter in Drainage Basins

Abstract

This chapter presents changes in the conditions of the circulation of matter in open systems (drainage basins) as a consequence of mining activity, particularly mining subsidence, the formation of anthropogenic landforms, changes in morphometric features of the relief, and physico-chemical characteristics of surface sediments. The study included 48 rivers of different rank, with a total length of 430 km. Analysis was conducted in relation to the three zones of the fluvial system—the production, transfer, and deposition zones. It was found that contemporary conditions of the circulation of matter have significantly altered in comparison to conditions present in the pre-mining period. In most of the studied catchment areas, the inclination of slopes and the energy of the relief increased; in addition, rivers have changed their drops, reduced the base-levels of erosion, increased flows as a result of “alien” water supply, and clearly altered the geometry of the beds. Because of the uneven distribution of subsidence troughs in different parts of the studied catchment areas, an average drop of rivers in the Vistula basin has been reduced; in the case of the rivers belonging to the Oder basin, it has increased. Thus, natural differences in the erosion potential of both drainage basins have increased.