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We invite you to read an article on loess research in the Dnieper basin in Ukraine, conducted by our Institute's team as part of a project funded by the National Science Centre (OPUS 16). This publication appeared in the latest issue of Wiadomości Uniwersyteckie.
The text presents the results of joint Polish-Ukrainian efforts to reconstruct the paleoenvironment, under the project titled "The impact of global, regional, and local factors on paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental records in Ukrainian loess-soil sequences along the Dnieper valley".
Wiadomości Uniwersyteckie (February 2024)
NCN grant page (in Polish)
Here is an abridged version of the article:
In 2018, our Polish-Ukrainian research team from Lublin and Kyiv secured funding from the National Science Centre for the OPUS 16 project, "Global, regional, and local factors shaping the paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental record in Ukrainian loess-soil sequences along the Dnieper valley", with a budget exceeding one million zlotys. Hosted by the Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences at UMCS, this interdisciplinary project merges various fields and research techniques.
This collaboration, initiated nearly half a century ago by Prof. Henryk Maruszczak (UMCS) and Prof. Petro Gozhik (Institute of Geological Sciences, NAS of Ukraine), demonstrates that fruitful scientific cooperation can transcend national borders. It brings together experts from Poland and Ukraine specializing in paleogeography, paleoecology, and Quaternary geology to explore geological sites in southern Poland and western/central Ukraine, enhancing our understanding of Earth's past epochs.
Our work contributes significantly to the science of geological history, studying loess covers that span nearly 20% of all continents and cover over 70% of Ukraine and significant areas of southern Poland. Focusing on the Dnieper, we analyze ancient climatic changes along this key section of the river, revealing insights into past environments through unique loess covers.
Fieldwork along the Dnieper, involving the exploration of steep cliffs, provides direct access to unique sedimentary sequences, offering insights into past landscapes and soil covers. Physicochemical analyses of field-collected sediment samples, conducted in specialized laboratories in Poland, Ukraine, and Canada, are crucial for our collaborative scientific work, leading to advanced paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic modeling.
However, our research has faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing military actions since February 2022. These conditions have necessitated adjustments in our working methods, including remote communication and prioritizing safety, leading to the postponement or suspension of some field activities. Despite these obstacles, we continue our research, adapting to new realities and demonstrating resilience against global and regional challenges.
We believe in the importance of continuing international scientific cooperation and creating further joint research grants. Our collaboration highlights the potential of environmental research in Ukraine and represents a step towards building stronger, more integrated research teams ready to tackle the complexities of environmental and climatic processes affecting our planet.
Przemysław Mroczek (INoZiŚ UMCS)
Maria Łanczont (INoZiŚ UMCS)
Maryna Komar (National Museum of Natural Sciences, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine)
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