Integrated Monitoring of Natural Environment - Poznań-Morasko Station

The catchment area is 10.1 km2.

Its western, northern and eastern boundaries are defined by the natural morphology of the land, while the southern boundary is defined by the railroad embankment.

The entire catchment area slopes towards the Warta River valley. The left-bank Warta tributary, 5.7 km long, is the main watercourse of the catchment.

With the exception of the Różany Strumień, the network of watercourses in the catchment area is periodic. In terms of landform, the catchment area represents a young glacial geoecosystem formed during the Poznań phase of the Baltic glaciation. The relief is very diversified. In the north-western part of the basin, there is a zone of terminal moraine hills within which rises the Morasko Mountain of 154 m above sea level. It is the highest elevation in Poznan.

The natural environment in the catchment of the Różany Strumień is characterized by transformations resulting from human activity. The most important environmental problems existing in the area in question include: the threat of underground and surface water pollution due to disorganized water and sewage management.

The land use structure in the Różany Strumień catchment area is dominated by agriculturally used areas. Urbanized areas, which can be found in the central part of the catchment, also have a significant share. The Różany Strumień catchment area is devoid of natural ecosystems, which were displaced in the past by anthropogenic habitats.

This process was undoubtedly influenced by the development of residential and commercial buildings, which significantly reduced biodiversity, transformed the species composition of flora and fauna, and reduced soil quality. Residential development also contributes to the fragmentation of forest complexes and the ecological corridor of the Rose Stream and changes in the recharge conditions of the Różany Strumień.

In the study catchment area, pilot studies have been implemented since 2014 and preparations are underway for the launch of the measurement programs:

  • meteorology,
  • air pollution,
  • precipitation chemistry,
  • sub-catchment precipitation chemistry,
  • organic precipitation chemistry,
  • soils,
  • groundwater,
  • surface water - rivers,
  • heavy metals and sulfur in lichens,
  • biological monitoring.