Wpływ energii geotermalnej na dynamikę strumieni lodowych lądolody warty w Polsce Środkowej

Abstract

The article highlights the importance of geothermal energy in the dynamics of ice streams of the Warta ice sheet in Middle Poland against the background of other endogenous and exogenous factors. The basis of the presented views are data from literature, analysis of geological data archives and field observation of structures of glaciogenic sediments in Middle Poland. Until recently, the uneven spread of Pleistocene ice sheets in the Polish Lowland, which is resembled in lobes of various sizes, has been interpreted as caused by external factors, mainly the climate characteristics and relief barriers. The author proves that these factors should also include the influence of geothermal heat on the ice. The outline of ice lobes of the Warta ice sheet in Middle Poland and their hanging in the South, as well as activity of the ice streams which had formed them (e.g. their propensity to surge) are examples of dependency of the ice sheet from this stream of geothermal heat. Essential differences between its values occur on both sides of the Tornquist-Teysseyre zone. Higher values of flux heat in the Western European platform fluids compared with Eastern European platform meant that the lobes of the Warta ice sheet grew there much better, fostered by dominance of warm ice regime in considerable areas.