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Digitization as one of the methods of assessing the number and distribution of small water bodies

Włodzimierz Golus

Włodzimierz Golus

Center for Water Monitoring and Protection, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of GdańskGdańsk, Poland
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Golus, Włodzimierz
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Maciej Markowski

Maciej Markowski

Geographic Information Systems Laboratory, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of GdańskGdańsk, Poland
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Markowski, Maciej
  
Jun 30, 2025
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Article Category: Original research paper
Published Online: Jun 30, 2025
Page range: 109 - 123
Received: Mar 31, 2025
Accepted: May 19, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26881/oahs-2025.1.10
Keywords
© 2025 Włodzimierz Golus et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Figure 1

Study area (key: 1—watercourses, 2—lakes, 3—study area boundary, 4—administrative borders, and 5—elevation [m]).
Study area (key: 1—watercourses, 2—lakes, 3—study area boundary, 4—administrative borders, and 5—elevation [m]).

Figure 2

Geomorphological units within the study area (key: 1—watercourses, 2—lakes, 3—study area boundary, 4—administrative border, 5—coastal dunes, 6—erosion terraces, 7—valley forms, 8—subglacial channels, 9—OutP, 10—FMPs, 11—UndMPs, 12—HummMPs, and 13—hilly moraine plateaus). FMPs, flat moraine plateaus; HummMPs, hummocky moraine plateaus; OutP, outwash plains; UndMP, undulating moraine plateau.
Geomorphological units within the study area (key: 1—watercourses, 2—lakes, 3—study area boundary, 4—administrative border, 5—coastal dunes, 6—erosion terraces, 7—valley forms, 8—subglacial channels, 9—OutP, 10—FMPs, 11—UndMPs, 12—HummMPs, and 13—hilly moraine plateaus). FMPs, flat moraine plateaus; HummMPs, hummocky moraine plateaus; OutP, outwash plains; UndMP, undulating moraine plateau.

Figure 3

The density of ponds in the selected section of Gdańsk Pomerania (key: 1—watercourses, 2—water bodies, 3—study area boundary, and 4—administrative border).
The density of ponds in the selected section of Gdańsk Pomerania (key: 1—watercourses, 2—water bodies, 3—study area boundary, and 4—administrative border).

Figure 4

(A) The number of ponds in geomorphological units, (B) pond density (ponds per 1 km2) in geomorphological units, (C) maximum pond density (ponds per 1 km2) in geomorphological units, and (D) share of ponds in size classes in geomorphological units (1—very small, 2—small, 3—medium, 4—large, and 5—very large). Designations: VD, ETerr, SubCh, HillMP, HummMP, UndMP, FMP, OutP, and Dun. Dun, coastal dunes; ETerr, erosive terraces; FMP, flat moraine plateau; HillMP, hill moraine plateaus; HummMP, hummocky moraine plateau; OutP, outwash plains; SubCh, subglacial channels; UndMP, undulating moraine plateau; VD, valley depressions.
(A) The number of ponds in geomorphological units, (B) pond density (ponds per 1 km2) in geomorphological units, (C) maximum pond density (ponds per 1 km2) in geomorphological units, and (D) share of ponds in size classes in geomorphological units (1—very small, 2—small, 3—medium, 4—large, and 5—very large). Designations: VD, ETerr, SubCh, HillMP, HummMP, UndMP, FMP, OutP, and Dun. Dun, coastal dunes; ETerr, erosive terraces; FMP, flat moraine plateau; HillMP, hill moraine plateaus; HummMP, hummocky moraine plateau; OutP, outwash plains; SubCh, subglacial channels; UndMP, undulating moraine plateau; VD, valley depressions.

Figure 5

Probable course of pond strings: (A) topographic map 1:25 000, (B) the same topographic map with the marked pond strings (solid line—certain course, dashed line—uncertain course), (C) satellite image (source: maps.google.pl), and (D) satellite image with the probable course of pond strings.
Probable course of pond strings: (A) topographic map 1:25 000, (B) the same topographic map with the marked pond strings (solid line—certain course, dashed line—uncertain course), (C) satellite image (source: maps.google.pl), and (D) satellite image with the probable course of pond strings.

Figure 6

Delimitation of groups of ponds on topographic maps: (A) topographic map 1:25 000 and (B) the same map showing grouped ponds.
Delimitation of groups of ponds on topographic maps: (A) topographic map 1:25 000 and (B) the same map showing grouped ponds.

Figure 7

Strings of ponds on topographic maps: (A) Messtichblatt map at 1:25 000 (the year 1902) and (B) modern map at 1:25 000.
Strings of ponds on topographic maps: (A) Messtichblatt map at 1:25 000 (the year 1902) and (B) modern map at 1:25 000.

Figure 8

Groups of ponds on topographic maps: (A) Messtichblatt map at 1:25 000 (the year 1902) and (B) modern topographic map at 1:25 000 (1980).
Groups of ponds on topographic maps: (A) Messtichblatt map at 1:25 000 (the year 1902) and (B) modern topographic map at 1:25 000 (1980).

Figure 9

The density of groups of ponds in Gdańsk Pomerania (key: 1—watercourses, 2—lakes, 3—study area boundary, and 4—administrative border).
The density of groups of ponds in Gdańsk Pomerania (key: 1—watercourses, 2—lakes, 3—study area boundary, and 4—administrative border).

Figure 10

(A) The number of groups of ponds in geomorphological units, (B) the total area of groups of ponds, (C) the average number of ponds in a group, and (D) the total number of ponds in groups. Dun, coastal dunes; ETerr, erosive terraces; FMP, flat moraine plateau; HillMP, hill moraine plateaus; HummMP, hummocky moraine plateau; OutP, outwash plains; SubCh, subglacial channels; UndMP, undulating moraine plateau; VD, valley depressions.
(A) The number of groups of ponds in geomorphological units, (B) the total area of groups of ponds, (C) the average number of ponds in a group, and (D) the total number of ponds in groups. Dun, coastal dunes; ETerr, erosive terraces; FMP, flat moraine plateau; HillMP, hill moraine plateaus; HummMP, hummocky moraine plateau; OutP, outwash plains; SubCh, subglacial channels; UndMP, undulating moraine plateau; VD, valley depressions.
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