The climate–growth relationship of larch (Larix decidua Mill.) in the Polish Carpathian Mountains was studied. We explored the spatial variability of the common signal observed in larch tree-ring growth, distinguished regions with uniform tree-ring growth patterns (dendrochronological signal), and determined the climatic factors that are particularly important for the growth of larch in this area. Uniformity in the growth reaction across the analyzed area was found in the positive response to May temperatures (significant correlation values range from 0.21 to 0.48); this indicates that the warm beginning of the growing season is important for larch growth across the study area. The signal variability from west to east found in the principal components analysis (PCA) results and differences in climate response between analyzed sites suggest their relation to increasing influence of the continental climate to the east. However, the observed relationship is not stable and does not occur systematically. Although the climate–growth response of larch at lower elevations is highly variable, a positive influence of July precipitation and a negative influence of April precipitation, and previous May and July temperature can be observed. The growth of larch from the highest study sites (Tatra Mountains, above 950 m a.s.l.) is related to temperature. This is manifested by a strong positive correlation with temperature during late spring, early summer, and the end of the previous growing season, and a negative or no response to late spring/summer precipitation. No relation between the observed correlations and slope aspect was found.

The correct estimation of ambulance travel time is an extremely important issue from the perspective of healthcare and the security of citizens. In some events, the threat to the health or life of an injured person increases with each minute of waiting for an ambulance. The authors of this article analyzed how ambulances travel throughout the entire Lesser Poland voivodeship in southern Poland. Based on the analysis of 300 million GPS records that were collected over several years from 300 ambulances, real ambulance speed characteristics were compiled for the most important cities in the region. The obtained results regarding ambulance speed characteristics were used to understand the correlation between ambulance speed, the density of the road network, and the built-up areas of a given city. Furthermore, the impact on the speed of ambulances of traffic, time of day, day of the week, or the season was also examined. The influence of the use of ambulances’ lights/sirens on travel time was also examined. The culmination of the research was the presentation of the theoretical foundations of coverage maps and a method of implementing them based on the determined speed characteristics. The presented studies show that the speed at which ambulances move is a very local phenomenon. Also, a relatively constant average speed of ambulances throughout the whole week was found. Moreover, a difference in speed between signaled and non-signaled ambulance trips was observed. The speed characteristics that were obtained were used as input data for the development of dynamic coverage maps, which are an invaluable tool for supporting the decisions of ambulance dispatchers.

In this paper, the first study of a regional character on the influence of climatic factors on the tree-ring growth of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) growing in the Polish Sudetes is presented. The obtained results indicate the relatively high diversity of the climatic signal observed in the tree rings of larches growing in the Sudetes. The most significant differentiating factor is altitude. The results suggest that the possible influence of local conditions (e.g., summit proximity, soil and bedrock characteristics, and exposure to strong winds) could also be of importance. A positive relationship between tree-ring growth and May temperatures was noted throughout the area; this indicates the principal importance of thermal conditions during the initial stage of cambial activity and tree-ring formation in larches from the Sudetes. The negative effect of the temperatures in the previous summer upon the tree-ring growth of larch in the subsequent year was also observed. The studies also indicate the negative influence of the water stress in summer (particularly in July of the previous year) upon the growth of trees. The negative relationship between tree-ring growth and the previous November temperature could be explained by the need for a late-autumn cooling, which affects the development of assimilation apparatus in spring of the subsequent year, which indirectly affects the tree-ring growth in the same year.

Key message: Extreme growth reaction analysis shows that larches in the Sudetes are more vulnerable to climate changes, but negative extreme responses will also be observed in the Carpathians in the near future. Pointer year analysis provides information on extreme tree-ring growth reactions, which can significantly improve the interpretation of tree growth response to climate. Similarities and differences in extreme growth responses of larch (Larix decidua Mill.) from the Carpathians and the Sudetes (Polish parts) were studied. To this purpose, a pointer year analysis was performed. Regions with similar extreme growth response patterns to climatic conditions were distinguished. The spatial variability of extreme growth anomalies and the distribution of the determined widespread pointer years and their possible climatic forcing were analyzed. A coincidence of the positive pointer years observed in the Sudetes and lower Carpathians with wet and cold summers (especially during the previous year) was observed. Most of the subregional negative pointer years in the Sudetes are related to droughts whereas in the Carpathians this relation was not observed. Comparison of the extreme growth reaction of larch in both mountain regions suggest that larches in the Sudetes are more vulnerable to climate changes as the negative pointer years observed in the Sudetes are usually associated with droughts that are likely to intensify in the future. Similarities in the drivers of extreme responses of larch in both regions and predicted changes in climatic conditions suggest that negative extreme responses will also be observed in the Carpathians in the near future. The highest parts of the Carpathians (the Tatra Mountains) should be treated separately as both positive and negative pointer years observed there are temperature related. The obtained results suggest that the growth of larch stands in both regions will be negatively affected by predicted climate changes.

Selection of the optimal properties of coal as a natural sorbent, both as a sample collected from a seam or of the coal seam itself, requires various parameters to be determined and may not be based on the knowledge of metamorphism degree only. In order to improve the predictions of sorption capacity and the kinetics, analyses of correlation and multiple regression based on the results of laboratory studies were performed for 15 coal samples with various coal rank. The maximum vitrinite reflectance (R₀) for low-rank coals was 0.78%–0.85%, and 0.98%–1.15% and 1.85%–2.03% for medium- and high-rank coals, respectively. Coal samples were subjected to technical and petrographic analysis. The gravimetric method was used to perform sorption tests using methane, in order to determine the sorption capacity and the effective diffusion coefficient for each of the coals. Pycnometric methods were used to determine the textural parameters of coals, such as the percentage porosity and specific pore volume. The studies were further supplemented with an evaluation of the mechanical properties of the coals, Vickers micro-hardness, and elastic modulus. This work shows that the statistical multiple regression method enables a computational model including the selected petrophysical parameters displaying synergy with the specific sorption property—capacity or kinetics—to be created. The results showed the usefulness of this analysis in providing improved predictions of the optimal sorption properties of coal as a natural sorbent.

The recovery of precious metals from incinerator bottom ash (IBA) is a way of moving towards a circular economy. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the concentration of precious metals in IBA. The average values of precious metals in the samples analyzed are: Ag—6973 ppb, Au—313.90 ppb, Pd—41.26 ppb, Pt—13.81 ppb—all of these values being many times higher than the values of these elements in the Earth’s crust. The time series of the precious metals in the IBA were analyzed to assess the trend, seasonality, and outliers and to detect differences between the designated seasons of the year. Data analysis was performed following the CRISP-DM methodology using statistical and data mining methods. The analyzes confirmed a higher Ag concentration than in comparable European waste incinerator plants. The Au concentration was comparable to those reported in other incinerators, while the values were lower for Pt and Pd. The time series of precious metals shows no trend and seasonality, but numerous outliers. Due to the stationarity of precious metals, recovery can be expected to be constant, and the presence of numerous outliers can increase the potential return on investment.