Meet the team: SOIL PIPING

Soil piping – what it is?

Soil piping is a natural process that affects soils rich in fine particles. It consists in flushing small parts of soil using tunnels UNDER the ground surface. These pipes are how particles move from one area and go to another, lower position. Ceilings of that tunnels are often collapsing, creating gullies and another valley-shaped form.

Why is it important to understand soil piping?

Grounds, which are affected by soil piping, could be dangerous for buildings and can be less productive in agriculture. When the pipes collapse under and around constructions, their stability may be harmed. Also, due to soil piping, crop fields are deprived of the most valuable part of soils and are less effective. So, if we better understand the soil piping processes, we could better plan the land use and development of our cities and villages.

What are the aims of our studies? How would we reach our goals?

We want to create a database on surface evidence of soil piping in the European Union. We would use an in-depth literature review, combined with detailed mapping based on aerial photography and terrain models (e.g. LIDAR). After that, we would try to build the model of soil losses caused by soil piping in the European Union to help answer the question of which regions are most affected by this phenomenon.

Who are the persons involved in our team

Team leader:

Anita Bernatek-Jakiel – geographer, geomorphologist, Assistant Professor in the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University. Her research is focused on soil erosion, especially connected with soil piping. She loves travelling and hiking in the mountains. She is in love with Central Asian and Spanish-speaking countries. Recently, she has tried to survive with her two crazy little sons, so she has started practising yoga and listening to relaxing music.

Team members:

Anna Biernacka – geographer, hydrologist, a PhD student in the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University. She focuses on water chemistry and human impact on water resources and water quality in her research. She loves long walks and contact with nature. About her interest in learning new languages, she is now practising Spanish. In her free time, she reads books and improves her sewing skills.

Anastasiia Derii – geographer, geomorphologist, a PhD student in the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University. Her research focuses on the river formation in the Carpathians. She is a Tarantino films lover, and her hobby is indoor gardening.

Joanna Hałys – geographer, geomorphologist, an MSc student in the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University. Her main scientific goals relate to the impact of land use on flood risk. She takes photos of everything and plays the guitar in her spare time. Recently she has been dreaming about a herbal garden.

Dawid Piątek – geographer, geomorphologist, a PhD student in the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University. His research focuses on the impact of skiing and ski infrastructure on mountain relief. In his spare time, he watches cycling broadcasts, plays games, rides a bike and mountain hiking, and travels around Europe, especially Italy.

Mateusz Stolarczyk – soil scientist, a laboratory assistant and PhD candidate in the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University. His research goals are related to the degradation of bogs located in mountain areas and nutrients and organic circulation in soils. In his spare time, he reads fantasy literature, plays board games and RPGs, and is a devoted supporter of Atletico Madrid and Darth Vader.

Patryk Wacławczyk – geographer, hydrologist, a PhD student in the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University. In his research, he focuses on rainfall reaction in small catchments and the impact of beavers on local hydrology. He likes to hike, travel and read books about history. Also, he is a goalkeeper in last tier football team.