Anthropogenic degradation of dunes within a city: a disappearing feature of the cultural landscape of Toruń (Poland)

Abstract

The article presents changes in the topography of the Toruń area due to the degradation of dunes by human activity, and a reconstruction of their earlier location and morphology. The reconstruction was made on the basis of historical maps and plans from the end of the eighteenth century, as well as contemporary cartographic materials and digital terrain models (DTM). Analysis of the sources showed that the main period of anthropogenic degradation of dunes in the city was the second half of the twentieth century. The balance of changes in the share of dunes within city limits is estimated to be a decrease of about 26.5% over the study period, and by around 60.2% in the part that is presently urbanised.

Keywords

• anthropogenic degradation of landform
• dunes
• historical gis
• toruń