Acta Geodyn. Geomater., Vol. 4, No. 4 (148), 97-107, 2007 PERIODIC GRAVITY CHANGES IN THE YOUNG TECTONIC MOVEMENT INVESTIGATION OF SELECTED AREA IN THE POLISH WESTERN CARPATHIANS Monika ŁÓJ 1)*, Janusz MADEJ 1), Sławomir PORZUCEK 1) and Witold ZUCHIEWICZ 2) 1) Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland 2) Institute of Geological Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Oleandry 2A, 30-063 Kraków, Poland Galicia T. Group; E-mail: [email protected] *Corresponding author‘s e-mail: [email protected] (Received June 2007, accepted August 2007) ABSTRACT Two geodynamic test transects across the Polish segment of the Western Carpathians, crossing the Orava Basin in the west (KO) and the Pieniny Klippen Belt and Magura Nappe along the Dunajec River valley in the east (DD), are presented. Multidisciplinary studies conducted along these transects included gravimetric, geodetic, geologic and morphostructural investigations. Gravimetric and geodetic results appear to suggest recent subsidence of the Orava Basin, particularly intensive in the Wróblówka Graben, confirming conclusions derived from geomorphic analyses. Data obtained for the Dunajec River transect do not show any particular differentiation among individual benchmarks, what can point to either minor uplift of the entire area (already suggested by the results of geomorphic and morphotectonic studies), minimal differences between successive slices of the Magura Nappe and the Pieniny Klippen Belt, or both. Horizontal displacements of benchmarks, different for the KO and DD transects, towards the west and SW as well east and SE, respectively, can result from general uplift of the area comprised between these transects, i.e. the Gorce Mts. KEYWORDS: gravity measurement, geodynamic processes, temporal gravity changes, West Carpathians, Poland INTRODUCTION coordinates X and Y, as well as 5 to 7 mm at the coordinate Z. The project was realized at the Department of Geophysics of the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics Gravity measurements were the basic research and Environmental Protection, AGH University of method in view of time changes of the Earth's gravity Science and Technology in Kraków, Poland. The field. studies were carried out during 36 months in the years In summer 2004, a sequence of relative gravity 2003 to 2006, and included gravity and geoelectric observations was made along both measuring profiles at points spaced ca. 1 to 2 km. Gravity measurements measurements, as well as geodetic investigations. On this basis, the phenomena accompanying geodynamic at geodynamic points and the relative gravity forces in and geomorphological processes were registered. both profiles were used for gravimetric modelling. Geologic works constitute an integral part of the An attempt was made at interpreting the obtained research project. gravity results, i.e. relating time changes of gravity The investigations were carried out along two force and geodynamic processes in the Earth's crust. The assumed gravity measurements are long- transects crossing the Orawa Basin (KO), and the Pieniny Klippen Belt and Magura Nappe along the term ones. Finding and analyzing time changes of the Dunajec River valley (DO). Both transect cross those gravity field will require as much as tens of years. areas of the Polish Western Carpathians which show Therefore, the works performed within this project diversified Quaternary movements (Fig. 1.1). should be treated as an input, basic material for future Geophysical and geodetic observations, as well investigations. as geologic and morphostructural studies were conducted in three measurement series, i.e. in 1. MEASURING SITES summers of 2004, 2005 and 2006. The studied objects are placed on two transects Geophysical measurements were made at (Fig. 1.1): KO (Orava Basin), along the line Dzianisz - permanently stabilized geodynamic measuring Czarny Dunajec - Wróblówka - Spytkowice - stations, which were placed below the expected Wysoka, and DD (Dunajec River valley), starting in freezing point, i.e. ca. 2 m below the ground surface. the south at Sromowce Niżne, along the Dunajec Geodetic works were made with the use of GPS, River water-gap between Krościenko and Zabrzeż; providing accuracy at a level of 3 to 5 mm at the reaching in the north the Łącko and Młyńczyska region. 98 M. Łój et al. Sk Limanowa aw a Mszana Jordanów Dolna a b S a ł R o Rabka m 1 k Nowy a K Sącz a M m 1 i c s e je z n a i na Z c u n a 2 D u k b a r 2 D z y D c l i a f Stary Cz. Or o awa 3 ica r Sącz Ochotn p P 3 o p r Nowy Targ a 4 d D 4 c u O e n j aj 5 a c K n e l e c i u j f 5 D a o Szczawnica y n Piwniczna r n r u p a Krościenko z D a 6 C k y ł ł a a i i 6 B 7 B 8 - raca and siara sub-unit - Mszana Dolna tectonic window scale: - bystrica sub-unit - orawa valley 052,5 km magura unit Zakopane - krynica sub-unit - pieniny klippen belt - dukla unit - Nowy Sącz valley Fig. 1.1 Locality of geodynamic gravity transects across the Polish Western Carpathians. The profiles, oriented roughly N-S, enabled for Profile DD is passing through a fragment of the location of measuring stations in geodynamically Polish Outer Carpathians which has been most different geological structures. When designing the strongly uplifted in the Quaternary. The antecedent course of profiles and determining places of Dunajec River water-gap through the Lubań- measuring stations, both profiles were elongated Radziejowa Range (in the northern part of profile DD) northwards so as to place the last measuring stations crosses one of longitudinal neotectonic elevations within both subunits of the Magura Nappe, i.e. the that has been uplifted by ca. 150 m in Quaternary Krynica and Bystrica subunits. In this way, the times (Starkel, 1972; Zuchiewicz, 1984, 1991, 1998). profiles changed their original length from 15 km to One station of profile DD is situated in the southern ca. 25 km for the profile DD, and from 25 km to ca. part of the Pieniny Klippen Belt, three in the Krynica 40 km for the profile KO. subunit, and two in the Bystrica subunit of the Magura These profiles are crossing geological structures Nappe. of different age and tectonic style; they also exhibit Measuring stations in the form of downhole different neotectonic trends (Żytko et al., 1989; earth benchmarks were stabilized in the analysed Zuchiewicz, 1995, 1998). profiles (Łój et al., 2005). To cover uniformly the Profile KO crosses the boundary between the profiles with measuring stations, and to meet the Inner and Outer Carpathians, showing contrasting principle that the stations should be located in trends of young (Pliocene-Quarternary) tectonic different geological structures, the distance between movements. The Wróblówka Graben, situated in the these points was chosen at ca. 5 km. Their position southern portion of profile KO, indicates the late was selected in such a way, so as to eliminate the Pleistocene, or even Holocene, subsidence. Minor potential influence of the near-surface factors on the uplift tendencies are observed in the southern part of stability of these points. This signifies that in the the Magura Nappe, i.e. in the northern segment of the selected areas: profile (Baumgart-Kotarba, 1991; Baumgart-Kotarba • Stable basement formations were close to the et al., 2001). The measuring stations were sited on the surface (enabling contact of the station with the following geologic structures: two stations in the basement) Central Carpathian Palaeogene basin (Podhale Flysch) area, three in the Orava Basin area (one of them in the • The near-surface formations will not flow down, Wróblówka Graben), one in the Krynica subunit, and causing station of observation drift. two in the Bystrica subunit of the Magura Nappe. PERIODIC GRAVITY CHANGES IN THE YOUNG TECTONIC MOVEMENT … 99 2. BENCH MARKS AND STABILIZATION OF equipment – gravimeters on original stators (Łój et al., MEASURING POINTS 2005). The determination station was specially designed, providing its stability during gravity 3. INVESTIGATIONS measurements, and geodetic works with GPS Investigations were conducted along two (Fig. 2.1). profiles: (a) crossing the Central Carpathian The measuring stations were made in situ in Palaeogene basin (Podhale Flysch), Orava Basin with compliance with the above assumptions. the Wróblówka Graben, and Krynica and Bystrica subunits of the Magura Nappe at Spytkowice; and also It was especially important for the stabilization process to accurately level out the fixed disc, as each (b) from the Pieniny Klippen Belt near Sromowce deflection from the horizontal could hinder the Wyżne, along the Dunajec River water-gap which measurements. passes through the Krynica subunit of the Magura Nappe, and finally the region north of Łącko, within the Bystrica and Rača subunits of this nappe (Fig. 1.1). lid Geomorphological and morphostructural analysis, aiming at quantitative characteristics of tectonically-controlled landforms, consisted in re- bench mark disk ambulation of the existing geomorphological maps of the area, as well as in construction of maps od relief energy, river valley density, and selected physiographic parameters of small-scale drainage steal rod basins. Different methodological approaches pertaining to such studies have already been described additional HDPE pipe bench mark by Zuchiewicz (1980, 1995, 1999) and Krawczyk and concrete Zuchiewicz (1989). Moreover, base-level maps of 2 m different orders (Zuchiewicz, 1981; Rączkowski et al., 1985) were re-examined for a comparison of the former with the base of the Magura Nappe. An attempt was also made to distinguish topolineaments identified on a digital elevation model. To determine horizontal changes of stations' location on the profiles during successive measurement series, static GPS measurements were made at the following assumptions: • duration of an observation session at the basic points of the profiles – 48 hrs, Fig.