In 2023, natural events and geohazards have gained particular importance. A natural earthquake in eastern Slovakia with a magnitude of 5.0, felt in southeastern Poland, and numerous sinkholes in the Trzebinia region have generated wide media and public interest, emphasizing the need for awareness and management of geological risk. The aim of this article is to present the main geohazards recorded in Poland in 2023 and to raise public awareness of this issue. Analyses and fieldwork in the Trzebinia region have shown the existence of at least 530 sinkholes in the area of the former Siersza Coal Mine, a significant part of which is related to shallow mining operations. In recent years, especially in the period 2019-2023, the dynamics of sinkhole formation has increased, which is related to the rising level of underground water. In 2023, the problem of sinkholes also affected other areas of Poland, causing damage to the terrain and material losses for local communities, including in the towns of Bolesław, Nowa Góra and Tarnowskie Góry. In 2023, 709 local seismic events were verified, most of which were induced, related to mining activities. The strongest phenomenon in Poland, with a magnitude of 4.2, occurred on July 6, 2023 in LGOM, while on October 9, 2023, a natural earthquake occurred in Slovakia, which was felt by residents of Poland -from Katowice to Rzeszów. In 2023, 16 landslide triggers were recorded, four of which were recognized as new forms. Damage to roads, infrastructure and buildings due to mass movement activity was recorded, among others, in Pruchnik, Kasina Wielka, in the commune of Bochnia, Biskupice and Wieliczka. In 2023, PGI-NRJ monitored 74 landslides, including 60 within the SOPO project. In the analyesd period, 31 of these landslides were active. The highest dynamics of displacements was recorded in Szymbark-Huciska, where displacements amounted to 328 mm. The year 2023 on the Baltic Sea coast did not stand out significantly in terms of geohazards, but there were incidents related to sea erosion, especially in the second half of December. Strong winds, reaching an average speed of 65 km/h and gusts of up to 115 km/h, led to storms that affected the condition of the coast, especially in Lębork, Wejherowo and Puck.
Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr POPUL/SP/0154/2024/02 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki II" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki (2025).
