Spatial Structure of Surface Soil Magnetic Susceptibility Measured with MS2D across Multiple Soil Types in Poland and the Czech Republic

This study examines the spatial variability of soil magnetic susceptibility measured on the soil surface across multiple sites in Poland and the Czech Republic. The investigated areas encompass a broad range of soil types, including Podzol, Gleysol enriched with iron ore, Rubic Arenosol, Ranker‑Cambisol, Cambisol, Luvisol, Brown acidic soil, and Podzolic brown soil. Surface magnetic susceptibility was measured with Bartington MS2D to capture both natural pedogenic patterns and potential anthropogenic magnetic enhancement. Spatial correlations were quantified using experimental variograms and their parameters to assess the scale and structure of spatial variability of soil magnetic susceptibility. Among these parameters, nugget effects varied substantially between soil types, indicating differences in micro-scale heterogeneity and surface disturbance.

The results demonstrate that surface magnetic susceptibility, combined with geostatistical analysis, is a sensitive indicator of both natural soil-forming processes and anthropogenic pollution.