Changes in the extreme air temperature in Czech Republic

This study is focused on air temperature in Czech Republic in relation to selected climatological indices for extreme hot and extreme cold days for the period 1961- 2017. The number of summer days (SU) and number of tropical days (SU30) have been chosen as the indicators of extreme hot days. For the indicators of extreme cold days, the number of frost days (FD) and number of icing days (ID) have been analyzed. The analyses are based on the daily data for air temperature measured at eight meteorological stations situated at the regions with different geographical and climate conditions. The data are freely available from the website of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. The results of the study show negative trend of extreme cold events and positive trend of extreme hot temperatures. With a few exceptions, the trend is statistically significant at p=0.05. The trend values for the indicators of cold days are higher than those for the indicators of warm days. The results show a faster change in air temperature for the cold part of the year

Assessment of the soil loss caused by riverbank erosion in Serbia

Riverbank erosion and lateral channel migration are important geomorphological processes which cause various landscape, socio-economic, and environmental consequences. Although those processes are present on the territory of Serbia, there is no available data about the soil loss caused by riverbank erosion for the entire country. In this study, the spatial and temporal dynamics of the riverbank erosion for the largest internal rivers in Serbia (Velika Morava, Zapadna Morava, Juzna Morava, Pek, Mlava, Veliki Timok, Kolubara) was assessed using remote sensing and GIS. The aim of this paper is to determine the total and average soil loss over large-scale periods (1923-2020), comparing data from the available sources (aerial photographs, satellite images, and different scale paper maps). Results indicated that lateral migration caused significant problems through land loss (approximately 2,561 ha), especially arable land, and land use changes in river basins, but also economic loss due to the reduction of agricultural production. Total and average soil loss was calculated for five most representative meanders on all studied rivers, and on the basis of the obtained values, certain regularities about further development and dynamics of riverbank movement are presented. A better understanding of river channel migration in this area will be of a great importance for practical issues such as predicting channel migration rates for river engineering and planning purposes, soil and water management and land use changes, environment protection.

Glacial morphology of the Sara Mountains

The paper defines and presents the forms of glacial relief formed, most likely, during the last Pleistocene glacial maximum (LGM). A graphic and textual presentation of almost all glacial forms is given on the entire territory of the Sara Mountains, on both sides of their main ridge, from Ljuboten in the NE to the source tributaries of the Radika River in the SW. Based on the height position and spatial development of glacial forms, the height of the snow line (ELA) was determined, glacier types were determined and defined, which is shown on two overview maps representing Pleistocene glacial morphology and reconstructed Pleistocene glaciers referring to the last Pleistocene glacial (MIS-2). Since these are the youngest glacial morphological traces on the Sara Mountains, they are the best preserved today.

Variations in seasonality in spa centres of Serbia

Seasonality of tourist demand imposes a number of issues related to the destination?s carrying capacity and business activities of the individual service providers in tourism. As one indicator of seasonal fluctuation of tourist demand, the Gini index is identified in order to establish monthly concentration of tourists. In this study, the Gini index was calculated for four spa tourism destinations in Serbia (Vrnjacka Banja, Sokobanja, Niska Banja, and Prolom Banja), in order to establish variability in the seasonality. The research took into consideration the period 2010-2019. Research results indicate that Niska Banja Spa has the lowest values of the Gini index, while Vrnjacka Banja Spa and Sokobanja Spa have the highest values, whereby no values are higher that .45 (mostly between .30 and .39). Given that the theoretically lowest value of the Gini index is 0 (smallest seasonal concentration) and the highest is 1 (biggest concentration), the selected spas still do not have particularly high degree of seasonal concentration of tourists. Possibilities for reduction of tourist demand seasonality are pointed out, given its impact on tourism planning and its economic effects.

Changes in extreme climate indices in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

The study analyzes trends in extreme climate indices in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Based on daily maximum temperatures, daily minimum temperatures and daily precipitation during the 1961-2016 periods, a set of 27 indices recommended by the CCl/CLIVAR Expert Team for Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI) was calculated in the RClimDex (1.0) software. Given the results, the extreme temperature indices displayed a warming tendency throughout the year (most prominent in summer). The positive trends in warm temperature indices were stronger than the downward trends in cold ones. The highest trend values were estimated for TXx, TNx, TX90p, TN90p, WSDI, SU25 and SU30. The extreme precipitation indices displayed trends mixed in sign (annually and seasonally), but all statistically insignificant. However, upward trends in R99p, RX1day, RX5day, SDII, R10mm and R20mm suggest an increase in the magnitude and frequency of intense precipitation events. Moreover, significant changes in distribution of majority temperature indices were determined, whereas shifts in precipitation indices were mostly insignificant. The observed changes in extreme temperature indices are related with large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns (primarily the East-Atlantic pattern) and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. The negative correlation with the North Atlantic Oscillation, the East Atlantic/West Russia pattern and the Arctic Oscillation is found for majority of extreme precipitation indices.

Urban development of Pyongiang under the influence of Juche idea

In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), urban planning and urban architecture reflect the interest of the working class. The goal for the working class was to develop a specific type of urban planning, as a result of which the DPRK introduced a socialist model of urban planning. Until the beginning of 1970, the DPRK depended on the influence of the USSR, it wanted to go beyond that framework, especially in the field of urban planning and architecture. In the early 1970s, Kim Il-sung presented the thesis of Juche's idea, which encompasses all aspects of society. During the 1980s, Pyongyang was promoted to the world as the socialist capital of the world. However, in the 21st century, Korean architecture has noticed many changes compared to the past. In addition to remaining faithful to rationality and monumentality, social differences were given to special groups. Since the arrival and rise of Kim Jong-un to power, the newly built parts of Pyongyang are reminiscent of the physiognomy of capitalist cities.

Demographic and economic aspects of urban shrinkage in Serbia - typology and regional differentiation

Urban shrinkage is a process that many European countries have been facing in recent decades. It had started in highly developed regions at the time of deindustrialisation, but since the 1990s, this process has also affected Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe, with different patterns and dynamics of urban shrinkage. The political and economic crisis in Serbia during the 1990s, as well as the transition from a centrally governed and urban-based industrialisation to a neoliberal market economy, has brought significant changes in the development of cities, which faced declining demographic and economic vitality. This paper is focused on the analysis of the intensity and dynamics of demographic and economic aspects of urban shrinkage in Serbia and on classification of cities according to the different phases of urban shrinkage. Typological classification was performed using the K-means clustering algorithm. The cluster analysis is based on the use of relevant demographic and socio-economic indicators, for the period from 2002 to 2011. After identifying cities that recorded an increase in total population and relatively stable economic development, three types of shrinking cities were determined according to the intensity of demographic and economic shrinkage - cities with low, medium and high shrinkage intensity. The analysis of the main patterns and factors that influenced the different levels of urban shrinkage enabled a better understanding of this phenomenon in Serbia. The results indicate the heterogeneity of urban space due to different levels of demographic and economic shrinkage, thus it can serve as a starting point for future research of uneven urban development in Serbia.

Perceptions of the problems of drinking water supply in Ziguinchor (Senegal): Case of the peripheral district Nema 2

Good water quality is important for the human health, energy and development. However, it is not available to millions of people throughout the world. In the Casamance region, the climatic situation has been characterised for the last thirty years by a drop in rainfall, combined with a demographic explosion which has led to an intensive exploitation of available water resources. Ziguinchor, the main city of Casamance, although located in a humid region rich in rainwater, does not guarantee continuous access to drinking water for all its inhabitants, especially those living in the outlying districts. The aim of this article is to show that the difficulties of access to drinking water in the outskirts of Ziguinchor are closely related to the inadequacy of the infrastructure for water supply. The methodology adopted revolves around three main axes: documentary research, data collection and data processing. The results of this study reveal that the water production capacity in Ziguinchor, of 9,500 m3 per day (i.e. 400 m3/h), in fact presents a production deficit in relation to demand from population estimated at 583,528 inhabitants, mainly noted in the peripheral zone such as N?ma 2. The causes of this mismatch between supply and demand are due to inadequate infrastructure, but also to the pollution and salinity of water resources, in addition to poor governance of the supply sector. Faced with this situation, there is an imperative to mobilise water resources in the commune in a properly rational manner and to ensure more sustainable management.

Application of GIS in spatial analysis of industry concentration: the case study of Tesanj municipality (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

The focus of this study is a spatial analysis of the industry distribution and concentration, on the example of municipality of Tesanj (Bosnia and Herzegovina), based on the application of GIS methods. Municipality of Tesanj is one of the most developed municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while Tesanj?s industry significantly contributes to the economic development of this country. GIS analysis of industry was based on the field work, locating and georeferencing industrial companies, acquisition, adaptation, adjustment and validation of digital surface models and google satellite imagery, mapping of relief, hydrography and transport network. With the aim of geovisualization of spatial distribution of industry, spatial descriptive statistics and non-parametric density estimation analysis (Kernel Density Estimation) were performed. In order to determine the distribution of industry in relation to relief (elevation, slope, and aspect), hydrography and transport network, GIS techniques of reclassification, vectorization, count point in polygons, buffer and clip geoprocessing tools were used. Conducted research provided a new insight into the data mining and visualization based on principles of QGIS, the effects of geographic factors on industry distribution, and confirmed the importance of relief, hydrographic and transport network on the concentration of industry in municipality Tesanj.

Assessment of torrential flood and landslide susceptibility of terrain: Case study - Mlava River Basin (Serbia)

Torrential floods and landslides are frequent natural disasters in Serbia, but also in the Mlava River Basin. Due to the large number of settlements, the main goal of this research is to determine the locations that are most susceptible to torrential floods and landslides in the Mlava River Basin. Using geographic information systems (GIS), the first step is the analysis the susceptibility of the terrain to torrential floods using the Flash Flood Potential Index (FFPI) method. According to the obtained data, it was determined that 31.53% of the Mlava River Basin is susceptible, and 10.46% is very susceptible to torrential floods. The second step is the analysis of the susceptibility of the terrain to landslides, for which the statistical Probability method (PM) and the Landslide Susceptibility Index (LSI) were used. According to the results of the LSI index and PM method, 8.09% and 14.04% of the basin area is in the category of high and very high susceptibility to landslides. This paper represents a significant step towards a better understanding of unfavorable natural conditions in the Mlava River Basin, and the obtained results are applicable to numerous human activities in the research area (environmental protection, sustainable management of agricultural plots, protection of water and forest resources and ecosystems, etc.).