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Abstract: Snow avalanches are a major natural hazard threatening human life and infrastructure in mountainous areas. They have a sudden onset and involve the rapid transport of large masses of snow and ice down on steep slopes. Thus, it is essential for risk management activities to understand avalanche activity, frequency and triggers. In this study, the dendrogeomorphic method was used to analyse an avalanche path in the Țarcu Mountains (the Southern Carpathians) in order to reconstruct the spatio-temporal activity of past snow avalanches. The reconstruction was based on the dating of growth disturbances caused by the mechanical impact of snow avalanches on trees. A total of 186 increment cores were analysed, resulting in the identification of 374 growth disturbances, including traumatic resin ducts, reaction wood, growth suppression and scars. In a chronology spanning 101 years in Picea abies, 13 events with It between 10-20% and 6 events with It between 20-40% were reconstructed over the period 1965-2021. The frequency of snow avalanche events was calculated, resulting in an average of 17.7 years. The climatic parameters were analysed for the event years exhibiting the strongest signal. The occurrence of avalanches was associated with warmer weather and rainy days. Event year 2010 is evidenced by a tragic incident in which two individuals lost their lives in the vicinity of the Țarcu weather station. Eleven events are synchronous with those analysed in other avalanche paths, while the event year 2005 is synchronous in nine other avalanche paths.
Abstract: Panimbang sub-district, located in the subduction zone of the Indo-Australian plate and directly facing Mount Anak Krakatau, is highly vulnerable to tsunami hazards. The region’s geographic location and its coastal topography make it particularly susceptible to the devastating impacts of tsunamis. This study assesses the region’s preparedness to manage tsunami risks using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to model evacuation routes and estimate potential inundation areas. The research evaluates the effectiveness of the region’s evacuation capacity, considering critical factors such as population distribution, land cover, and the time required for residents to evacuate safely.
The study’s findings indicate that 74.91% of the 512.73 hectares of residential area in Panimbang is at significant risk of tsunami impact, potentially affecting approximately 38,723 people. This high level of exposure underscores the urgent need for tailored evacuation strategies, particularly in densely populated areas, to minimize the risk of casualties. The analysis also highlights the importance of enhancing infrastructure and disaster preparedness plans to increase the resilience of communities most vulnerable to tsunami threats. The research provides valuable insights into the critical elements of tsunami disaster management. It can serve as a crucial reference for future studies focused on improving evacuation routes, shelter planning, and other essential aspects of critical infrastructure. By addressing these areas, future efforts can more effectively safeguard the population in tsunami-prone regions, ensuring a more efficient and organized disaster response that significantly reduces the potential for loss of life and property.
Abstract: Soil erosion is recognized as one of the most serious soil threats in Bulgaria. The paper presents assessments of soil erosion factors and risk in the catchment of the Dzhebelska River (Eastern Rhodopes), Bulgaria. The assessments are based on the USLE approach, which was adapted for Bulgarian conditions and integrated with GIS. It is established that about 45% of the territory of the Dzhebelska River catchment are characterized with rains with an average erosivity between 600 and 800 MJ mm/ha h y. Largest percentage share (47%) of the lands in the catchment area is characterized by medium to high susceptibility to erosion (0.03-0.04 t ha h / MJ ha mm). Almost half of the lands in the studied catchment are with a slope above 15°. Significant share of land (32.5%) is with high potential risk of erosion (100-200 t/ha y). Due to the largest percentage share of forestland (57%), lands with actual erosion risk below 3 t/ha y cover about 58 % of the catchment area, while these with a risk above 40 t/ha y cover about 15%.
Abstract: Water transparency is a primary indicator used to evaluate the status of marine ecosystems. Although a subjective measure, Secchi Depth (ZSD) is one of the “oldest” and most widely used optical parameters in studies that focus on surface water clarity, with probably millions of observations available in the last century. As recent satellite observa-tions do not cover such extended periods from the past, a comprehensive understanding of the spatio-temporal dy-namics of water transparency requires consistent historical data. In this regard, the present study aims to integrate in-formation from archives of in situ ZSD measurements available for the entire Black Sea. Several potential sources were investigated. Among them, two were identified to have historical measurements of ZSD in the Black Sea, SeaDataNet and Black Sea Ecosystem Processes and Forecasting / Operational Database Management System (NATO SfP ODBMS). A database with all available observations was aggregated for this study, containing a total of 5100 records between 1960 and 2016. The analysis of the spatial variability of ZSD was performed based on a square grid of 30 km x 30 km covering the entire Black Sea region. For each cell, statistics such as the average and the number of ZSD measurements were calculated. Moreover, the spatial and temporal homogeneity of the in-situ observations are assessed and dis-cussed.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyze gully erosion processes and their management in the Trivale Forest Park. Although the inclusion of gullies in the category of risk phenomena is still debated, due to their spatial extent and evolution, both longitudinally and vertically, they can pose concern to woody vegetation by altering slope stability. This is the case of the Trivale Forest Park, situated in Pitești city, where gully erosion has been affecting tree growth and recreational activities, such as hiking or cycling, which has led to the implementation of erosion control measures and hydrotechnical structures. By carrying out field observations and cartographic analyses, the research has/proposes/seeks to support two objectives: firstly, to establish the impact of erosion processes on the valleys’ and slopes’ balance by evaluating the type of erosion processes and resulting features and secondly, to assess the exposure of the Trivale Forest area to erosional forms, by using GIS and the frequency ratio (FR) techniques. The results of the multicriteria analysis highlighted, in good agreement with the field observations, the areas most susceptible to slope erosion processes.
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