Geographica Pannonica Vol.25-2
July 23, 2026Geographica Pannonica Vol.24-4
July 23, 2026Geographica Pannonica - Volume 25, Issue 1
Volume 25, Issue 1 content (click on a plus button for more):
SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF SOIL TEMPERATURE IN AN URBAN AREA: A CASE STUDY FOR A MEDIUM-SIZED EUROPEAN CITY
Authors: Michal Lehnert, Petr Šimáček, David Fiedor, Martin Jurek
Abstract: Even though soil temperature in urban environment influences a range of processes, it has been studied rather sparsely in comparison with surface temperature or air temperature. Our research extends the soil temperature observation in Olomouc (Czechia) and uses semi-stationary measurement to describe detailed spatial variability of soil temperature in the area of a medium-sized Central European city. Differences in soil temperature 20 cm below grass-covered surface may exceed 3°C due to soil type, shadow cast by buildings and grass characteristics, which means that the representativeness of the data on soil temperature from a meteorological station within a city may be limited. Further research and a conceptual approach towards the study of soil temperature in urban landscape is needed.
Keywords: soil temperature; urban climate; Olomouc
Article info:
Received: November 16, 2020 | Revised: December 15, 2020 | Accepted: December 15, 2020
MECHANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER (SON) RAINFALL OVER UGANDA DURING THE RECENT DECADES
Authors: Hamida Ngoma, Wang Wen, Brian Ayugi, Rizwan Karim, Exavery Kisesa Makula,
Abstract: This study revisits teleconnections associated with the anomalous events of September to November (SON) rainfall over Uganda during 1981-2019, owing to the recent intensification of extreme events. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF), Composite and Correlation analysis are employed to examine the variability of SON rainfall over the study domain and associated circulations anomalies. Thefirst EOF mode (dominant mode) displays a positive monopole pattern and explains 67.2% of the variance. The results revealed that SON rainfall is largely influenced by a Walker circulation mode over the Indian Ocean, whereby, wet events are associated with an ascending limb of the Walker circulation on the western part of the Indian Ocean characterized by convergence at low levels and divergence at upper level. The study showed that SON rainfall is positively (negatively) correlated with Indian ocean (Atlantic Ocean) sea surface temperatures (SST). Furthermore, Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events have impact on SON rainfall with strong positive correlation, whereas Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) revealed negative correlation. The results also reveal that there is a lag in ENSO and IOD episodes during wet/dry events over the region. ENSO and IOD also tend to extend the rainfall season of SON and thus study of extreme events may not be well captured by studies focusing on SON. Future studies might consider the season of October to December or December to February. These phenomena need to be closely monitored and considered when making seasonal forecasts.
Keywords: Rainfall; Extreme; Circulation; Uganda; East Africa
Article info:
Received: December 19, 2020 | Revised: February 14, 2021 | Accepted: February 25, 2021
INFLUENCE OF CONVECTIVELY COUPLED EQUATORIAL KELVIN WAVES ON MARCH-MAY PRECIPITATION OVER EAST AFRICA
Authors: Phillip Okello Ochieng, Guirong Tan, Victor Ongoma, Isaiah Nyandega
Abstract: Convectively coupled equatorial Kelvin waves (CCEKWs) are those types of equatorially trapped disturbances that propagate eastward and are among the most commonintra-seasonal oscillations in the tropics. There existstwo-way feedback between the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and these equatorially trapped disturbances. Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) was utilized as a proxy for deep convection. For CCEKWs, the modes are located over the West Atlantic, equatorial West Africa, and the Indian Ocean. The influence of other circulations and climate dynamics is studied for finding other drivers of climate within East Africa. The results show a positive relationship between Indian and Atlantic Oceans Sea Surface Temperatures and March-May rainfall over equatorial East Africa over the period of 1980 to 2010. This influence is driven by the Walker circulation and anomalous moisture influx enhanced by winds. Composite analysis reveals strong lower-tropospheric westerlies during the active phase of the CCKWs activities over Equatorial East Africa. The winds are in the opposite direction with the upper-tropospheric winds, which are easterlies. Singular Value Decomposition shows a strong coupling interaction between rainfall over equatorial East Africa and CCKWs. This study concludes that Kelvin waves are not the main factors that influence rainfall during the rainy season. Previous studies show that the main influencing factors are ITCZ, El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and tropical anticyclones that borders the African continent. However, CCKWs are a significant factor during the dry seasons.
Keywords: Convectively Coupled Equatorial Kelvin Waves; Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone; Singular Value Decomposition; East Africa; Precipitation
Article info:
Received: October 08, 2020 | Revised: March 18, 2021 | Accepted: March 21, 2021
SUMMER THERMAL COMFORT IN RUSSIAN BIG CITIES (1966-2015)
Authors: Pavel Konstantinov, Diana Tattimbetova, Mikhail Varentsov, Natalia Shartova
Abstract: The main goal of the study is the assessment of modern bioclimatic conditions (1966-2015) for determining the level of comfort in large Russian cities based on the observations at the meteorological stations, including Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) for the main extent of thermal comfort. According to the distribution of thermal stress events (calculated for meteorological fix hours, 8 times per day) the authors created the comfort diagram for each city during daytime heat wave period and evaluated their comfort conditions. In the current research we are operating with WMO climatic data for eleven biggest cities of the Russian Federation: from the European part (Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Voronezh, Volgograd, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Ufa) and from Siberia (Omsk and Krasnoyarsk). The most interesting result of the comparison of the long-period (50 years) urban trends (PET-index and Air Temperature) in different parts of Russia is its extraordinary cross-shaped form in Moscow (in other cities the trends lines are practically parallel to each other). It means that at the level of the average annual values, only in Moscow the PET index (and, hence, potentially the thermal stress) grows faster than the regional climate warms. In other cities this tendency is much weaker (N.Novgorod) or not significant. This interesting tendency is caused by both Moscow related urban planning dynamics in post-USSR period and by regional climate dynamics.
Keywords: Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET); regional urban climate; urban thermal comfort
Article info:
Received: Received: October 30, 2020 | Revised: December 28, 2020 | Accepted: January 11, 2021
IDENTIFICATION AND GEOVISUALIZATION OF LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMATION OF SURFACE MINE AREAS IN THE ĐURĐEVIK COAL BASIN (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)
Authors: Sabahudin Smajić, Merima Kovačević, Dragoslav Pavić
Abstract: The paper researches the landscape transformation of the surface mines of the Đurđevik coal basin (northeastern Bosnia region), where 35.24 Mt of brown coal were produced in the past 74 years, and 227.40 Mm3 of overburden was excavated and disposed of. This type of coal exploitation caused the formation concave and convex of anthropogenic relief forms which ultimately led to significant landscape transformation. These transformations were identified and geovisualized on the basis of field research and comparative GIS analysis of archival maps, satellite images, Digital Elevation Models and plans of this area. As a result of the research, especially comparative GIS analysis of two prepared terrain models of surface mines, the transformation of hypsometry, slope and aspect, hydrographic network, pedological as well as vegetation cover were determined. Obtained geospatial data are geo-visualized in QGIS, and as a result, thematic maps were created to provide insight into the essence of transformations. Therefore, established indicators of landscape transformation can serve as a significant factor in planning the revitalization and land re-cultivation of devastated areas in the Đurđevik coal basin.
Keywords: Landscape transformation; GIS analysis; DEM; geo-visualizations; open pit; Đurđevik coal basin
Article info:
Received: December 19, 2020 | Revised: February 14, 2021 | Accepted: February 25, 2021
THE NEXUS OF TOURISM SPENDING WITH ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS FOR THE EUROZONE AREA
Authors: Ageliki Anagnostou, George Ekonomou, Dimitris Kallioras
Abstract: The paper investigates the nexus of tourism spending (i.e. leisure and business tourism spending) with economic performance (i.e. GDP and employment) for the Eurozone countries, during the period 2000- 2018, employing sophisticated panel data analysis techniques. The issue is salient, given that within the Eurozone economic space the abolition of border impediments has released dynamics and brought into surface a new mix of opportunities, threats and challenges that has been changing the balance between centripetal and centrifugal forces. The findings of the paper identify the long-run equilibrium and confirm the bi-directional relationships among the variables considered, thus contributing to the discussion on the relationship between tourism and economic performance.
Keywords: business tourism spending; leisure tourism spending; GDP; employment; panel data analysis; Eurozone area
Article info:
Received: November 23, 2020 | Revised: January 24, 2021 | Accepted: January 25, 2021