Application of a mass movement susceptibility model in the heterogeneous Miocene clastic successions of the Slovenj Gradec Basin, northeast Slovenia

In Slovenia, mass movements are not only a threat to the population, but also a major environmental and social science challenge. Lithologically heterogeneous areas have been found to be problematic, and the Miocene Slovenj Gradec basin (in northeast Slovenia) is one such area. For this area, we developed landslide and rockfall susceptibility maps based on detailed geological research combined with statistical modeling schemes. Crucial factors include lithological composition, land use, geological structural elements, slope curvature, aspect and inclination, and bed dipping. The approach taken in the development of mass movement susceptibility maps presented here is transferable to other areas defined by heterogeneous lithology. Such maps could prove useful spatial planning, forestry, environmental protection, landscape architecture, and other fields

European mineral intelligence – collecting, harmonizing and sharing data on European raw materials

The major share of raw materials needed to sustain our present lifestyle and even more importantly, required for the crucial green transition, are sourced outside Europe. The European Commission aims to enhance Europe's resilience and strengthen domestic sourcing. Although Europe has a long tradition of mining and extractive activities, it is acknowledged that there are several challenges to achieve European sourcing of certain raw materials such as the critical raw materials. A basic prerequisite to enable access to domestic raw materials is information on raw material occurrences, current and past mining activities, resources and reserves. The Geological Survey organizations (GSOs) of Europe play a key role in generating, compiling, gathering and storing the most up-to-date information as well as long-term data series on raw materials at national and regional levels. Over the last decade, the GSOs have joined forces and taken essential steps to harmonize and share data on raw materials. The results of this co-operation are illustrated as interactive maps on the European Geological Data Infrastructure (EGDI). This paper describes the data compiled in co-operation between the GSOs, and analyses the strengths and weaknesses of, as well as opportunities for and threats towards, the data

GeoERA Raw Materials Monograph : the past and the future

ABSTRACT: GeoERA Minerals projects have produced data aimed at supporting Europe’s minerals sector and to assist the European Commission to realise its goals for raw materials. Data has been compiled on mineral occurrences and mineral provinces across Europe, in particular, areas with potential to host Critical Raw Materials. Anecdotal evidence from the minerals sector provides an indication of the likelihood of exploration leading to mine development. For every 1,000 mineral showings examined, only 100 may receive further exploration work and of those 100, only 10 may warrant more detailed sampling either through trenching, drilling or other means and of those 10 only 1 may proceed to an evaluation through a full feasibility study which itself has only 50% chance of being positive. Following this, any project for which a mine proposal is made must undergo a full evaluation and permitting by authorities including full public consultation. The proposal may or may not pass this scrutiny. In terms of a schedule, the generally accepted minimum time frame from discovery to production is 10 years and usually much more, up to 20 years.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Debris-flow susceptibility model of Slovenia at scale 1 : 250,000

For the area of Slovenia (20.000 sqr. km) a debris-flow susceptibility model at scale 1 : 250,000 was produced.To calculate the susceptibility to debris-flow occurence using GIS several information layers were used such as geology (lithology and distance from structural elements), intensive rainfall (48-hour rainfall intensity), derivates of digital elevation model (slope, curvature, energy potential related to elevation), hydraulic network (distance to surface waters, energy potential of streams), and locations of sixteen known debris flows, which were used for thedebris-flow susceptibility models’ evaluation. A linear model weighted sum approach was selected on the basis of easily acquired spatio-temporal factors to simplify the approach and to make the approach easily transferable toother regions. Based on the calculations of 672 linear models with different weight combinations for used spatio temporal factors and based on results of their success to predict debris-flow susceptible areas, the best factors’weight combination was selected. To avoid overfitting of the prediction model, an average of weights from the first hundred models was chosen as an ideal combination of factor weights. For this model also error interval was calculated. A debris-flow susceptibility model at scale 1 : 250,000 represents a basis for spatial prediction of the debris-flow triggering and transport areas. It also gives a general overview of susceptible areas in Slovenia andgives guidance for more detailed research areas and further spatial and numerical analyses. The results showed that approximatelly 4 % of Slovenia’s area are extremely high susceptible and approximatelly 11 % of Slovenia’sarea of susceptiblity to debris-flows is high. As expected these areas are related to mountainous terrain in the NWand N of Slovenia

Vpliv podnebnih sprememb na pojavljanje zemeljskih plazov v sredini 21. stoletja v Sloveniji

Slovenia is affected by extreme and intense rainfall that triggers numerous landslides every year, resulting in significant human impact and damage to infrastructure. Previous studies on landslides have shown how rainfall patterns can influence landslide occurrence, while in this paper, we present one of the first study in Slovenia to examine the impact of climate change on landslides in the mid-21st century. To do this, we used the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 climate scenario and future climatology simulated by six climate models that differed from each other as much as possible while representing measured values of past climate variables as closely as possible. Based on baseline period (1981-2010) we showed the number of days with exceedance of rainfall thresholds and the area where landslides may occur more frequently in the projection period (2041-2070). We found that extreme rainfall events are likely to occur more frequent in the future, which may lead to a higher frequency of landslides in some areas.Vsako leto Slovenijo prizadenejo ekstremne in močne padavine, ki sprožijo številne zemeljske plazove, kar povzroči znaten vpliv na človeka in škodo na infrastrukturi. Prejšnje študije plazov so pokazale, kako padavine vplivajo na pojav plazov, medtem ko v tem prispevku predstavljamo eno izmed prvih študij v Sloveniji, ki proučuje vpliv podnebnih sprememb na zemeljske plazove sredi 21. stoletja. V ta namen smo uporabili scenarij značilnih potekov vsebnosti toplogrednih plinov (RCP4.5) in uporabili simulacije šestih podnebnih modelov, ki so se med seboj čimbolj razlikovali, hkrati pa kar najbolj enako predstavljali izmerjene vrednosti podnebnih spremenljivk v obdobju meritev. Na podlagi referenčnega obdobja (1981-2010) prikazujemo število dni, ko padavine presežejo sprožilne količine padavin in območja, kjer se lahko plazovi v projekcijskem obdobju (2041-2070) pogosteje pojavljajo. Rezultati kažejo, da se bodo ekstremni padavinski dogodki v prihodnosti zelo verjetno pojavljali pogosteje kot danes, kar lahko na nekaterih območjih povzroči pogostejše pojavljanje zemeljskih plazov

Assessment of forest protective function against debris-flows

Varovalni gozdovi imajo pomembno vlogo pri zmanjševanju učinka različnih naravnih nevarnosti. Kljub pove- čevanju potreb po varovalni in zaščitni funkcij zaradi staranja gozdov in povečanega tveganja zaradi naravnih motenj ostaja aktivno upravljanje na nizki ravni. Proučili smo učinkovitost varovalnih gozdov za zaščito pred drobirskimi tokovi na severozahodu Slovenije, v Soteski med Bledom in Bohinjem, kjer sta zaradi delovanja pobočnih premikov ogroženi državna cesta in železnica. Na podlagi geološke karte in karte podvrženosti drobirskim tokovom smo ugotovili vplivno območje drobirskih tokov. Pri modeliranju njihovega širjenja smo uporabili program TopRunDF. Podatke o gozdu smo zbrali na 26 vzorčnih ploskvah, kjer smo izmerili vsa živa drevesa s prsnim premerom več kot 10 cm. Podrobno smo opisali sestoje in jih ovrednotili po metodi NaiS. Ugotovili smo, da ima gozd pomembno vlogo pri zaščiti infrastrukturnih objektov. Za uresničevanje trajnosti zaščitne vloge je treba enomerne sestoje prevzgojiti v mozaično enomerne. V sestojih, kjer gozdnogojitveni ukrepi ne zadostujejo, je treba uporabiti tehnične ukrepe. Ker s sestoji niso gospodarili več desetletij, so motnje (najpogosteje v obliki vetrolomov) pogoste. Izsledki kažejo, da je potrebno objektivno ovrednotenje varovalne in zaščitne funkcije takšnih gozdov. Priporočamo tudi aktivno nego, kar je v nasprotju z dosedanjo prakso v teh gozdovih.Protection forests play an important role of mitigating the influence of various natural hazards. Despite the growing need for protective functions due to aging forests and increased risk of natural disturbances, active forest management has become increasingly uncommon. Study of protection efficiency against debris flow of beech dominated forests in the Soteska gorge in NW Slovenia, where a main state road and railway are endangered was done. We assessed the starting points of the debris flow natural hazard based on a small-scale geological survey of the terrain characteristics and local debris flow susceptibility map. For determination of the run-out zones, we used the TopRunDF model. Forest structure data was obtained from 26 sample plots where all trees with DBH % 10 cm were measured. A detailed description and delineation of forest stands following NaiS methodology was performed. Results showed that the forests stands play a crucial role in protection of infrastructural objects. For long-term protection efficiency, introduction of spatial-variable regeneration patches is needed in uniform forest stands. In areas where silvicultural measures could not provide sufficient protection, technical measures are needed. Since these forests have not been managed for several decades, natural disturbances are frequent. Research findings suggest that assessment and management of these beech dominated protection forests is necessary, contrary to the current practice of non-management in protection forests in Slovenia

Koroška Bela alluvial fan – The result of the catastrophic slope events; (Karavanke Mountains, NW Slovenia)

The Koroška Bela alluvial fan deposits were investigated to determine the genesis of the fan and the source area of sediments. The alluvial fan is composed of a sequence of diamicton layers, and related subaeric sediments that were deposited by multiple mass flow events, in some cases certainly by debris flows. The predominant sources ofsediments are tectonically deformed clastic and partly carbonate Carbonifferous and Permian rocks. In diamictons also pebbles of other rocks from the hinterland are present. These were eroded from the channel of Bela during the mass flow events. We estimate the future debris flow hazard along Bela stream as high