Classification Methods for Inland Excess Water Modeling

Inland excess water floodings are a common problem in the Carpathian Basin. Nearly every year large areas are covered by water due to lack of natural runoff of superfluous water. To study the development of this phenomenon it is necessary to determine where these inundations are occurring. This research evaluates different methods to classify inland excess water occurrences on a study area covering south-east Hungary and northern Serbia. The region is susceptible to this type of flooding due to its geographical circumstances. Three separate methods are used to determine their applicability to the problem. The methods use the same input data set but differ in approach and complexity. The input data set consists of a mosaic of RapidEye medium resolution satellite images. The results of the classifications show that all three methods can be applied to the problem and provide high quality satellite based inland excess water maps over a large area

Main characteristics of water regime of the phreatic aquifer in Subotica municipality: Vojvodina, Serbia

Subotica municipality is situated in the Subotica-Horgoš sands in the Bačka loess plateau, the two geomorphological units made of the early Quaternary sediments of intergranular porosity which form the water collecting environment for the phreatic aquifer. Owing to this, the phreatic aquifer is developed within the whole study area. Because of incomplete database, primarily the lack of contemporary data of the phreatic water table depth from various measuring points, the main aims of the paper are restricted to defining basic characteristics of water regime of the phreatic aquifer in Subotica municipality and their causal connection with the dominant climatic factor. Special emphasis in the paper is given to the issue of inade­quate monitoring of water table depth in the study area, which is the result of insufficient coverage of the area with active monitoring wells. Actually, there are only 10 active monitoring wells in Subotica municipality, which are unevenly distributed in the study area. Such situation disables the studious approach in studying the water regime of the phreatic aquifer and estimating the exact directions of its outputs, which creates a significant problem that needs to be solved in the near future.

Comparison and Estimation of the Values in Wetland Areas: A Study of Ramsar Sites Obedska Bara (Serbia) and Lonjsko Polje (Croatia)

The paper presents a case study comparing values of two internationally significant wetland areas: Obedska Bara in Serbia and Lonjsko Polje in Croatia, using the Wetland Assessment Model (WAM). The model is used to highlight differences and similarities between biological, ecological, educational, public awareness and aesthetic values of the two selected study areas. The model requires as an input expert evaluation of the criteria and individual locations in the protected areas using the Analytical Hierarchical Process. The presented method proved to be a feasible framework and a basis for evaluation of wetland values. The obtained results of the analysis showed overall similarities and important differences between these two observed wetlands and the 10 representative sites examined in detail. The analysis successfully identified locations and features of wetlands that require action for maintaining or increasing their overall value and function. The results can be used to identify locations and functions of wetlands that require conservational or other organizational improvements, and thus give valuable guidelines for decision makers. Further analysis using the presented model, with detailed local data and inclusion of other wetland areas, will contribute to the advancement of wetland research in the wider region of Southeastern and Central Europe, which was not sufficiently represented in previous studies

Possibilities of applying CORONA archive satellite images in forest cover change detection: Example of the Fruška Gora Mountain

This paper examines the possibilities, advantages and limitations of the use of high resolution archive satellite images in evaluation of forest and other land cover changes, based on research in the sample area of the Fruška Gora mountain (Serbia). Satellite images available from the declassified archives of CORONA program were used to assess the extent of forest cover in the past. By comparing the resulting datasets with newer images, changes in the forest coverage can be detected and reconstructed for a period of more than 40 years. Despite many limiting factors, the images provided valuable information about the state of the forest cover in the past. The methodology used can be utilized in other similar areas, where no other, more precise source is available about forest coverage, as a means of reasonably inexpensive and time efficient assessment of forest cover and other land use changes in the past five decades

Main characteristics of water regime of the phreatic aquifer in Šid municipality (Vojvodina, Serbia)

Šid municipality is situated in the south-western part of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (north­western Serbia). Four geomorphological units are represented on its territory: The Fruška Gora Mountain, Srem loess plateau, Srem loess terrace and alluvial plains of river Sava and its tributaries. The largest part of Šid municipality consists of the early Quaternary sediments of intergranular porosity which form the water collecting environment for the phreatic aquifer. Because of the incomplete database, the main goals of this paper are restricted on defining basic characteristics of water regime of the phreatic aquifer in Šid municipality and their causal connection with the climatic, hydrological and anthropogenic factors. The results showed the prevailing presence of climatic type of the phreatic aquifer water regime in the study area, with fragmentary presence of climatic-hydrological type near rivers and climatic-anthropogenic type near and inside the city of Šid. Special emphasis is given to the inadequate phreatic water table depth monitoring in the study area. This situation prevents the detailed study of the phreatic aquifer water regime and estimating the exact directions of its outputs, which creates a significant problem that needs to be solved in the near future

Classification methods for inland excess water modeling

Inland excess water floodings are a common problem in the Carpathian Basin. Nearly every year large areas are covered by water due to lack of natural runoff of superfluous water. To study the development of this phenomenon it is necessary to determine where these inundations are occurring. This research evaluates different methods to classify inland excess water occurrences on a study area covering south-east Hungary and northern Serbia. The region is susceptible to this type of flooding due to its geographical circumstances. Three separate methods are used to determine their applicability to the problem. The methods use the same input data set but differ in approach and complexity. The input data set consists of a mosaic of RapidEye medium resolution satellite images. The results of the classifications show that all three methods can be applied to the problem and provide high quality satellite based inland excess water maps over a large area

Forest and grassland habitats support pollinator diversity more than wildflowers and sunflower monoculture

Intensively managed agricultural landscapes often lack suitable habitats to support diverse wildlife, particularly harming pollinator communities. Besides mass flowering crops, remnant patches of natural and semi-natural vegetation may play a key role in maintaining and conserving biodiversity. Yet, the effects of different natural habitats, including forests and grasslands, on different pollinator communities are poorly understood at the landscape scale. We examined the abundance, richness, and diversity of wild bees and hoverflies, two key pollinator groups, across a land-use gradient spanning forest edges, grassland, wildflower strips, and sunflower monoculture. We also examined the distribution of hoverfly larvae trophic guilds and wild bee nesting traits across the above-mentioned land-use gradient. Finally, we evaluated the impact of landscape structure (forest, grassland, and water cover in the surrounding landscape) on pollinator community composition. Our results indicate that forest and grassland habitats supported a higher abundance and greater richness of pollinators than wildflower strips and sunflower monocultures. Furthermore, hoverflies were more sensitive to habitat and floristic homogenization than wild bees. Sunflower and wildflower habitats also hosted a lower diversity of larvae trophic guilds and wild bee nesting guilds as compared to forests and grasslands. Our study suggests that conserving and restoring forest and grassland habitats within agricultural mosaics may serve as the main ‘refuge’ for wild pollinators